County Seat Newspaper
of Clare County
Digital Content

Historical Society of Michigan Launches Midland County History Museums Flood Relief Campaign

Posted

The Historical Society of Michigan (HSM) has initiated a GoFundMe campaign to raise money to help Midland County history museums that were affected by recent floods. Following nearly five inches of rain in a 48-hour period, two dams on the Tittabawassee River failed on May 19, 2020, resulting in catastrophic flooding in Midland County, Michigan. The disastrous flooding greatly affected two of HSM’s member historical organizations in the area: the Midland County Historical Society museums and the Sanford Centennial Museum complex.

“Both the Midland County Historical Society and the Sanford Centennial Museum have been longtime members of HSM and are in dire need,” said Larry J. Wagenaar, HSM executive director and CEO. “We are raising the funds to provide relief for the devastated portions of their historical collections and property.”

Donations received through the GoFundMe campaign, which can be found at tinyurl.com/ya5y5tew, will go directly toward the preservation and restoration of damaged property and salvageable artifacts and collections. HSM will withdraw the funds from the campaign and convey them to the Midland County historical organizations that have been most affected by the flood.

The Sanford museum is a volunteer-run organization and is in desperate need of help and donations to save their collections and research facilities. Nearly a dozen of the buildings that make up the Sanford Centennial Museum complex were deeply affected and suffered major damage.

The Doan History Center, where most of the Midland County Historical Society archives are stored, took in an estimated 24 inches of water throughout the facility, and a portion of the archives sustained significant damage as a result.

The Historical Society of Michigan, publisher of Michigan History and Chronicle magazines, is the state’s oldest cultural organization, founded in 1828 by territorial governor Lewis Cass and explorer Henry Schoolcraft. A nongovernmental nonprofit, the Society focuses on publications, conferences, education, awards and recognition programming, and support for local history organizations.

Comments

No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here