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The Dougherty Mission House and Museum has been hopping this summer! Here’s a roundup of news about the historic home located at 18459 Mission Road in the village of Old Mission.
Peter and Maria’s Anniversary
On Saturday, August 9, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., there will be a whole lot of love at the Dougherty House — and you’re invited!
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Back in 1839-40, the Rev. Peter Dougherty wrote an “out east” friend asking him to find an amiable, devoted spirit, aged 20 to 29, who might be willing to be his wife. The universe responded, and Peter Dougherty and Maria Higgins were married in August, 1840. This month marks the 185th anniversary of that union.
Dougherty Board member Barb Hansen tells me that Maria and Peter lived in a log cabin from 1840 until the house — built by Dougherty, Chief Agosa, and the local Odawa and Ojibwe people — was finished in 1842. They had five children in the Mission House and four more after they moved to Omena.
“Maria traveled by canoe to civilization and medical care on Mackinac Island to have her first child,” says Barb. “She had to be very brave to move to the wilderness, as it was known then.”
Stop by on August 9 and explore the 1842 Mission House, outbuildings and garden. View pure American chestnut trees. Enjoy anniversary cake, a kids’ craft table, and have your picture taken with Peter and Maria’s selfie board.
The Mission House and outbuildings are open for docent-led tours Wednesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. for $5; but admission will be free on August 9.
New Sign at the Lighthouse
A sign directing Mission Point Lighthouse visitors to the Dougherty House was recently installed near the Hessler Log Cabin at Lighthouse Park. Thanks to Township Clerk Becky Chown and Lighthouse Manager Ginger Schultz for their time and contributions to the design and placement process.
Dennis Hansen assisted with the aluminum post design, production and assembly of the sign. Chris Reiser, Marty Klein, Tom Dalluge and Rudy Rudolph from the “Tuesday Crew” installed the sign, and Barb Hansen worked with Image360 to have the sign produced.
New Trail Signs
Did you know there’s a sweet little trail behind the Dougherty House? It goes through fields and woods (with just a slight incline), and is so peaceful back there. The Dougherty’s “Tuesday Crew” (dedicated can-do volunteers) recently installed new trail signs through the 15 acres behind the house. You can hike the trail, which starts at the Cole Pavilion next to the house, any day of the week.
Dougherty House GardenÂ
While you’re at the Dougherty House, be sure and check out the Native American garden, planted and cared for by a team that includes Janet Kidd, Carolyn Taylor, Meg Clark, Anita Klein, Laura Johnson, Pam Wheelock, Connie Sargent and Susan Castleman. The historically accurate garden includes sacred tobacco and other herbs and veggies.
New Website
And last but certainly not least, the Dougherty Mission House has a new website! I sat in on one of these meetings, and the team created a beautiful new site that’s easy to navigate and chock-full of information.
Big thanks to the website committee led by Teri Hedrich with amazing volunteers Chris Reiser, Nancy Schulte, Deanna Couture and Alice Burbank (who is also head of the docent program). Check out the new website here.
Read all Dougherty House news on the Gazette here.
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