Oakland History Center at Pine Grove

Children's Holiday Workshop - In the Schoolhouse
2018-12-08 13:00 - 16:00 (America/Detroit) | Oakland History Center Drayton Plains Schoolhouse, 405 Cesar E Chavez, Pontiac, MI, 48342, United States
Join us as we host a Holiday Workshop in the Schoolhouse! Make ornaments, learn a little history, have a lot of fun!

Victorian Open House
2018-12-02 13:00 - 16:00 | Pine Grove, 405 Cesar E Chavez Ave, Pontiac, MI, 48341, United States
A Wisner Family Celebration

When: Sunday, December 2, 2018 from 1 to 4 PM
at
Pine Grove
405 Cesar E Chavez
Pontiac, MI 48342

Admission: $7 per person, $15 per family of 5.

Tour Governor Moses Wisner’s home all decked out in Victorian splendor!

Visit with Good Old St. Nick, enjoy music, carols, cocoa and cookies
Private Tours of the Wisner Mansion – December 9th and 16th from 1 to 4 PM!

Enter a drawing to win a holiday quilt!
To find out how to win, see one of us at the Victorian Open House!

Come visit your hometown museum!

Holiday Extravaganza Parade and WinterFUN Festival
2018-12-01 | Downtown Pontiac, Pontiac, MI, 48341, United States
Who doesn’t love a parade? Or a winter festival?
A FREE winter festival and parade in downtown Pontiac, Michigan! Bring the whole family down!

Including a historic trolley tour of Pontiac’s historic buildings!

Underground Railroad Historic Site Tour
2018-11-10 09:00 - 17:00 | Pine Grove, 405 Cesar E Chavez Ave, Pontiac, MI, 48341, United States
Due to high demand, historian Willie Payne and the Oakland County Historical Society will conduct a second Underground Railroad Historic Site Tour.
You will explore sites in Pontiac, Orchard Lake, Walled Lake, Farmington and Detroit used to harbor southern fugitive slaves and hear stories of how local abolitionists helped them escape to Canada on the Underground Railroad.

Capacity: 56 people, transportation by coach.
Cost: $35.00 per person, includes light lunch.

Book Signing - Leslie Pielack: "The Saginaw Trail: From Native American Path to Woodward Avenue"
2018-11-07 18:00 - 20:00 | OCPHS Carriage House, 405 Cesar E Chavez Ave, Pontiac, MI, 48341, United States
Join us at Pine Grove to hear from Leslie Pielack about her new book, “The Saginaw Trail: From Native American Path to Woodward Avenue”, get your copy and have it signed by Leslie, and enjoy some light refreshments as we continue to celebrate Pontiac’s bicentennial week!
From: 6-8 PM in the Carriage House.
Admission is free, donations are happily accepted.

The Haunted Mansion at Pine Grove
2018-10-20 18:00 - 20:00 | Pine Grove, 405 Cesar E Chavez Ave, Pontiac, MI, 48341, United States
A family friendly tour of 19th century customs, featuring the ghosts of the Wisner family and friends telling their stories.
Children’s crafts and light refreshments served in the Schoolhouse after your tour.
Tickets: $10.00 per person, sold in the Gift Shop.

1818 Expedition and the Original Pontiac Plan
2018-10-14 14:00 - 16:00 | OCPHS Carriage House, 405 Cesar E Chavez Ave, Pontiac, MI, 48341, United States
In October of 1818, five men spent twelve days exploring Oakland County’s lakes area. When they returned, they wrote a newspaper article describing what they found in glowing terms. When it was received in Detroit and New York, the article kicked off the settlement of Pontiac and the creation of Oakland County.
Why did they go? What did they see? What did they do when they returned?
As with all things, this expedition didn’t happen in a vacuum – there were events brewing and plans afoot – on the national stage, in the newly created Michigan territory, in Detroit, and in the future Oakland County.
It’s a fast moving story of volcanoes, Native Americans, businessmen and the founding of an inland town called Pontiac. It’s a story of land sales, future leaders in their youth, and the early explosive growth of our home ground.
Join Barbara Frye and Dave Decker on October 14th as they put this journey into context and celebrate this exploration, the founding of Pontiac and the early settlement of Oakland County.

1818 Expedition Presentation - Bloomfield Historical Society
2018-10-07 15:00 - 16:30 | Bloomfield Township Public Library, 1099 Lone Pine Road, Bloomfield Hills, MI, 48302, United States
Join 4 presenters as they tell the story of an early expedition into the county.

5th Annual Dinner and Auction: Saddle Up!
2018-10-05 18:00 - 22:00 | Lafayette Grande Ballroom, 1 Lafayette Street, Pontiac, MI, 48342, United States
Saddle Up!
. A Dinner & Auction to benefit Oakland County Pioneer & Historical Society, Pine Grove Historical Museum and the Wisner House.
When:
Friday, October 5, 2018 6 P.M. – 10 p.m.
Where:
Lafayette Grande Banquet Facility
1 Lafayette, Downtown Pontiac
Buffet Dinner/Cash Bar
Live & Silent Auctions

Tickets:
$40 per person
(Hurry: Only $35 if purchased by Sep. 21!)
Click here to purchase through our online store. Your tickets will be available at the door. If you would like them mailed to you in advance, please contact our office.
$40.00 $35.00Add to cart
Theme:
Lasso your friends for a rootin’ tootin’ good time as we celebrate westward expansion into Oakland County 200 years ago!
“Western” attire encouraged but not required!

