March 10, 2008

The Michigan Historical Center Foundation today announced it has received donations of $5,000 from the Brighton-based Sage Foundation and $2,500 from the Jackson-based Consumers Energy Foundation to help restore the Hewitt House, which will serve as the visitor center at the Walker Tavern historic site in Brooklyn.  The contributions will further efforts to enhance the visitor experience at Walker Tavern, located at the junction of M-50 and the U.S. 12 Heritage Route in the Irish Hills region.

"The foundation is striving not only to raise the funds necessary to support projects like the Hewitt House restoration but also to raise awareness of how important it is to preserve our state's history as we move toward the future," said Patricia Clark, Michigan Historical Center Foundation director.  "Without the generous help of these organizations, many of Michigan's stories would be lost."

Walker Tavern - built in 1832 at the intersection of Chicago Road (now U.S. 12) and La Plaisance Bay Turnpike, a crossroads known as Cambridge Junction - served as a tavern and stagecoach stop for many westbound travelers.  Not only was its location crucial for traveling pioneers, but it was the scene for many communal gatherings, local social projects and mass political meetings contributing to Michigan's political and economic development.

Today, exhibits and special events at the Walker Tavern historic site interpret Michigan's frontier settlement and stagecoach eras during the first half of the 19th century, telling the stories of the people who traveled these historic roads.

The Hewitt House, a prominent historic building on the site, now has a new heating system and water well thanks to previous donations.  The renovation of the Hewitt House is the first phase of a master plan to restore the entire Walker Tavern site. The house is badly in need of repairs and renovation to bring it up to code and provide a safe and pleasant environment for thousands of visitors. The restored house will serve as a visitors' center, housing interpretive exhibits on the history of travel along U.S. 12, providing tourists with restroom facilities and information on the Irish Hills area and the U.S. 12 National Heritage Trail, and offering community space for education programs, special events and activities.

To continue its plan for the Walker Tavern site, the Michigan Historical Center Foundation is in search of a minimum of $55,000 in additional funding to improve the Hewitt House with modern structural capabilities while maintaining a 1920s-1930s interpretive value.

The contributions from the Sage Foundation and Consumers Energy, Clark explained, help the Michigan Historical Museum system to achieve its goal for visitors to enjoy a "pure Michigan" experience that encourages further exploration of the Great Lakes State's heritage. 

Walker Tavern's 19th-century, New England-style barn, which houses important artifacts depicting early travel in Michigan, recently received a new roof due to the work of a volunteer group. 

The Friends of Walker Tavern, a community group that formed in 2006 and continues to increase in membership, hosting special educational programs and events and helping to support site improvements.

Walker Tavern Historic Site is located just 35 miles west of Ann Arbor, next to the Michigan International Speedway. For more information about Walker Tavern, the Hewitt House restoration project and sponsorship opportunities, visit www.michigan.gov/walkertavern.

The Michigan Historical Center Foundation is a private, not-for-profit organization that supports the work of the Michigan Historical Center.  The center includes the Michigan Historical Museum, 10 regional museums, Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary and Underwater Preserve, the State Archives of Michigan, Records Management Services, archaeological and historic preservation programs, and publications, including Michigan History magazine.

The Michigan Historical Center is part of the Department of History, Arts and Libraries (HAL), whose mission is to enrich quality of life and strengthen the economy by providing access to information, preserving and promoting Michigan heritage, and fostering cultural creativity.  The department also includes the Library of Michigan, the Mackinac Island State Park Commission, the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs, and the Michigan Film Office.  For more information about HAL, visit www.michigan.gov/hal.

Read more press releases from the Department of History, Arts and Libraries (HAL).