Flat Rock Historical Society is hosting their 5th annual Diggin’ Up Local History Walk on September 24th-25th, 2021. 

     This year’s event will feature presenters dressed in period dress who will portray historical figures with Michigan connections. These short presentations aim to be historically accurate while incorporating macabre and sometimes comical stories of their lives. Wandering spirits in period dress will be on campus for photo ops. Ticket holders will enjoy a walk back through time learning tidbits of little known history. 

     Join us as we “dig up” some fun, and educational entertainments such as, Victorian Funeral Customs presented in Langs-Wagar House, sponsored by Bobcean Funeral Home. Curious about ghost hunting? The Michigan Paranormal Seeker Society will be onsite to chat with event attendees. In addition to character stories, the event will also include basket raffles and complimentary refreshments.

     The 2021 Diggin’ Up Local History event is sponsored by Meijer, Crest Ford, Biggby Coffee, Milkins Jewelers, Blue Heron Trading, Apple Charlies Cider Mill, Janet’s Closet, Fiorelli’s Restaurant Collection, Rose Family Construction, National Museum of the Great Lakes and many other local businesses.

     The event will be held on the campus of the Flat Rock Historical Museum located at 25486 Gibraltar Rd. on FRIDAY, September 24th & SATURDAY, September 25th.  Tours start at 7 p.m. both nights and will run every half hour until 9pm. Tickets are limited in number to provide the best opportunity to social distance while allowing everyone access to hear the presenters. Tickets must be preordered and will NOT be available for purchase at the event. This event is appropriate for all ages, and participants should be able to walk short distances between presenters.

 

CLICK HERE for tickets

Many people know that Native Americans once lived in the Flat Rock and Brownstown area. But that is where the knowledge usually ends. Follow this mini-series to learn more about our area’s Native American history.

The Native Americans that lived in downriver area where known as the Wyandots. The first known contact of the Wyandots was by the French, in October of 1535. They were in the town of Hochelaga, which is now Montreal. It is said that there were about 30,000 to 45,000 Native Americans in the Wyandot and related tribes. After this meeting, the Wyandots decided to move west, into Michigan.

Unfortunately, there was much death in the Wyandot tribes in about 1634 to 1640. War, along with a smallpox epidemic brought by explorers from Europe, brought the number of Wyandots down from almost 45,000 to only 10,000.

The next mention of the Native Americans isn’t until July 1701. The French planned to have peace with the Native Americans, thus allowing them access into Iroquois-controlled territory. They decided to build Fort Pontachartrain du Detroit, and Sieur Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac invited the Wyandots and Ottawas to move to the new fort. These two tribes move from their homes in Michilimackinac and Manitoulin and settle outside of Fort Detroit.

The Wyandots and Ottawas came to the aid of the French, when in May of 1712, the Fox tribe attacked Fort Detroit. It is said that the Wyandots were able to draw many Foxes away from their camp and cut them to pieces in the long lasting fight. Unfortunately, there were many casualties on both sides.

The Wyandots were reported to have the “most industrious nation that can be seen.” In 1718, they were only three furlongs, or 3/8s of a mile, from Detroit. They successfully grew corn, peas, beans and wheat.

In 1728, the Mission of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Among the Huron was established in Detroit. Jesuit Father Armand de la Richardie leads the Mission. There was much hostility within and outside the Fort, because many were opposed to the Jesuits. This included some Native Americans and some French. The Jesuits first arrived in North America through Canada, in 1625.

The Wyandot decided to migrate south during 1730. Some stayed at Detroit, while others decided to settle on the south shore of Lake Erie. They gradually took over the area between the Great Lakes and the Miami River. This takeover gave them great influence on the the council of the Six Nations.

Not till the 1780s are there reports of people in the Brownstown area. Stay tuned for the history of the Wyandots in the 1800s.

All information was collected from the report, The Emigrant Tribe by Larry K. Hancks, located on the website, wyandot.org and loose notes from the Flat Rock Historical Collection in the Flat Rock Library.

Flat Rock is rich with history. From the Wyandot Indians to Henry Ford himself, Flat Rock has been an important part of Downriver and Southeast Michigan history.

The Flat Rock Historical Society, founded in 1975, has done a masterful job of capturing and preserving not only the historical record, but the physical presence as well.

Located on “Memory Lane,” just off of Gibraltar Rd and adjacent to the Flat Rock Library (where the Flat Rock Historical Archives are housed), the Flat Rock Historical Museum literally lets you stroll back in time.

Do you have a story about historical Flat Rock? We’d love to hear it in the comments below.

Flat Rock Historical Museum
25200 Gibraltar Road
Flat Rock, MI 48134

Open the 2nd Monday of each Month
1pm to 4 pm