Donations
Do you have items you’d like to donate to the auctions?
We are also looking for sponsors!
For information on donating items or sponsoring this wonderful evening,
contact the office!

For more information, contact OCPHS:
248-338-6732 / www.ocphs.org / office@ocphs.org
OCPHS is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to
preserving and conveying Oakland County’s history
Donations are tax-deductible in accordance with applicable law
Tax ID #38-1846291 MICS #7467

Underground Railroad Historic Site Tour with Willie Payne
2018-09-29 09:00 - 17:00 | Pine Grove, 405 Cesar E Chavez Ave, Pontiac, MI, 48341, United States
Due to popular demand, there’s a second tour!
November 10, 2018, same time, same place!
To purchase tickets for this event, please click here.

2018 Annual Ice Cream Social
2018-07-28 11:00 - 17:00 | Pine Grove, 405 Cesar E Chavez Ave, Pontiac, MI, 48341, United States
Save the Date!
Saturday July 28,2018, 11am to 5 pm.
Fun for the whole Family – details to follow!
$7 per person – $15 for a family of 5

Board Meeting
2018-07-21 09:30 - 12:00 | OCPHS Carriage House, 405 Cesar E Chavez Ave, Pontiac, MI, 48341, United States
Open to members.

Mini-Lecture Series: Two Hundred Years of Agricultural Progress by Tom McClure
2018-06-24 14:00 - 16:00 | OCPHS Carriage House, 405 Cesar E Chavez Ave, Pontiac, MI, 48341, United States
Two Hundred Years of Agricultural Progress
Tom examines how we moved from a lot of back-breaking manual work on the farm to modern industrialization. He talks about what was required to bring a crop to harvest in 1818 to the same harvest of today. Specifically how wheat is and was grown to become the bread we eat.
Admission $7 Light refreshments provided

Board Meeting
2018-06-21 17:30 - 19:00 | OCPHS Carriage House, 405 Cesar E Chavez Ave, Pontiac, MI, 48341, United States
Board of Directors meeting. Members are welcome!

Pine Grove Notes: Oakland County Pioneer Society
2018-06-20 18:00 - 19:30 | OCPHS Carriage House, 405 Cesar E Chavez Ave, Pontiac, MI, 48341, United States
A discussion about the Oakland County Pioneer Society, one of our founding organizations.

Pine Grove Notes: Pine Grove Buildings and Structures
2018-06-13 18:00 - 19:30 | OCPHS Carriage House, 405 Cesar E Chavez Ave, Pontiac, MI, 48341, United States
Casual discussion about the buildings at Pine Grove – a little about the house, the schoolhouse, the carriage house, and a browse through some old albums.

Pine Grove Notes - Moses Wisner
2018-06-06 18:00 - 19:30 | OCPHS Carriage House, 405 Cesar E Chavez Ave, Pontiac, MI, 48341, United States
OCPHS will be sponsoring informational sessions about the Wisner family, their estate of Pine Grove, and Pioneer families of Oakland County.
These sessions are scheduled for every Wednesday evening from 6 to 7:30 pm in the Carriage House on the property.
Topics will vary,suggestions from participants are encouraged.

This Place Matters: Oakland County's Hidden History
2018-05-20 14:00 - 16:00 | OCPHS Carriage House, 405 Cesar E Chavez Ave, Pontiac, MI, 48341, United States
Presenter: Ron Campbell, Oakland County Economic Development and Community Affairs
Become an armchair traveler through time and space as some of Oakland County’s hidden history is explored. From the nationally significant to the personally priceless; these are places that make us unique and give special meaning to our communities. Your itinerary will include places in Oakland which you probably never knew existed and stories rarely told.

2018 Annual Meeting
2018-05-19 09:30 - 11:30 | OCPHS Carriage House, 405 Cesar E Chavez Ave, Pontiac, MI, 48341, United States
All members are welcome to join us at our Annual Meeting, being held in the Carriage House. Join us for breakfast snacks, board elections, some changes to our bylaws, and other horsepuckey.

Captain Furlong in World War I
2018-04-22 14:00 - 16:00 | OCPHS Carriage House, 405 Cesar E Chavez Ave, Pontiac, MI, 48341, United States
Captain Furlong in World War I
Presented by Larry Hathcock
Harold Arthur Furlong (August 25, 1895 – July 27, 1987) was a United States Army First Lieutenant and a recipient of the United States military’s highest decoration, the Medal of Honor, for his actions in France during World War I. After earning the Medal of Honor, he joined the Michigan National Guard, retiring in May 1946.

