Welcome to the Ferndale Historical Society, Operators of the Ferndale Historical Museum located in Ferndale, Michigan.

When the state of Michigan became interested in historic buildings in 1973, the City of Ferndale established a Historical Study Commission. Maurice F. Cole, James Avery, June Kotlarek, Vincent Lupo and Thomas O’Donoghue were appointed as Charter members in 1974. Mr. Lupo resigned a few weeks later and Mr. O’Donoghue resigned due to health concerns.

The first Ferndale Historical Society was founded on February 21, 1977, but it became inactive by August 1980. The Historical Study Commission was still active.

The Canadian Legion donated their building to the City of Ferndale "to be used for the good of the community" in 1979. On February 23, 1981, a city council resolution
passed would allow the donated building to be used as the Ferndale Historical Museum and Town Center provided that renovations estimated around $20,000 were completed without cost to the city. Mildred Garbutt and others at this time started to collect items for the museum.

In September 1981, after visiting the Canadian Legion building to discuss work needed, it was brought up at a Historical Study Commission meeting which was usually held at City Hall by Jim Avery that the Ferndale Historical Society should be reactivated and the idea was unanimously approved by a vote.

During 1982, renovations on the building continued, membership ideas, collecting items and other revenue ideas were in the works. By May, a committee was established to create By-Laws. Many local businesses, organizations and people donated money and materials while volunteers worked on the building.

The Ferndale Historical Society was officially incorporated February 23, 1983. An Open House and Building dedication was scheduled on May 30th after the Memorial Day Parade and Program. When the Historical Society became responsible for the operation of the museum, the Historical Study Commission work was considered complete and dissolved in 1984.

In 2008 the Ferndale Historical Society celebrated its 25th Anniversary of incorporation. In 2020, as the museum’s inventory grows, the current space has reached its capacity and we are in desperate need of a new home to house and display the hundreds of items it has collected over the years. We are currently looking for a larger building and have established a building fund.

The Ferndale Historical Society and Museum is a 501.c3 not for profit business offering research, genealogical service, and other services pertaining to the City of Ferndale Michigan. We are a volunteer based and privately run business that is NOT affiliated with the City of Ferndale Government itself nor housed in a city building. We maintain our overhead by collecting membership dues, donations, and the sale of books, plaques, and research services. Although we are not taxpayer funded, we do occasionally receive a little assistance from the city for building maintenance and utilities.

The purpose of this Society shall be to bring together those people interested in history and especially in the history of the City of Ferndale and the Ferndale School District.

Understanding the history of the community is basic to our democratic way of life, gives us a better understanding of out state and nation, and promotes a better appreciation of our American heritage.

The Society’s major function will be to discover and collect any material which may help establish or illustrate the history of the area, its exploration, settlement, development and activities in peace and war, its progress in population, wealth, education, arts, science, agriculture, manufacturers, trade and transportation. It will collect printed or electronic material such as histories, genealogies, biographies, descriptions, gazettes, directories, newspapers, pamphlets, catalogues, circulars, handbills, programs, and posters.

Manuscript materials such as letters, diaries, journals, memoranda, reminiscences, rosters, service records, oral histories, account books, charts, surveys, and field books. Museum material such as pictures, photographs, paintings, portraits, scenes, aboriginal relics and material objects illustrative of life, conditions, events and activities of the past and present as well as the future will also be collected.

The Society will provide for the preservation of such material for its accessibility as far, as may be feasible to all that wish to examine or study it. To cooperate with officials in insuring the preservation and accessibility of the records and archives of the City of Ferndale as well as to support the preservation of Historic Buildings, Monuments and Markers.

The Society will disseminate historical information and arouse interest in the past by publishing historical material in the newspapers or other media. By holding meetings with PR presentations, addresses, lectures, papers and discussions. Also by marking historic buildings, sites and trails, using any and all available media to awaken public interest.

The Society will cooperate with the State Historical Society of Michigan (State Historic Commission, or State Department of Archives and History) to collect and preserve material of statewide significance so that copies can be made available at cost to students and scholars.