Clare County Historical Society

Clare County Historical Society Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from Clare County Historical Society, Community Museum, 7050 S Eberhart Avenue, Clare, MI.

The Clare County Historical Society complex includes a museum, schoolhouse, log cabins and working blacksmith shop all in the quiet countryside between Harrison and Clare.

05/30/2026

UPDATE- The fly over was in honor of Don Nevill for his Memorial at his farm. He also was an 8th grade graduate of Dover School.
Thank you Carron for letting us know. ❤️

Usually it’s an occasional car and Amish buggies passing but today a half dozen planes flew over the Clare County Historical Society museum complex.
Visit us on Saturdays from 1-4 p.m. Tour the museum, pioneer cabins, one room schoolhouse, the working blacksmith shop, play chess on the porch or just enjoy the Clare County countryside from our front porch.

The Dover School and the historic Ott Cabin will be open for visitors today, Saturday May 30, along with the Bell Knapp ...
05/30/2026

The Dover School and the historic Ott Cabin will be open for visitors today, Saturday May 30, along with the Bell Knapp Cabin, the Museum Building, and a working blacksmith shop from 1-4PM.

As always, free admission. If you sign up on site to join the CCHS today for only $10 for one year, you will receive your choice of either a hardcover copy of one of three books…the story of Kuno Hammerberg, the illustrated history of Spike Horn Meyer, or Forest Meek’s Michigan’s Heartland with our appreciation.

Hope to see you soon.

“HISTORY IS WHAT YOU MAKE IT”My own interests in Clare County began in the fall of 1973 when I began my teaching career ...
05/28/2026

“HISTORY IS WHAT YOU MAKE IT”

My own interests in Clare County began in the fall of 1973 when I began my teaching career at Amble Elementary out on Arnold Lake Road. The following summer my wife and I moved to the county which we have called home for over 50 years.

This is my personal historical site. What’s yours?

The Clare County Historical Museum Complex will be open this Saturday and every Saturday throughout the summer at the corner of Dover and Eberhart Roads.

Whether you are traveling through Clare, Farwell, Harrison, or one of the other villages and towns in Clare County today...
05/25/2026

Whether you are traveling through Clare, Farwell, Harrison, or one of the other villages and towns in Clare County today, take a moment to reflect on this Memorial Day…

Come join the crowd at the Clare County Historical Museum Complex opening for the season tomorrow SATURDAY at the corner...
05/22/2026

Come join the crowd at the Clare County Historical Museum Complex opening for the season tomorrow SATURDAY at the corner of Dover and Eberhart Roads. We’ll be there from 1-4 PM, rain or shine to show you around, answer questions, and listen to your stories.

Check out the fine article by David Hutchinson in today’s Clare County Review for more information.

AND for the first time ever, if you become a member of the Clare County Historical Society this season for $10, we will gift you a copy of Forrest Meek’s HEARTLAND or Doctor Hammerberg’s KUNO or Tom Seller’s SPIKEHORN. Just fill out a form at the Museum any Saturday while supplies last.

Have a safe Holiday Weekend.

The Farwell Area Historical Museum opens on Saturday and so do we! The Clare County historical Society complex is open ...
05/20/2026

The Farwell Area Historical Museum opens on Saturday and so do we! 
The Clare County historical Society complex is open on Saturdays from May through September from 1 to 4 PM the corner of Dover and Eberhart roads between Harrison and Clare.

The West Side of McEwan between Third and Fourth Photo taken sometime in 1940 or 1941Two of these structur...
05/19/2026

The West Side of McEwan between Third and Fourth
Photo taken sometime in 1940 or 1941

Two of these structures still stand proudly on McEwan, the former Clare County Savings Bank, seen here as Kroger Grocery, built in 1922, and its immediate neighbor to the south, the 1890 Dawson Building. The rest of the block, known collectively as the Doherty Building, were lost in a fire on January 17, 1957.

When this postcard was issued the 7 businesses (that we can identify) were Cornelius Wood’s Kroger Store, the Rainbow Grill, Barnes Cafe, The Gift and Flower Shop, Woodward’s Hudson Dealership, and the Lion Store. In 1957, these shops had become known as Barnes Cafe, Grove Bros. Five and Dime, Guiette Paint and Wallpaper, Western Auto, and Chuck’s Tavern.

