News

Gratiot County’s historical newspapers have always been available to researchers through local libraries and at the genealogy library.  Finding articles, though, has meant a trip to the repository and negotiating the hours and availability of computers on site. The Alma... Continue Reading →...

It’s the one-year anniversary of the purchase of the Wright House!  The restoration effort has come a long way since that freezing day when the decision was made to raise $50,000 to buy the 136-year-old mansion. MANY MANY THANKS to... Continue Reading →...

Among the many resources available at the Gratiot County Genealogical Library are high school yearbooks. The library has a collection of yearbooks from every school in Gratiot County, many dating back to the early years of the 20th century. These... Continue Reading →...

The Gratiot County Historical Museum is presently closed for the winter but tentatively plans to reopen May 17-18 with its 2025 exhibit. John Kemler had the unique idea of showing many of our artifacts that are often unused by featuring... Continue Reading →...

The Gratiot Historical Museum is closed for the winter and will reopen next spring.  The museum’s display of wedding dresses and memorabilia from 1883 to 1984 was very popular, and we received several more wedding dresses for our collection. The... Continue Reading →...

The museum continues its display of 100 years of wedding dresses from Flora Heron’s 1883 white muslin dress to Mary Jo Vibbert’s 1984 taffeta designer gown.  The addition of a 1920’s gown and veil has enhanced the display.  The store... Continue Reading →...

The Smith Memorial Hospital Babies’ Reunion will be held on Saturday, August 17th at Wright Park from 1:30pm-3:00pm. Please bring your birth certificate and a baby picture. A tour of the Wright House/Smith Memorial Hospital is a possibility. Light refreshments... Continue Reading →...

The May 18-19 Joint Open House of the Gratiot Historical Museum and Gratiot Genealogy Library was very successful.  Approximately 80 people visited the museum, and 40 visited the library.  Many thanks to the volunteers who helped in any way with... Continue Reading →...

The Wright House Restoration project is continuing. The Wright House Restoration Alma (MI) Facebook page now has over 2500 members. Ammi Wright himself was resurrected in the person of Elmer Johnson and his wife, Anna Case, was portrayed by Bobbi... Continue Reading →...

The annual meeting of the Gratiot County Historical and Genealogical Society will be held Monday, July 15, 6:30 p.m., at the Alma Public Library. There will be a brief business meeting which will include elections of 2025 officers. Kylie Acker,... Continue Reading →...

The GCHGS is excited to be involved with a new restoration project.  Recently, we were contacted by several citizens of the Alma area concerning the historical A.W. Wright mansion at 503 N. State Street in Alma. The Wright home was... Continue Reading →...

Plans have begun for a joint open house of the Gratiot Historical Museum and the Peet-Miller house (Gratiot County Genealogy Library).  The Open House is planned for the weekend of May 18-19, Saturday and Sunday afternoons.  It is a short... Continue Reading →...

Abby Warnke, winner of the Mildred Chaffin Porter Scholarship, presented her paper at the August meeting of the Gratiot County Historical and Genealogical Society.  To view the presentation, use this link https://youtu.be/XPooLWuZEvQ...

Through generous contributions from Gleaner Harmony Arbor #273, the Helen Guernsey Memorial Fund, and interested members of the Gratiot County Historical Society, we have been able to add two new computers to our library. As the practice of family history... Continue Reading →...