ROSCOMMOM – Members of the Roscommon Area Historical Society (RAHS), work diligently to preserve history of the region and keep the Gallimore House, Richardson School, and Silsby Museum buildings upgraded and maintained. These artifacts of yesteryear are preserved, conserved and supported by local volunteers, through private donations and grant help of the Downtown Development Authority (DDA).
Three museum structures, located in downtown Roscommon, have had exterior painting completed and the Silsby structure has been fully renovated. As with any structure, upkeep is perpetual, and the expense of painting, roofing and other general maintenance continues to rise. Contributions of donors and a yearly June “porch sale,” assists with many of the smaller projects however, exterior facade work has greatly benefited from contributions of the Roscommon DDA through their Facade Grants. The generosity of the community is greatly appreciated.
RAHS President, Ethan Brand and Vice President Dan Fishel were on hand recently to receive a Facade Grant donation of $4,180 from DDA President Thomas O’Brian, for painting of the Richardson School building. A similar DDA Facade Grant of $1,016 in 2019, helped cover expenses for painting of the Gallimore House.
Brand stated “The work that has been done to the exteriors and interiors of the structures, including cedar shake roofing several years ago, of the Gallimore House, should last for the next twenty years or more.”
The Silsby building, reportedly the former dining room of a home that had been located where the County Building is now, is destined to house historical and ancestorial records of the region. Those records as well as genealogical records are currently located at the Roscommon Area District Library. Silsby is a climate-controlled environment, and will be available to researchers by appointment, once the records and photos are relocated there.
The village of Roscommon and the surrounding area is rich in history. Lush white pine and hemlock forests of the 1800s afforded early settlers employment in the logging industry, as well as abundant land to settle and build communities. Rivers flowing to the Great Lakes provided an avenue not only for transportation of humans and cattle, but for the logs to be conveyed to mills. Railroads also proved beneficial in the transport of people and goods to the area. Roscommon and the surrounding area proved to be a hub of it. Many current residents can prove their ancestry back to the early settlers.
The three buildings of the Museum are located at 404 Lake Street, Roscommon and are open to the public Saturdays, Memorial Day through Labor Day, 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Visitors and those researching the early settling of the area are invited and welcome to stop by. Vice President, Dan Fishel, local historian and author, is Docent on duty. The buildings are also open during Christmas in the Village, with cookies and wassail available in the Gallimore House. Special birthday celebrations may also be accommodated for individuals 89 years young or older.
RAHS is grateful to all donors, especially the Roscommon DDA for their contributions. The Roscommon DDA Facade Grants have been beneficial to many other local downtown businesses and organizations.
RAHS meets the third Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m., May through September. The public is welcome. As with any organization, volunteers are always needed. For more information or to make an appointment outside visitor times, contact Ethan Brand at 269-365-7744. If no answer, please leave a message.