Postcard from the CCHS Collection, info from Clare Remembered and Pine Forest to Market City and the Clare Sentinel. The CCHS museum and grounds will be open for the season from 1-4 PM this Saturday, May 23rd.

MOMENT IN TIME: WEST SIDE OF NORTH McEWAN In this photo taken between July 11-13, 1939, one can see that not much has ch...
05/17/2026

MOMENT IN TIME: WEST SIDE OF NORTH McEWAN

In this photo taken between July 11-13, 1939, one can see that not much has changed in the past 87 years. All of these structures built between 1873 and 1930 remain busy, well-known businesses.

Starting on the corner beneath the “No U Turn” signal, the Dunwoodie Building housed several businesses in 1939, the largest being Vanderwalker’s Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Co. The Collins Beauty Salon served customers on the second floor. Directly to the north one could go into Uncle Tom’s Sandwich Shop and Entertainment for a quick meal. Andrew Friz had his undertaking office as the final business in the 1909 structure.

The Ideal Theatre was built and opened in 193O, with Art Damoth’s Insurance Agency sharing one of the downstairs offices. Separated by a narrow alley, people could visit Dr.F.C. Sanford’s office set in a one-time house built in 1873. The last business we can make out, and the newest building on the block, is Schultz’s Diner which premiered in 1935. There is indication of a service station sign way to the right of the photo.

Credit and much, much appreciation to the Mareda and Marion Magnus Estate for the donation of the postcard;to Ken Lingaur’s “Pine Forest to Market City Book” for information, and the CMU Newspaper Portal for further data.

***Ready or not…the CCHS Museum and grounds will be open this Saturday, May 23, from 1-4.***

STILL LOOKING GOOD AFTER 89 YEARS ON THE JOBOn Friday, May 14, 1937, this United States Post Office was formally dedicat...
05/15/2026

STILL LOOKING GOOD AFTER 89 YEARS ON THE JOB

On Friday, May 14, 1937, this United States Post Office was formally dedicated on 111 West Fifth Street in Clare. Little has changed on the outside, and the interior still boasts the original tables, post office boxes, doors, and even cast iron radiators. The large skylight which provided illumination for the workroom has long since been covered up but, according to Kenneth Lingaur’s book, “from Pine Forest to Market City”, is still located on the roof.

“The Mail Arrives in Clare—1871” mural by Michigan artist Allan Thomas was added a couple months later. This was made possible by a program sponsored by the U.S. Treasury Department Section of Painting and Sculpture “for the purpose of boosting morale of people suffering the effects of the Great Depression.”

Photo from the CCHS postcard collection. Data from “from Pine Forest to Market City” by Ken Lingaur, available at the Herrick House gift Shop.

THE HOTEL DOHERTY COTTAGES 1930-1960The front page of the Clare Sentinel on April 18,1930, announced the construction of...
05/14/2026

THE HOTEL DOHERTY COTTAGES 1930-1960

The front page of the Clare Sentinel on April 18,1930, announced the construction of ten cottages to be built on the Hotel Doherty property to help with the overflow of guests in the main 60 room building. Recognizing the change towards more automobile travel by tourists, the ten pre-built cottages provided fire-proof accommodations featuring two bedrooms and a bath in each structure for those who preferred to drive their cars right up to their rooms. Steam heat, hot and cold running water, telephone and bellhop service added to the unique experience.

This card, postmarked 1942, shows one of the several versions of the exterior paint over the years. Finally in March 1960, the Doherty announced the sale of the cabins to the public, with a couple of requirements. One being that the buildings purchased were to be removed from the Hotel property by the end of the month, and secondly that they were not to be used as a motel within 100 miles of Clare. The freed up space was to be used for an outdoor swimming pool and a separate two story addition to the Hotel.

In an April 1960 Clare Sentinel want ad, one month later, the cottages were being offered for sale at $1885 each by a developer in Lake George.

Address

7050 S Eberhart Avenue
Clare, MI
48617

Opening Hours

1pm - 4pm

Telephone

(734) 755-2638

Website

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