Fall Inn Love

he Tecumseh Historical Museum holds the history of the Tecumseh area in the form of books, photographs, memorabilia, and articles from the past, but the atmosphere is not stuffy or stagnant – it is alive with the stories of past residents, businesses, and activities that have made Tecumseh what it is today. The museum will be open Saturdays (10:30am-3:30pm) for the 2023 season starting April 1. During the winter months the museum’s volunteers curate the items that will be on display throughout the year and manage the inventory of historical items. In addition, they are preparing to celebrate the 50-year anniversary of the start of the Tecumseh Area Historical Society in 2024, as well as the bicentennial of the City of Tecumseh that same year.

The bicentennial display will include items and information about the indigenous populations of the area 200 years ago as well as artifacts from the history of when Tecumseh first became a town. If anyone has items they want to donate to the museum, especially Tecumseh history artifacts such as photographs, letters, articles or other pieces for the bicentennial display, they can email the museum.

The Tecumseh Area Historical Society board is seeking volunteers to welcome visitors to the museum during Saturday shifts of either 10:30am-1pm or 1-3:30pm. The ideal situation would be for the museum to have a large enough roster of volunteers so that two people could work together during a shift, helping each other serve visitors for that 2.5-hour period.

“Volunteers are important because they help us to keep the museum open. Right now we depend a lot on the board members to do that,” said Board Treasurer Cynthia Given. “We really need docents to be in the museum. Hopefully with an increased number of people helping we can increase the days that we’re open rather than just one,” said Board Treasurer Cynthia Given. “We’re looking for people who want to be there and help tell their own stories about Tecumseh as well as the stories that the displays actually show.” n

What Rachelle McDaniel of Ypsilanti Township started as a pop-up vendor for the Third Thursday events in downtown Milan several years ago has bloomed into a business that brings customers from near and far. The boutique store Northern Chicks opened more than five years ago in downtown Milan when McDaniel was encouraged by those who believed in her success.

McDaniel said Jill Tewsley, the director of Milan Main Street, and Dave Snyder, the owner of the building where Northern Chicks makes its home, approached her. “They said, you’re doing so well and selling your stuff so well down here on Third Thursdays. Would you be interested in opening a storefront in downtown Milan?” McDaniel said. “It was great. At the time, they were doing revitalization in downtown Milan, and they had a whole block that was coming available for space for businesses to go in and open.”

Northern Chicks was the first business to fill one of the spaces. “I opened in downtown Milan in November of 2017, and I’ve been there ever since,” McDaniel said. “Ever since I’ve been there the downtown has just grown. The whole block now is filled up and it’s just continuing to grow down there. It’s wonderful.”

She said that Snyder purchased many of the properties downtown to encourage businesses to open. “He’s a great investor. He’s recognized in the state of Michigan for revitalizing and maintaining Milan and keeping it beautiful,” she said.

Northern Chicks sells a wide variety of merchandise including vintage items, antiques, home furnishing, and refinished or repainted vintage furniture. McDaniel has been refinishing furniture for several years and said those items are big sellers at the store.

In addition, the store offers a clothing boutique section, gift items, one-of-a-kind items, and “a little bit of everything,” she said. “I think it makes the store unique when you have those handmakers and those artisans. They tend to bring a unique flavor to the store. I carefully select who those artisans are, and we like to rotate and switch it up sometimes just to have new things coming in. You never come in and see the same thing.”

“It was something I never really thought would take off, and it did. I’m just so excited that the community and the people are really drawn to it,” said McDaniel. “I think now it’s become almost a destination town and store. I get people from all around that come to my store. We’re just ecstatic that it has grown this big.” n adrian

brooklyn

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY RESTORE

1025 US 223, Adrian (517) 266-0746

Tues-Sat 10a-4:30p brooklyn

Free Donation Pickups.

The Store that Builds Homes!

BLISSFIELD ANTIQUE MALL brooklyn

103 W Adrian St, Blissfield (517) 486-2236 • T-Sat 10-5 / Sun 12-5 • Three floors of treasures with over 100 dealers. Offering a large selection of antique toys, depression glass, primitives, furniture, etc!

IT TAKES A VILLAGE chelsea chelsea

122 S Lane St, Blissfield T-Sat 12-5 • Offers gently-used kids clothes, maternity clothing, shoes, accessories and more. Unsold items are donated to those in need in Lenawee County.

THE PACKRAT 117 S Lane St, Blissfield (517) 260-3511 • M-T 3-8 / W-Sun 11-8 • 5,800 sq ft of well-organized consignment, vintage and this n’ that of every sort. Working soda fountain here too!

THE CORNER COTTAGE

107 Monroe St, Brooklyn (517) 938-8487 • W-Sat 11-5

Adorable shop with everything for home decor. Vintage, cottage, rustic, repurposed, interior design. Beautiful displays and well priced.

IDK CREATIVE DECOR

146 1/2 N Main St, Brooklyn (517) 938-8147 • Th-Sat 12-6 / Sun 1-5 • idkcreativedecor.com idkcreativedecor@gmail.com

Artistic recreations, vintage finds home decor and so much more!

PINETREE ANTIQUES & MORE 129 N Main St, Brooklyn (517) 592-3808 • M-Sun 10-5 60 vendors with a vast array of antiques and collectibles ranging from vintage jewelry to items that would be perfect for a man cave!

CHELSEA ANTIQUES

407 N Main St, Chelsea (734) 475-7131 • M-Sat 10-5 / Sun 11-4 • chelseaantiques.net chelseaantiques@att.net jackson

We buy silver, gold and coins! Inspiring those passionate about vintage home and antiques.

CHELSEA ANTIQUES MALL

1178 S Main St (M-52), Chelsea (734) 562-2190 • T-Sat 10-6 / Sun 11-5 • 41 vendor booths quality antiques, collectibles, vintage farm relics, paintings, mid-century modern treasures.

Chelsea Mall Antiques

THE COPPER NAIL 111 E Michigan Ave, Grass Lake (517) 522-8514 • T-Sat 10-5 coppernail.org • Antiques, furniture, resale items, home accessories, jewelry, toys & more! Accepting quality donations.

JACKSON ANTIQUE MALL, INC.

201 N Jackson St, Jackson (517) 784-3333 • M-Sat 10-5:30 / Sun 12-4:30 • 4 floors of collectibles and antiques!

Layaways and dealer space available. Scan QR Code to visit website!

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