Grosse Pointe Historical Society marks new chapter with opening of History Center

GROSSE POINTE FARMS — The Grosse Pointe Historical Society is making some history of its own.

Dozens of supporters and local officials — including leaders from the Grosse Pointe Chamber of Commerce — were on hand for a ribbon-cutting Jan. 20 to celebrate the official opening of the Grosse Pointe Historical Society History Center at 375 Kercheval Ave. in Grosse Pointe Farms. The building is across the street from the Provencal Weir House, at 376 Kercheval Ave., which was commemorated the same evening in honor of its 200th birthday; the historical structure dates back to 1823.

GPHS officials started moving into the History Center in November but were still in the process of relocating all the archives and files at press time. Some materials were stored in the Provencal Weir House, while others were in a storage unit.

The 5,000-square-foot structure at 375 Kercheval has temperature-controlled storage for GPHS archives — including blueprints for many Grosse Pointe structures — as well as space on the first floor for offices and small GPHS meetings and programs. The square footage is roughly divided between the main floor and the basement.

One of the people who’s thrilled about the History Center is GPHS historian Emily O’Brien Whitesides.

“It’s going to be huge,” she said. “We have a ton of pending research requests.”

Those requests, which have come in over the last couple of years, have largely had to be put on hold because of a lack of access to some of the archival material.

Completion of the History Center also means that the Provencal Weir House will be able to go back to being a museum. GPHS staffers had temporarily been working out of the historical structure for the last few years.

O’Brien Whitesides said school fields trips to the house will resume this spring — they were on hold during the pandemic — and the GPHS hopes to relaunch its Second Saturdays series again soon.

“I’m excited to get people back in here,” O’Brien Whitesides said.

Local leaders recognized the contributions of the GPHS to the Pointes.

“The history of this community and its age is one of its most vital assets, so finding a way to capture, preserve and disseminate that information is a great differentiator for our community,” Grosse Pointe City Mayor Sheila Tomkowiak said.

Grosse Pointe Woods Mayor Arthur Bryant also noted the key role played by the GPHS.

“The Grosse Pointe Historical Society is so important to the community,” Bryant said. “It helps keep track of our history and gives us the ability to be grounded in the important things of life.”

Grosse Pointe Farms Mayor Louis Theros said this project has been a long time in the making, and he was happy to see the GPHS create a campus of sorts in the Farms, with the offices across the street from the Provencal Weir House.

“It’s great to see it come to fruition,” Theros said. “(The new building) is absolutely spectacular.”

GPHS officials say that, despite being headquartered in the Farms, they’re the repository for historical documents from all five Pointes.

“This is for everyone,” GPHS Board member Erin Dindoffer said. “It’s not just for the Farms. … It’s important to know where we were and where we’re going.”

GPHS Board President Leslie Wagner echoed that.

“Really, we’re the steward for all of the Grosse Pointes,” Wagner said.

The GPHS hopes to get more residents involved and enrolled as members. Annual memberships start at $25 for students from kindergarten through high school. Memberships come with a number of benefits, including reciprocal membership in Time Travelers, which gives people access to more than 200 historical societies nationwide.

For more information call (313) 884-7010 or visit www.gphistorical.org.