Happy birthday to local historian Mildred Schmidt, who celebrated 99 years Monday with cake, gifts and friends at the Campbell Personal Care Home in Addison Township.
‘Keep going? and ‘expect surprises like this? are the two bits of wisdom Schmidt imparted on her milestone occasion.
In October 1971, Schmidt and 29 other local history buffs founded the Northeast Oakland Historical Society. She served as curator for the group’s museum in downtown Oxford for 27 years, retiring in 1999, but remaining active and influential.
Over the years, she filled the museum with everyday artifacts donated by local people ? such as clothes, furniture, housewares, tools and toys ? in order to transform history into a living story that everyone could relate to, particularly school kids.
‘When I was in school I thought history was boring,? she told the Leader back in May 2000. ‘I hated having to memorize the name of all those kings and dates. But local history is different because you live with it and are a part of it. I’m interested in people’s everyday lives and showing how they lived and worked.?
Peaking young people’s interest in history was very important to Schmidt, who taught school in Almont before retiring in 1971. Teaching there provided Schmidt with some of her fondest memories and funniest moments.
Schmidt recalled the time one of her more ‘clumsy? students tripped and ‘fell flat on his face? right in front of her.
With the whole class laughing, she realized she had to say something to make the embarrassed student feel better. ‘That’s the first time I’ve ever had one of my students fall for me,? Schmidt told the boy.