150 years of history in Mears

en Inn restaurant (Owned by Jack and Ursula Robinson), Golden Bakery (operated by Ken and Doris Dunlop), Mears Barber Shop (owned by Dick Corliss), Jeannine’s Beauty Salon and The Beauty Box (owned by Jeannine Highland and Billie Whelpley respectively) , a bridal shop (owned by Mabel Dean), Mears Methodist Church, Golden School (Kindergarten through 8th grade), Fenton Brothers cider mill, Leonard Fenton Well Drilling, Lewis Wilson Mason Contractor, Mears Post Office, The Bike Shop (owned by Floyd Whelply, Sr.) Loren Beggs Excavating, and the Golden Township Hall.

1973: The Little Point Sable Lighthouse celebrates its 100th year of operation.

1976: The Mears Museum Complex is officially dedicated.

1976: A regional sewer plan is proposed in Golden.

1982: Val-Du Lakes restaurant, ball field, and concert venue open Memorial Day Weekend.

1982: The Boynton family donates the “Boynton Cottage” and the Robinson family (both from Silver Lake) donate funds for the construction of the “Robinson Building,” both to be housed at the Oceana County Historical & Genealogical Society’s (OCHGS) Mears Museum Complex.

1982: OCGHS hosts its first “Pleasant Afternoon” at the Swift Lathers’ home at the society’s museum with 68 people in attendance. Singing around the old pump organ was enjoyed by all.

1983: Fifty years after its opening, Dave and Dan Fenton take over the Fenton Brothers business.

1984: The Swedish Covenant

Church congregation disbands and deeds the historic church to the OC GHS for display at the museum com plex.

1985: Fenton Brothers is renamed Fenton Receiving and Trucking.

1986 or 87: First Arts and Crafts Fair in Mears, started by Martha Lathers and two other shop owners in the vil lage.

1992: The Morats reopen Tiffany’s Bakery, renaming it “Morat’s Old Tiffa ny Bake Shop”.

1998: Mears celebrates its 125th Anniversary with a three-day celebra tion including an historical pageant, a pictorial display and historical tour, a parade, a King and Queen contest, the dedication of the new William Lathers Transportation Building at the Mears Museum Complex, Breakfast at Tiffany’s (Bakery), a pig roast followed by a street dance, a potluck picnic, and children’s activities.

1998: Businesses in the Village of Mears at that time included The Village Store (antiques and crafts), P. M. Collision, The Wood Shed Bike Rentals, Mears Post Office, Morat’s Old Tiffany Bake Shop, Golden Inn Restaurant, Howard’s VCR/TV Service, Wilson’s General Store, and Fenton Receiving. The Transportation Museum is added to the Oceana County Historical and Genealogical Society’s Mears Museum Complex.

1999: Reportedly, 1 million people visited Silver Lake State Park and Dunes.

2000: Brubaker’s Farm Market was built and operated for ten years.

2003: Silver Lake Apple and BBQ Cookoff Festivals debut.

2006: Reportedly, 20,000 people climbed to the top of Little Point Sable Lighthouse.

2007: Jane and Dan Morat, with their daughter and son-in-law, Carolee and Dan Castle, purchase most of the buildings in downtown Mears and work to remodel and refresh many of the buildings. Stores in downtown Mears that year included Morat’s Old Tiffany Bake Shop, The Cake House, Mears Insurance, Golden Inn, Oceana Fruit Company Ice Cream Shop and Gift Shop, and Mears Market Grocery.

2007: Golden School preschool students and staff move to the district’s main school campus in Hart.

2014: 100th Anniversary of the Mears Newz; Swift Lathers statue at the Mears Museum Complex dedicated

2015: Golden Township receives a $45,000 DNR Recreation Passport grant for improvements to Golden Township Park and the dunes.

2016: The first Jeep Invasion event at Silver Lake Sand Dunes

2019: A sanitary sewer development project is proposed by Golden Township and is overwhelmingly resisted by township residents. The board decides against pursuing

2023: Mears celebrates its 150th Anniversary in collaboration with the OCHGS Pleasant Afternoon on Sunday, August 20, 2023. A short program will be followed by a parade, antique car rides, music, dessert, ice cream, and “Swift” himself, who plans to make an appearance.

2023: Businesses and entities within the village include Sprinklez Ice Cream, The Golden Eatery, the U.S. Post Office, Wilson’s General Store, Open Hearth Restaurant, The Wood Shed Bike Shop, Johnson’s Trees & Wreaths, Fenton Receiving and Trucking, the Golden Town Hall, The Oceana Echo and the Oceana County Historical & Genealogical Society.