It’s amazing what a little reorganization and a feather duster can do. Just ask Jerry Griffin, president of the Northeast Oakland Historical Society.
Griffin and his merry band of preservers of the past spent the entire month of February rearranging, cleaning and painting the historical museum in downtown Oxford.
‘My goal was to get things off the floor,? he said. ‘I don’t like to have anything on the floor.?
The result ? plenty of clear aisles for foot traffic, exciting new showcase displays and overall a brighter, cleaner-looking, clutter-free appearance.
In short, the museum has become a much more visitor-friendly place for people of all ages to experience, enjoy and learn about Oxford’s rich local history. ‘I thought we did a real good job,? Griffin said.
Griffin’s particularly proud of the new swinging, multi-panel display for all the Oxford High School class composite photos from 1893 through 1974.
Instead of cluttering up the walls and floors, the class photos are now prominently and neatly displayed in an easy-to-access format.
There’s also a showcase that functions as a mini-gift shop, featuring local history books, videos and reproductions of classic children’s toys such as jacks.
From toys and kitchen utensils to tools and township tax records, the museum has a little bit of everything plus some things you might never have seen or heard of before.
For instance, there’s one whatchamacallit item (see photo right) located downstairs that Griffin’s spent 12 years trying to figure out its name and purpose.
It appears to be some sort of homemade centrifuge, but no one’s really been able to say for sure. ‘It’s a conglomeration of items,? Griffin said. ‘Whatever it is, they did a good job of building it.?
Griffin’s consulted the Detroit Institute of Arts and several local museums, but ‘nobody seems to really have a name for it.?
He hasn’t heard back from the Smithsonian Institute yet.
Maybe someday a random museum visitor will finally be able to tell Griffin what it is.
Maybe that visitor will be you.
Located at the northwest corner of Washington and Burdick streets in the historic Oxford Savings Bank building, the museum is currently open from 1-4 p.m. on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
Special tours can be arranged for everyone from elementary school students to senior citizens by calling (248) 628-8413.