Oakfield Pioneer Heritage Society
Location: - 11009 Podunk N.E.
¾ mile South M-57
½ mile West of Lincoln Lake Rd.
(no mailbox at museum)
The Oakfield Pioneer
Heritage Museum is located at 11009 Podunk Avenue, ¾
mile south of M-57 and is a fascinating place! One
of the 27 visitors during the “Spring into the Past”
tour in May could name many of the folks in a
panoramic photo of a White Swan reunion back in the
1920’s! She even found herself in an old photo on
our wall! How’s that for touching history?
Last year’s emphasis was on
schools of the township and the memories and photos
submitted by many were much appreciated. The “school
reunion” on a cold wet October day found lots of
warm hearts and cheery greetings from those who
attended and some actually rediscovered some former
classmates! How exciting!
This year’s emphasis will
be on township churches, past and present. The area
was first served by a “circuit preacher”, Rev.
F.Prescott who continued his treks to Oakfield, even
after he became pastor of a church in Laphamville
(now known as Rockford). Several times a month he
brought God’s Word to homes and other gatherings,
wherever he would be invited. His detailed journal
in our museum includes an 1858 entry “…in Oakfield
Center there seems to be an increasing religious
interest!” (Is it the same today?)
Did you know long ago there
were two churches on one mile of 12-Mile Road east
of Ramsdell? White Swan (Oakfield) Methodist
Episcopal Church was built in 1868 between Harvard
and Nugent roads. Many years later, the congregation
merged to become Courtland-Oakfield Methodist
Church. The old church building became unsafe and
was torn down.
A Baptist Church was also
built in 1868 on the corner of Nugent and 12-Mile,
now the White Swan cemetery. In 1949, it was
purchased and MOVED to the corner of Wabasis and
14-Mile (M-57) to become the core of the present
Oakfield Baptist Church. One could say Oakfield
Baptist is a “church on the move” since they also
moved the Oakfield Chapel from Wellman Road to their
present church campus for education and activities
until their present activity building was built. The
chapel has since been removed.
Thanks to Oakfield Baptist
Church for donating memorabilia from their 75th
anniversary celebration last year! We invite other
churches or individuals to share their stories,
photos or other memorabilia from township history,
either on loan, or to copy for our archives.
Identification of places and people in photos is
appreciated!
Museum Open Houses are 2-4
pm the second and fourth Sundays: June 8 and 22,
July 13 and 27, August 10 and 24, September 14 and
28. Bring the children to learn more of their local
heritage with our puzzle sheet to guide them. Come
and do research in our archives, too.
Heritage Society membership
is just $10 per year and with donations, helps
support activities. Monthly meetings are third
Thursdays at 10 am. Everyone is welcome. Questions
or comments? Contact an OPHS officer:
Our email address:
ophskentmi@yahoo.com
See you at the Museum!
For the future we will
continue to enhance and develop exhibits of
historical connection to our township and of
interest to its people. We continue to encourage
memberships in our group for $10/year which provides
some limited funding for displays and activities.
Memorial gifts are also welcome.
oakfield township:
cemeteries |
historical post offices
| photo gallery |
pioneer heritage society
| marriages
Content of this page provided by
Oakfield Pioneer Heritage Society
