The Heritage Alliance of Macomb County, a consortium of the local historical groups of Macomb County, had their annual meeting on Saturday, April 28, at the Richmond Community Center. The Richmond Historical and Genealogical Society, Armada Historical Society, and the Memphis Historical Society were the hosts. They had a very interesting and productive meeting, with panel discussions about local history book writing, and decisions made about the patch program being instituted by the county historical societies. The patches give credit to local groups who visit the county’s historical resources. Also discussed was the passing of the Alexander Macomb award to the Heritage Alliance to administer and participation by the alliance in the Mt. Clemens Thanksgiving Parade and new tourist center in Port Huron. 

The 2013 meeting of the Heritage Alliance will be on Saturday, April 27, at the Macomb County Cultural Center, on the campus of Macomb County Community College on M-59 (Hall Road). The Cultural Center is also the sponsor for 2013.  Besides historical groups based on a particular area, such as the Ray Township or Chesterfield Historical Societies, the Heritage Alliance also includes groups such as the Michigan Military Technical & Historical Society, who will host the alliance meeting in 2014, and the Simpson Park Camp Meeting Grounds (established 1865), who will host in 2015.

Macomb County has a wealth of historical resources. If you have a question regarding the history of the county, e-mail it to macombhistory@yahoo.com . If we can’t answer your query, we will try to refer you to someone who can.  A special thanks to everyone who has helped with the questions!  A great amount of questions have been answered in excellent detail by County Historian Cindy Donahue and Mt. Clemens Public Library Asst. Director Debby Larsen. If you have historical expertise in a particular area of our local history, or historical pictures, please e-mail us at macombhistory@yahoo.com.

Mt. Clemens Library Asst. Director Deborah J. Larsen has written a book titled, Legendary Locals of Mt. Clemens.  According the publisher, Judge Christian Clemens founded Mount Clemens in 1818 and established it as the seat of justice for Macomb County when Michigan was yet a territory. While the town prospered on the strength of its strategic location on the Clinton River and proximity to Lake St. Clair, it was the mineral water beneath the citizens’ feet that would propel Mount Clemens to national prominence as a health resort. As it grew, the “Bath City of America” attracted the likes of stage actress Sadie Hasson, the Nelson family of circus performers, and baseball all-star Vic Wertz. Numerous visitors who came seeking a cure—or to find work in the hospitality industry—stayed to call Mount Clemens home, adding their own peculiar brand of warp and weft to the town’s rich historical tapestry.  Ms. Larsen also wrote the book Selfridge Field pictured below.

Washington Township residents Bob and Cherie Allen have written a book, Macomb County Civil War Footprints, which is available in local bookstores and online. In the book they identify six local volunteers from Macomb County communities, including Memphis, Armada, Shelby Township (Disco), and Mt. Clemens. One of the Mt. Clemens volunteers is the only Civil War general buried in Macomb County and one of the very few buried in Michigan. Two of the war heroes in the book became cavalry sergeants and captured approximately 70 Confederate soldiers and their battle flag without firing a shot! Another is credited with shooting Confederate General J.E.B. Stuart.  The authors have researched Macomb County in the Civil War for over ten years and previously wrote The Andrus Family: A Pioneer Family of Washington Township, Michigan, and A “Guest” of the Confederacy. These books are also available from the authors and may be purchased by calling (586) 781-4375.

 Bob and Cherie Allen of Washington Twp. with their latest book.

Other recently published books about the Macomb County area include the Arcadia series “Images of America” which has published recent books about the Richmond Area, as well as Chesterfield and Shelby Townships and will publish one on New Baltimore in June, 2013.

In previous years Arcadia has published books focusing on Eastpointe, Harrison Township, Mt. Clemens, Romeo, Selfridge Field, St. Clair Shores, Sterling Township (now Sterling Hts.), and the St. Clair River. These local history books are available at Amazon, Barnes and Nobles, and most of the local historical societies, as well as the local libraries. Many of these books, especially when purchased through the local historical society, will return a large portion of the proceeds to the local historical society.

Easy to Remember Website Address: This website is now available at the shortcut www.macombhistory.org. It is also still available by going to the Macomb County site and clicking on History.

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