Pine Grove Historical Museum facts for kids
| Location | 405 Cesar Chavez Avenue Pontiac, Michigan, US |
|---|---|
| Type | Historic house |
| Owner | Oakland County Pioneer and Historical Society |
The Pine Grove Historical Museum is a cool place in Pontiac, Michigan. It's run by the Oakland County Pioneer and Historical Society. This museum lets you explore the old home of Moses Wisner, who used to be the Governor of Michigan. The museum property is quite big, over four acres! It has several other interesting buildings too. These include a summer kitchen, a smokehouse, and a root cellar.
You can also see a one-room schoolhouse from the late 1800s. There's also an old carriage house. This building now holds the Pioneer Museum and a special Research Library.
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Meet Moses Wisner, Michigan's Governor
The Moses Wisner House is a very important historical building. It's even listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In 1845, Moses Wisner moved to Oakland County, Michigan with his family. They came all the way from New York. They chose to live on a piece of land along an old path called the Saginaw Trail.
Even though Wisner was a lawyer, he really loved farming. So, he bought enough land to raise chickens and cattle. He also planted fruit trees and grew lots of vegetables.
In 1858, Moses Wisner was chosen to be the governor of Michigan. Back then, there wasn't a special house for the governor in Lansing. So, Wisner changed his own home to fit his new important job. His house was built in the Greek Revival-Style.
Instead of running for governor again, Wisner decided to help his country. He put together a group of volunteer soldiers to fight in the U.S. Civil War. In 1862, his group, the 22nd Michigan Infantry, went to Kentucky. Colonel Wisner was in charge. Before he left, Wisner gave ownership of his Pine Grove property to his wife, Angeolina.
Why the Name Pine Grove?
Moses Wisner's big house was surrounded by many tall pine trees. Because of this, he decided to name his property "Pine Grove."
Explore the Pioneer Museum
Inside the old carriage house, you'll find the Pioneer Museum. This museum has a collection of tools and farm equipment. These items were all made by hand in the late 1800s. They show how people used to work and live a long time ago.
The Drayton Plains Schoolhouse
The Drayton Plains one-room schoolhouse was built in 1865. It was first located in Drayton Plains, Michigan. This schoolhouse closed its doors in 1920.
In 1965, a kind person named Leonard Coates gave the schoolhouse to the Pioneer Museum. It was then moved to the Pine Grove property. The schoolhouse was carefully fixed up to look just like it did in the late 1800s. You can see old school benches, a wood-burning stove, and even textbooks from 1860 to 1890. It's like stepping back in time!
Discover the Research Library
The research library is also located in the carriage house. It's a great place to find out about local history. The library has many old books, city directories, and records about cemeteries. You can also read old newspapers and other materials that tell the story of the area.
