Crocker House Museum to host fundraiser luncheon

SHELBY TOWNSHIP — The Macomb County Historical Society and the Crocker House Museum will be hosting their biggest fundraiser of the year — the Yvonne Leslie Pottery Luncheon — from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 15 at Shelby Gardens Banquets & Events, 50265 Van Dyke Ave. in Shelby Township.

The Yvonne Leslie Pottery Luncheon is a table scaping competition where volunteer table-setters design place settings, centerpieces and other decorations based around a theme. This year’s theme is “Tables Across America.”

Attendees can vote on the table scapes, eat a buffet lunch and enter raffles to win prize baskets and grand prizes. Proceeds from the event will support the Macomb County Historical Society and its Crocker House Museum.

The Pottery Luncheon began in 1999, when its original sponsors, the Mah-Nah-Be-Zee Questers, raised money for an antique bridal basket still on display in the Crocker House dining room. In 2002, the event was renamed in memory of Yvonne Leslie, a longtime Questers and Crocker House supporter. The Crocker House Museum received ownership of the event in 2020, and despite delays and a smaller scale due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2022 luncheon raised more than $4,000 for the museum.

Katie Annett, the museum director and co-chair of this year’s pottery luncheon committee, said in a phone interview that the money raised will help support their mission. 

“Our mission statement is, ‘The Macomb County Historical Society and its Crocker House Museum provide educational experiences of Mount Clemens and Macomb County history through the use of artifacts, rotating exhibits, publications, stories and special educational programs. Our purpose is to collect and preserve our local heritage to instill an appreciation of our community’s unique history,” said Annett.

The society and the museum are hoping for 240-300 attendees this year.

The Macomb County Historical Society is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Its Crocker House Museum showcases the Victorian Bath City era, as well as other areas of local history. The museum is located near downtown Mount Clemens in an 1869 Italianate house that was once home to Mount Clemens’ first two mayors.

Annett said the museum invites people to check out the museum; she just asks that they call and make an appointment to ensure that somebody is there and ready to take care of any questions. Special events can be found on the museum’s website.

She said people should come check out the table decorations that people are designing for the competition.

“When you walk through the doors the tables are going to draw your attention. The tables have these wild center pieces and really elaborate place settings. It’s really neat to go through and look at how creatively everybody decorated their tables, and in the competition, you can vote for your favorite. Some people are really creative with what they come up with. We also have a few different types of raffles and door prizes,” she said.

She said she is looking forward to the event. She was so impressed last year by the table setters’ creativity and how many people came out to support them last year.

Barb Dempsey, president of the Crocker House Board of Directors and part of the pottery luncheon committee, has led or been involved with the event for many years, and she was a friend of Yvonne Leslie. Dempsey said people are always amazed when they attend this event.

“The creativity of the people who are doing the tables (is) spectacular. This is our second year for the Crocker House doing this event, and it is our main fundraiser for the year. I just want to thank all the sponsors and the people who work so graciously (and) donate it to the event,” she said via email.

The museum can be found on Facebook at Macomb County Historical Society Crocker House Museum and Garden and Instagram at @crockerhousemuseum.

Tickets cost $50, and there is limited space.

To purchase tickets, call the Crocker House Museum at (586) 465-2488 or visit its website, crockerhousemuseum.org. Table setters receive one free ticket per table. If you would like to donate, you can through sponsorships and donations on the website, or you can volunteer for other events.