June 15, 2019: Bill Cole speaks at the Dougherty House Dedication | Jane Boursaw Photo
June 15, 2019: Bill Cole speaks at the Dougherty House Dedication | Jane Boursaw Photo
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More than 130 people gathered at the Dougherty House in Old Mission yesterday for an official dedication and open house, marking the opening of the historic home as a museum.

Built in 1842 by Presbyterian minister Peter Dougherty, the home has been meticulously restored by the Peter Dougherty Society and placed on the National Register of Historical Places with state level significance.

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June 15, 2019: Dougherty House Dedication | Jane Boursaw Photo
June 15, 2019: Dougherty House Dedication | Jane Boursaw Photo

Beginning in 2004, a collaboration took place between the Grand Traverse Regional Land Conservancy, the Old Mission Peninsula Historical Society, the Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation and Peninsula Township to raise more than $575,000 to acquire and restore the home.

In July 2006, the home and surrounding 15 acres were deeded to Peninsula Township and became part of the Michigan Historic Preservation Network, thereby placing the home and property in conservancy.

At today’s event, Bill Cole, president of the Peter Dougherty Society, praised everyone who’s been involved with the restoration, including all the volunteers, donors, members of the Old Mission Peninsula Historical Society, and both the former and current Peter Dougherty Society board of directors. Current members include Chris Rieser, Jim Hall, Rob Manigold, Kennard Weaver, Jim Brammer and Connie Sargent, as well as Cole.

He also gave special recognition to generous donors Nancy Rushmore Hooper, whose family once owned the home, the Les and Anne Beiderman Foundation, and the Jeffris Family Foundation.

June 15, 2019: Ross and Brenda Biederman at the Dougherty House Dedication | Jane Boursaw Photo
June 15, 2019: Ross and Brenda Biederman at the Dougherty House Dedication | Jane Boursaw Photo

The restoration team was also praised for their countless hours (more than 3000 hours each) devoted to the restoration. The team of six includes Brad Lyman, Jim Hall, Chris Rieser, Butch Moring, Marty Klein and Bill Cole, as well as Patti Rudolph, who provided cookies to the team every day they worked (even stockpiling cookies while she was away).

June 15, 2019: Dougherty House Dedication | Jane Boursaw Photo
June 15, 2019: Dougherty House Dedication | Jane Boursaw Photo

Rev. Jim Brammer gave the invocation, and Peninsula Township Supervisor Rob Manigold also said a few words about the efforts of so many groups and individuals involved in the acquisition and restoration of the home.

June 15, 2019: Dougherty House Dedication | Jane Boursaw Photo
June 15, 2019: Rev. Jim Brammer gives the invocation at the Dougherty House Dedication | Jane Boursaw Photo
June 15, 2019: Township Supervisor Rob Manigold speaks at the Dougherty House Dedication | Jane Boursaw Photo
June 15, 2019: Township Supervisor Rob Manigold speaks at the Dougherty House Dedication | Jane Boursaw Photo

Author and Historian Dr. Mary Ann Heidermann spoke about the significance of the home in terms of agricultural, tourism and the local economy, highlighting the time and talents of those involved in making it all happen.

June 15, 2019: Author and Historian Mary Ann Heidermann speaks at the Dougherty House Dedication | Jane Boursaw Photo
June 15, 2019: Author and Historian Mary Ann Heidermann speaks at the Dougherty House Dedication | Jane Boursaw Photo

After extensive restoration, including furnishing the interior with furniture and artifacts appropriate to the period from 1839 to 1910, the home and surrounding grounds will now be open as a historical, cultural educational and community center, as well as a museum for all visitors.

Plans for the surrounding 15 acres, including the completed Heritage Trail and Disabled Trail, as well as heirloom orchards and gardens, will reflect farming on the Old Mission Peninsula in the late 19th Century.

Read more about Peter Dougherty and his history on the Old Mission Peninsula here and on the Peter Dougherty Society website.

Click here if you’d like to become a docent for the Dougherty Mission House, located at 18459 Mission Road on the Old Mission Peninsula.

Coming Up:

Log Cabin Day: Sunday, June 30, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m., Lighthouse Park; 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Dougherty Mission House

Check out some more photos from the Dougherty House Dedication…

June 15, 2019: Ellen Kerr cuts the cake at the Dougherty House Dedication | Jane Boursaw Photo
June 15, 2019: Ellen Kerr cuts the cake at the Dougherty House Dedication | Jane Boursaw Photo
June 15, 2019: Dougherty House Dedication | Jane Boursaw Photo
June 15, 2019: Dougherty House Dedication | Jane Boursaw Photo
June 15, 2019: Dougherty House Dedication | Jane Boursaw Photo
June 15, 2019: Dougherty House Dedication | Jane Boursaw Photo
June 15, 2019: Dougherty House Dedication | Jane Boursaw Photo
June 15, 2019: Dougherty House Dedication | Jane Boursaw Photo
June 15, 2019: Dougherty House Dedication | Jane Boursaw Photo
June 15, 2019: JoAnn and Bill Cole at the Dougherty House Dedication | Jane Boursaw Photo
June 15, 2019: Dougherty House Dedication | Jane Boursaw Photo
June 15, 2019: Dougherty House Dedication | Jane Boursaw Photo
June 15, 2019: Dougherty House Dedication | Jane Boursaw Photo
June 15, 2019: Dougherty House Dedication | Jane Boursaw Photo
June 15, 2019: Dougherty House Dedication | Jane Boursaw Photo
June 15, 2019: Dougherty House Dedication | Jane Boursaw Photo
June 15, 2019: Susan Feiger and her daughter Dawn at the Dougherty House Dedication | Jane Boursaw Photo
June 15, 2019: Susan Feiger and her daughter Dawn at the Dougherty House Dedication | Jane Boursaw Photo
June 15, 2019: Music was provided by Helen Herzberg, Chuck Myers and Chantelle Strong at the Dougherty House Dedication | Jane Boursaw Photo
June 15, 2019: Music was provided by Helen Herzberg, Chuck Myers and Chantelle Strong at the Dougherty House Dedication | Jane Boursaw Photo

A NOTE FROM JANE: I started Old Mission Gazette in 2015 because I felt a calling to provide the Old Mission Peninsula community with local news. After decades of writing for newspapers and magazines like the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Family Circle and Ladies' Home Journal, I really just wanted to write about my own community where I grew up on a cherry farm and raised my own family. So I started my own newspaper. Because the Gazette is mainly reader-supported, I hope you'll consider tossing a few bucks my way if I mention your event, your business, your organization or your news item, or if you simply love reading about what's happening on the OMP. Check out the donation page here. Thank you so much for your support. -jb

Bay View Insurance of Traverse City Michigan

3 COMMENTS

  1. When I click on “Peter dougherty Society” (on the dedication page – 2019). I get “buy a house on Old Mission ” or some such thing!!!

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