Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Stop by the book signing party between 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday at The Center.
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Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Don’t look for Elmore Leonard, Mitch Albom or Joyce Carol Oates. But more than 100 “famous authors” are expected to gather Saturday for the official release of the Dearborn Historical Museum’s Best Dearborn Stories: Voices From Henry Ford’s Hometown, Volume II. The public is invited to the book-signing party, to be held from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday at the Ford Community and Performing Arts Center. The Center is located at 15801 Michigan Ave. in Dearborn. Published as a fund-raiser by the nonprofit Museum Guild of Dearborn, the book will be available for purchase in soft cover at $19.95. All profits will go to the museum. “The first volume of Best Dearborn Stories has made more than $10,000 for the museum since it was released …
Monday, September 24, 2012
With city funds on the wane and no professional staff, the Dearborn Historical Museum is looking for ways to thrive in uncertain times.
At the Dearborn Historical Museum's two buildings in west downtown, the city’s rich history is on display. But keeping priceless artifacts, documents and other items that explain and define Dearborn’s history is becoming increasingly difficult in the face of the loss of city funds resulting from a long recession and budget concerns, explained volunteer curator Jack Tate at a recent meeting organized by the League of Women Voters of Dearborn-Dearborn Heights. “We’re going to need everyone in this room," Tate said to attendees, "and more help from everyone to keep the museum’s doors open, and to make sure we get everything done that we need to do." “All cities are facing problems because of the economy; Dearborn is no different,” he added. “…
Friday, August 17, 2012
Find a treasure at the Dearborn Historical Museum Friday and Saturday.
The Museum Guild of Dearborn's Arts, Crafts and Rummage sale got off to a good start Thursday, despite the threat of bad weather. But if you missed the first day, fear not: The sale will continue Friday and Saturday just outside of the Dearborn Historical Museum, located at 915 Brady Street in west Dearborn. The sale includes goods donated to the Museum Guild. Visitors can purchase a $5 bag and take home whatever they can fit into it, unless an item is priced otherwise. Local vendors will also offer unique crafts and household goods in their booths. All money made from items sold by the Guild will go to support the Dearborn Historical Museum. The sale runs from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday.
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
A public hearing on the budget will take place May 14 at 6 p.m. in the City Council Chambers at Dearborn City Hall.
Dearborn city leaders have been meeting for several months to discuss the details of the fiscal year 2013 budget, which begins July 1. On May 14 at 6 p.m. at Dearborn City Hall, Dearborn residents will be given a chance to express their concerns about the proposed 2013 budget. Think the city needs to make more spending cuts? Want to know why certain capital improvements are being made? Don't want to see the voter-approved 3.5 mill increase enacted? This is the time to speak up. Here's what you need to know as Dearborn heads into another budgetary year. Click the links to read more details about specific budgetary discussions. Even if the Dearborn City Council levies the full 3.5 mills additional afforded to them by voters, the fiscal year …
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Each month, the group takes on a different artistic challenge. In April, it was dish rags.
The Artists' Society of Dearborn took on an interesting challenge for their April meeting: Members were asked to create a work of art out of a dish towel. "They do these little exercises every month, in addition to shows and exhibits all over town on a year-round basis," explained member Karen Wisniewski. "This month everyone got a dish towel. The assignment was to create something out of it or part of it. The key word is to be 'creative.'" The winning entry came from Maureen Wilson, who transformed her towel into a 3-D bonsai tree. Anyone who would like information about the Artists' Society, which is also part of the non-profit Museum Guild of Dearborn, can call Dave Gorden at 313-278-7061.
Sunday, April 15, 2012
The follow up will include hundreds more stories about the city from residents past and present.
A still-to-be-titled sequel to the Museum Guild of Dearborn’s Best Dearborn Stories: Voices From Henry Ford’s Hometown is in the works, guild representatives have confirmed. The original 382-page anthology sold more than 500 copies in the first month after its release in early December–and Dearborn Historical Museum supporters were pleased. “I have to say the book’s reception was a pleasant surprise,” said Kirt Gross, the museum’s chief curator. “By our standards, it was certainly a best seller. We hope that plans continue to come together for the sequel.” Overall, the book has sold more than 800 of its initial run of 1,300 copies, earning gross receipts of more than $16,000. All proceeds beyond the Museum Guild’s initial publication cost …
Friday, April 6, 2012
City Council members lauded the museum's efforts to become self-sufficient in a budget meeting this week.
The Dearborn Historical Museum still has a long way to go before it is self-funded, but showed significant progress at a budget meeting held this week at City Hall. The museum–which last year was charged with the eventual goal of operating independent of general fund subsidy–presented its five-year to City Council Wednesday, explaining its long-term improvement goals, revenue and cost-saving endeavors, and branding efforts. In the first half of fiscal year 2011-2012 (through January 2012), the museum made $47,194.73 in revenue. This included memberships, eBay sales of extra artifacts, fees, donations, and proceeds from the sale of its book of residents' stories, Best Dearborn Stories. Further cost-saving efforts were also put in place …
Sunday, October 9, 2011
The museum hopes to put submissions together into a book about the city's history.
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 Dearborn Historical Museum 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 …
Friday, July 22, 2011
Five things you need to know to start your day in Dearborn.
Ready to start your day? Here's what you need to know. 1. Temperatures will drop slightly today into this weekend, according to the National Weather Service. But it'll still hover around 90 degrees all weekend, with a 40-50 percent chance of thunderstorms lingering all the while. 2. The Players Guild of Dearborn presents Free to Be...You and Me on Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 7:30 p.m. Watch as kids explore all the possibilities that life can offer–an inspiring show for all ages! All shows are $5 per ticket. 3. The Museum Guild of Dearborn's annual garage sale continues today and tomorrow from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., respectively. Pick up some local goodies–and possibly some with historical value–while helping raise funds …
Lee Jacobsen
11:51 am on Monday, September 24, 2012
How do other cities, such as Plymouth, for example, handle their historical museum and heritage? In the past, the museum was much more involved with historical issues related to Dearborn, sponsoring art festivals, historical re-enactments at nearby Ford field, and other activities with nearby Greenfield Village that helped generate money. However, at that time the city was footing the bill for … more ›