VanBuren County Historical Museum

03/21/2026

We’ve had to cancel this talk scheduled for tomorrow (Sunday) afternoon due to events beyond our control. Thank you for your understanding. Please stay tuned for additional events as we plan for the museum’s opening in a few months.

01/01/2026

Sending New Year wishes to all our friends!

Image: Postcard

12/26/2025

The image that appears here is the top half of a full page ad taken out in the December 11 edition of the Courier-Northern newspaper by the John W. Free State Bank in Paw Paw.

Season’s Greetings from all of us here at the Van Buren County Historical Society (and Museum)!

11/15/2025

It’s opening day of firearm season in Michigan today, so we thought we’d share this cartoon from the Hartford Day Spring. Stay safe out there, everyone.

10/25/2025

Thanks to everyone involved - volunteers, chefs, attendees - for making last night’s soup supper another successful event!

10/09/2025

There’s something special about fall evenings at the museum. We’re still open while the weather holds. Come visit soon (Wed/Fri/Sun; 12-5pm), before the cold weather forces us to close for the season.

10/04/2025

If you attended the 3rd Annual Voices from the Past event put on by Paw Paw District Library today, you got to “meet” Harry McNeil and hear him tell about his life. We thought we’d take this opportunity to reshare this short biography of his life that we wrote a few years ago.

Harry L. McNeil was born in Paw Paw on April 21, 1870; he was the only child of Allen F. and Alzina McNeil. His father was a blacksmith and firefighter, as well as an active member of benevolent societies. Harry would follow in his father’s footsteps in many regards.

Harry graduated from Paw Paw High School in 1889, after which he worked in Judge Benjamin Heckert’s office in town and began studying law. He attended the University of Michigan and graduated from their school of law in 1892. He returned to Paw Paw to practice law. On October 18, 1893, he married Jennie Towers. In 1897, he bought the only abstracting business in Van Buren County; his law office had been in the upper story of that building in Paw Paw for the previous five years. He continued to serve the community as a lawyer, but his main occupational focus became serving as an abstractor.

On February 8, 1899, Harry and Jennie McNeil’s only child was born, Azel Allen. Several months later, the family moved into their new house on the north side of the village of Paw Paw (featured in a previous post). It was in this year also that Harry’s avocation, bicycling, became more prominent. He had been made Local Consul for the Michigan division of the League of American Wheelmen. In that capacity in April 1899, he petitioned the village council to allow bicycles on sidewalks. Unfortunately, that petition was denied.

In 1901 Harry McNeil helped organize the Michigan Abstract Association. He would serve as an officer for five different years. In 1907 he was also one of the founders of the National Association of Title Men, and he would serve as its first national secretary. As a member, he would continue to serve on various committees.

Harry was very active in the local community. Having served as a firefighter for quite a few years, he was elected chief of the Paw Paw Fire Department in 1903. In addition to his many other activities, he was also a member of several benevolent societies - the Elks and the Odd Fellows. (He can be seen wearing pins from each organization in the photo shown here.) He served those organizations as an officer many times, even becoming an officer of the Odd Fellows at the state level and attending several national encampments of the group. Harry was also instrumental in bringing the Boy Scouts to Paw Paw, serving as their scoutmaster in 1911.

Harry McNeil died on August 6, 1940. He is buried in the family plot at Prospect Hill Cemetery.

09/23/2025

This should be a great event tonight for anyone able to attend.

Come join us at the conference center to welcome Dr. Anna-Lisa Cox! "Frontier Michigan and its Hidden Histories" is about Dr. Cox’s writing on the African American pioneers that made Covert, Michigan their home. As well as her research on Michigan’s role in the revolutionary war. Tuesday, Sept 23, doors open at 5pm, talk begins at 5:30 and will run until approximately 7pm.
Free and open to the public, registration appreciated but not required. For inquiries about accessibility or event details, please email [email protected] or call 269-674-3200.

09/20/2025

YARD SALE TODAY - Saturday, September 20 - Visit us today from 9am to 5pm for a beautiful day with lots of treasures available from a variety of vendors. You won’t want to miss this!

09/05/2025

Here’s something to add to your weekend activity list.
Michigan Flywheelers Museum
Antique Engine & Tractor Show

09/03/2025

There’s just something special about catching a sunset view from the upper floors of the museum.