Historical Museum Seeking Dearborn Story Submissions for Book

Every Dearborn resident has a story about their city. Their first Homecoming festival, a wedding, a favorite park they take their kids to–and the is looking to collect and publish those stories.

The museum hopes to collect 300 stories this month, publishing the results in a book to be released just in time for Christmas.

The goal of the project is to create a book that will help provide a “sense of place” about Dearborn, its culture and history, according to L. Glenn O’Kray, vice chairman of the Dearborn Historical Commission and supervisor of the project.

“Of course we’re also hoping that people will want to see their names and their stories in print,” O’Kray added. “This could be an important fundraiser at a time when the Historical Museum is in deep financial trouble.”

Faced with the reality that in the very near future, the Museum Guild of Dearborn and Historical Commission have been charged with the task of finding new and unique ways of raising money to keep the museum open. This is one such idea hoped to generate funds.

All proceeds from sales of the book will go to support the museum, which has begun a membership drive to help keep its doors open after city funds run out during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2012.

Submissions for the book are being accepted through Oct. 20, with hopes of having the book ready for sale at the gift shop by Nov. 15.

The kinds of stories the museum is looking for can include a personal anecdote or experience relating to Dearborn–or maybe a yarn about a particular person, perhaps a teacher or neighbor, who had a major impact on the writer’s life.

“I’ve found that everybody has a story to tell, from kindergartners to retirees," said O'Kray. "Some residents remember meeting Henry Ford I. Others have memories of getting bombed out in Lebanon in the 1970s. Others have special memories of stores like Muirhead’s or Crowley’s.

"We may not publish everything we get, but the more submissions, the better the book will be," he added. "If you have family members or friends who would like to write their story, ask them to do so. We encourage students to write as well.”

Those interested in the project should e-mail a story of no more than 44 lines (about 900 words) plus a title line to lglennokray@cavtel.net no later than Oct. 20. Mailed submissions can be sent to O’Kray at 752 Wagner Court, Dearborn, 48124. For more information, call O’Kray at 313-724-8203.

Writers are also asked to sign and return the following release statement: “I give the Dearborn Historical Commission and Museum Guild of Dearborn permission to use any or all parts of these materials for such scholarly and educational purposes as the Dearborn Historical Commission shall determine are appropriate. I further agree that the Dearborn Historical Commission owns all rights to the materials submitted. I recognize that editors may choose to make changes to my submission and will contact me only if the changes are substantial.”