Oshtemo Historical Society Organized
In early 2004 a group of interested, history-minded Oshtemo citizens along with township officials came together to explore the feasibility of saving and preserving the Drake Homestead (in current years known as the Frays Home). Thus, formation of an Oshtemo Historical Society resulted with a Board of Trustees, Mission Statement, Bylaws, active committees and the excitement about the opportunity to preserve and restore the 154 year-old Drake home, once one of the finest homes on the west prairies of Kalamazoo County.
The society holds monthly general meetings with very interesting speakers or activities and during the spring to fall months work on the Drake House. Check out the list of programs at the end of this website.
With the expanding growth in Oshtemo Township in the last several years, it is imperative that one of our major focuses is to preserve and to disseminate the history & knowledge of Oshtemo history by collecting and preserving past historical materials, memories & artifacts relating to people, businesses and activities so vital in Oshtemo Township development
Oshtemo Boasts a Rich History
Prior to the arrival of the first settlers in Oshtemo, the forests and prairies in the area were occupied by the Pottawotomie Indians. Parts of the township have been cited in James Finnimore Cooper's book Oak Openings. In 1830 Benjamin Drake and his family homesteaded in an area known as Grand Prairie. At about the same time, a few miles to the south, the Enoch Harris family, the first African-Americans in Oshtemo, settled on Genesee Prairie. Early information states that these two families helped each other farm and were active in community affairs. In 1831 the government offered the land in Section 13 for sale and Mr. Drake bid on it unopposed. With the help of the Indians, who were farming the land at that time, he built a small cabin which stood until the time a large brick house was built. This fine Italianate/Greek Revival house was built between 1850 and 1860. However, it burned in 1882 due to a chimney fire and was restored in 1883, the same year that Benjamin Drake dies in September. This is the house that stands today. His daughter Jane, who never married, lived in the home until her death in 1897.
By 1839 seventy taxpayers were in the area, mostly listed as farmers. On March 22, 1839 Oshtemo was organized as a Township in Kalamazoo County and recognized by the State of Michigan Legislature.
Historic Drake House Creates a Challenge for the Oshtemo Historical Society.
North of Maple Hill Mall, on the west side of Drake Road, down a tree-lined lane for about one quarter mile, you approach an old red brick home known as the Drake Homestead, surrounded by approximately four acres. In the midst of today's development around this property, the Drake House appears to be isolated in rural tranquility. If you close your eyes, you can imagine the home as it once appeared in the mid-1800's with agricultural fields all around it.
The house was left vacant for several years before the Township purchased it. Consequently, it needs a great deal of work to bring it back to its former elegance as the country Victorian home of one of the more prominent citizens in Oshtemo Township at the time.
In the last four years society members spent two years cleaning out the house and carriage barn, worked with the Township Trustees in proceeding to have a new roof installed, new foundation roping repaired, exterior brick repaired, a security system installed, and the installation of a new electrical system. This year the Township Trustees approved monies for installing a heating and air conditioning system, new plumbing for a renovated bathroom and painting the exterior upper portion of the house. So the Oshtemo Historical Society in cooperation with Oshtemo Township Officials has been busy and is proceeding slowly with the funds available to restore this gem of history in Oshtemo.
Once this house is restored and open to the public, future goals/plans for the house will include a museum room exhibiting various Oshtemo historical materials, a research room with internet connections of genealogy searches, and a wonderful place to hold a number of events for groups and citizens of the surrounding vicinity in the renovated rooms with a country Victorian flair.
We welcome anyone who is interested in researching and preserving the history of the area as well as donating time to work on the Drake House preservation, to join our society. In September 2007 the OHS was designated as a non-profit organization that meets the qualifications of Section 501c3 of the IRS Revenue Code. Donations of money or artifacts/papers will gladly be accepted by contacting Kay Oppliger at 375-2549 or MaryAnne Britvec at 342-4332.
Oshtemo Historical Society Board of Trustees
Neil Sikora - President
Joan Young - Vice President
Mary Anne Britvec - Secretary
Starr Waldron - Treasurer
Millard Loy- Trustee
Jim Britvec- Trustee
Stan Rakowski - Trustee