John WiIkes Booth Escape Route
2018-03-11 14:00 - 16:00 | OCPHS Carriage House, 405 Cesar E Chavez Ave, Pontiac, MI, 48341, United States
John WiIkes Booth Escape Route
Bill is a fascinating speaker with many credentials. He takes us on the Journey an assassin took in the hopes of escape.
Through a series of unfortunate omissions and mishaps, John Wilkes Booth was able to get close enough to Lincoln to raise a small, single shot derringer and shoot him at point blank range. The confusion that followed allowed Booth to escape the theater.
Admission $7 Light refreshments are provided.

Mini-Lecture: Maureen Young - "The History of Pop-Up Books"
2018-02-18 14:00 - 16:00 | OCPHS Carriage House, 405 Cesar E Chavez Ave, Pontiac, MI, 48341, United States
“The History of Pop-Up Books”February 18th 2:00 PM- Mini Lecture by Maureen Young
Have you ever opened a book and literally had the story jump up off the page at you? Maureen will guide us though a history of how these delightful tomes came to be, with many examples from her own collection.
Admission $7 ~ Light refreshments served.

2018 Appreciation Reception
2018-02-07 18:00 - 20:00 | OCPHS Carriage House, 405 Cesar E Chavez Ave, Pontiac, MI, 48341, United States
Please make plans to join us for our 2018 Appreciation Reception. This is our chance to say a big thank you to all of our sponsors, volunteers, and members for their part in making 2017 a successful year.
Light refreshments will be served open house style in the Carriage House.
Come for a few minutes or stay for the duration. We look forward to spending the evening with you.

Mini-Lecture by Bill Grandstaff: "A Picnic in the Cemetery"
2018-01-21 14:00 - 16:00 | OCPHS Carriage House, 405 Cesar E Chavez Ave, Pontiac, MI, 48341, United States
Before the Civil War, The Victorian Era had a custom for every aspect of the daily life in America. Death and dying was no exception.
We will examine the concept of a “Good Death,” and what that meant including where and how people were buried and the evolution of cemeteries from the Puritans to Victorian cemeteries to the rural cemetery movement.
While the Victorian Era was a regimented period, some of them had an excellent sense of humor and expressed it on their tombstones. We will spend time exploring head stone messages and symbols.
And we will discuss how young soldiers dying in war far from home would change how a nation dealt with death.

Pine Grove Closed - Christmas Week!
2017-12-22 08:00 - 2018-01-01 16:00 | MI
All of us here at Pine Grove, home of the Oakland County Pioneer & Historical Society, wish you a joyous Holiday Season and a prosperous New Year!
We will be closed Christmas week to celebrate with our families. We hope to see you again to start the new year when we resume regular business hours on January 2, 2018!
Thank you for your Support!

Pine Grove Closed - Snow Day
2017-12-14 | MI
It’s a snow day! The Pine Grove campus is closed today due to snow.

In general, when Pontiac Schools close due to snow, so do we.

Have a great day!

Victorian Open House
2017-12-03 13:00 - 16:00 | Pine Grove, 405 Cesar E Chavez Ave, Pontiac, MI, 48341, United States
Our annual Victorian Open House is a major fundraiser for us, and a wonderful Holiday season event. See this page for details!

Pontiac Holiday Extravaganza Parade
2017-12-02 08:00 - 15:00 | Downtown Pontiac, Pontiac, MI, 48341, United States
Who doesn’t love a parade?
A FREE winter festival and parade in downtown Pontiac, Michigan! Bring the whole family down for free horse drawn wagon rides, hot cocoa, smores, kid’s crafts and MUCH MORE!

Tom Tucker and the 22nd Michigan Infantry
2017-11-05 14:00 - 16:00 | OCPHS Carriage House, 405 Cesar E Chavez Ave, Pontiac, MI, 48341, United States
Tom Tucker and the 22nd Michigan Infantry
Presented by Larry Hathcock
Larry Hathcock, OCPHS member and Civil War reenactor, will present the Civil War service of Tom Tucker of Ortonville, Michigan. Mr. Tucker kept a diary of his experiences as a Union solder in the 22nd Michigan Infantry during the Civil War. Mr. Hathcock will be dressed as a Union infantryman and will share Tom Tucker’s daily experiences as a soldier.
Admission $7 Light refreshments are provided.

A Visual Tour of the Battle of Perryville
2017-10-22 14:00 - 16:00 | OCPHS Carriage House, 405 Cesar E Chavez Ave, Pontiac, MI, 48341, United States
Presented by Tom Nelson, Adjunct Professor, MCC
Tom will be presenting a visual tour of his visit to the Kentucky Civil War battlefield of Perryville. The Battle of Perryville was fought on October 17, 1852 as Confederate General Braxton Bragg attempted to secure Kentucky into the Confederacy. It was the biggest battle in Kentucky during the Civil War. Tom will present the battle in chronological order as it occurred throughout the day.
Admission $7.00, light refreshments are provided.
