Freedom Township, Michigan

The year 2009 marks the 175th anniversary of the formation of Freedom Township. The township was formed by a legislative act of the Territory of Michigan on March 7, 1834, and the first township meeting was held April 7, 1834 at the home of Henry W. Griffin. Click here to see the first page of township minutes from that date.

At its January 2009 meeting, the Board of Trustees authorized the formation of a planning committee for the celebration, which is tentatively set for Saturday, September 26, 2009 at the township hall. The committee is chaired by Bob Miller, Township Historian, and currently includes David Davis, Beth Heuser and Ray Berg. Additional members are sought for the planning process and to assist with the day’s activities. Contact Bob Miller at 734-428-8222 for further information.

The planned activities will include:

1. A township picnic on the township hall grounds, followed by a program in the town hall where special guests will be recognized (official dignitaries, senior residents, etc.). We will also present a historical program highlighting early township history and some recent research finds. Picnic may be a mixture of food provided via donations and potluck.

2. A township history booklet will be prepared documenting the early years (1830s-1860s) of the township. This will be available to the public for a small charge. Sponsorship donations will be sought for publication costs. We are also beginning the effort to digitally scan and preserve the original township meeting minutes dating back to 1834.

3. A next-day Sunday “church open house”, following the Saturday picnic, will be held by asking the four township churches to open their doors in the afternoon and invite the community to visit and learn that church’s history.

4. A community service project will be defined, to set a workday where crews work on cleaning and performing repairs to the township-maintained cemeteries.

5. A fitting long-term memorial effort is proposed to be a prominent sign for the town hall, which will mark the town hall and also provide a place to announce current events at the hall.

Please watch this web page for future updates.