History of our Community

History abounds at the museum!  Come and visit and see what has made Tecumseh prosper through the years.

Musgrove Evans and Joseph Brown, our founders, along with their cousin Austin Wing, founded this community in 1824 and it became the county seat for awhile.  A University of Michigan campus was located here too.  Macaroni and Quaker Oats were manufactured here in Tecumseh.  And it was known as the Refrigeration Capital of the World when Tecumseh Products Company manufactured their refrigerator compressors here and shipped them worldwide.

The houses tell stories of their occupants, the business buildings do too.  Perry Hayden tells of his tithing project from one cubic inch of wheat, and Henry Ford joined this project that lasted for six years harvesting the crops and donating 10% to the church.  Maybe you took an airplane ride and wondered about flying–visit our display on the Meyers family who not only built and flew airplanes, but built fishing boats and parts for Jeep.

Serving the military, individuals from Michigan and Tecumseh fought many battles, including the Toledo War that determined the southern border of Michigan.  Many are laid to rest in Brookside Cemetery where historical tours are sometimes led by museum members.

From one room school houses to large buildings, our children were taught the basics and even advanced scholarly academics.  Women have changed styles of clothing, and ways of fixing the meals.

History abounds at the museum and all around us each and every day.  Tecumseh Area Historical Society members welcome you to come by and see our “old stone church” and the history that abounds within.