Plymouth Historical Museum

A skit performed at the Plymouth Historical Museum's 2015 gala, "A Night for the Museum by Plymouth Living History Troupe members.

The 2014 Plymouth Ghosts Cemetery Walk at Riverside Cemetery in Plymouth, Michigan, was a resounding success! This was the first time the walk was a sell out--at 360 tickets!!! We had the best weather ever! We had 8 fabulous people portraying ghosts of Plymouth's past. We had a host of wonderful volunteers that made the whole event possible from set up and take down, to running the ticket counter, to running the food tent, to guiding the walks. We were joined by members of the Just Hearse 'N Around Club of Hell, Michigan, who brought their vintage hearses for show and tell, and their incredible "Casketeria" grill on which they grilled hot dogs and hamburgers for attendees and for the volunteers. Thanks to the Just Hearse 'N Around Club for joining us and cooking!!

Views from the 'Twas the Night Before Christmas exhibit in 2014.

Views from the Creative Hands, Busy Hands exhibit in 2015.

Another great performance at the Museum by the Plymouth Living History Troupe.

Cameron Brass portrayed Nellie Bly.

Jim Salamay portrayed Nicholas Tesla.

Ed Vitez portrayed Frederick Law Olmsted.

Portrayed by Pam Yockey of the Plymouth Living History Troupe.

The 2015 Plymouth Ghosts Cemetery Walk at Riverside Cemetery in Plymouth, Michigan, was another resounding success! For the second year in a row, the walk was a sell out--at 360 tickets!!! We had fairly decent weather, except for the 10-minute downpour in the middle. We had 8 fabulous people portraying ghosts of Plymouth's past. We had a host of wonderful volunteers that made the whole event possible from set up and take down, to running the ticket counter, to running the food tent, to guiding the walks. We were joined by members of the Just Hearse 'N Around Club of Hell, Michigan, who brought their vintage hearses for show and tell, and their incredible "Casketeria" grill on which they grilled hot dogs and hamburgers for attendees and for the volunteers. Thanks to the Just Hearse 'N Around Club for joining us and cooking!!

Following the death of Margaret Dunning in May 2015, a plaque was dedicated in her honor in front of the Plymouth Historical Museum. Mike Pappas was president of the Plymouth Historical Society at the time.

A skit performed at the Plymouth Historical Museum's 2016 gala, "A Night for the Museum. Plymouth Living History Troupe members Jim Salamay and Mike Gillett performed the skit.

A bright and sunny afternoon made this ghost walk ideal. Great character actors told stories of how Plymouth used to be, and the humor of then and now.

The Plymouth Historical Museum's "First Ladies, Fashion Setters" exhibit in 2016.

Hear the tales of early Plymouth from the characters themselves, such as George Vandecar--saloon owner, barber, and spinner of tall tales, Abram Pelham--Civil War soldier, dentist, and inventor, Mary Conner--spinster daughter of hardware store owner Michael Conner, and Marvin Berdan--owner of the Berdan House at the corners of Ann Arbor Trail and Main Street. Video by Patrick Currie

The girls loved singing "Let It Go!" with Anna and Elsa at the Plymouth (Michigan) Historical Museum's Frozen Princess Social on July 17, 2016.

The first National Tree Lighting Ceremony was held in the White House Ellipse in 1923. The tree was lit by President Calvin Coolidge. The Plymouth Historical Museum reenacted this ceremony at its Wine and Appetizer Reception for its new exhibit, "Yuletide at the White House" in November 2016.

The Plymouth Historical Museum held a Wine & Appetizer Reception on Wednesday, November 16, to thank members and to introduce the new special exhibit, "Yuletide at the White House." We had President Calvin and Mrs. Grace Coolidge present to light the National Tree, along with nine other period spectators (eleven reenactors in total). It was a great event! Thank you to photographer Marty Kerstens for some great photos! Thanks to all the reenactors who made this a great night! And thanks to all of the staff and volunteers who made the event possible. Ellen Elliott hand-made and donated all of the desserts; Schoolcraft College sponsored the appetizers.

On October 14, 2017, the Plymouth Historical Museum held an interactive murder mystery, "A Plymouth Wake." Thanks to everyone involved, including the cast and volunteers! Cast: Mike Woloszyk, Sofia Malynowskyj, Joe Grima, Scott Kelley, Jim Salamay, Sarah Knox Krot, Christy Haradean, and Jackie Schubert. Lurkers in the exhibits included Catherine Sekerke, Gail Merrifield, Blair Merrifield, Heidi Nielsen, and Martin Gargaro. Video taken by Joe Francis.

The Plymouth Ghosts Cemetery Walks are a very popular local event in Plymouth, held each year by the Plymouth Historical Museum at Riverside Cemetery. This year, because of the popularity, two walks were held simultaneously. We had the best weather ever! We had 8 fabulous people in each of the two walks portraying ghosts of Plymouth's past. We had a host of wonderful volunteers that made the whole event possible from set up and take down, to running the ticket counters, to running the food tents, to guiding the walks. We were joined by members of the Just Hearse 'N Around Club of Hell, Michigan, who brought their vintage hearses for show and tell. Thanks to the Just Hearse 'N Around Club for joining us again!! And thank you to Courthouse Grille of Plymouth for donating cider and donuts for attendees to enjoy! Also thank you to Westborn Market of Plymouth for donating cider. Thank you to volunteers Marty Kerstens and Sherrie Brindley for taking these great pictures!

The Plymouth Historical Museum held its fourth annual Ghosts of Plymouth Walk on Saturday, April 22, 2017. This year for the first time we held the walk in Plymouth's Old Village. It was an incredibly beautiful evening and about 190 people were able to learn first-hand about the lives of some of Plymouth's "ghosts" from members of the Plymouth Living History Troupe, who brought the ghosts to life. A production such as this takes a lot of hard work behind the scenes. We would like to thank our "ghosts": Sarah Knox Krot, who portrayed Mary Davis; Deborah Eleson, who portrayed Keziah Starkweather; Mike Gillett, who portrayed William Grow; David Curtis, who portrayed John Peterhans; Kathy Doolittle Pumphrey, who portrayed Eva Streng; Jim Salamay, who portrayed Peter Gayde; Ron Lowe, who portrayed George Starkweather; and Dave Tennies, who portrayed John Meiler. We would also like to thank our tour guides: Sofia Malynowskyj, Nancy Jowsey, Mike Janz, Jackie Schubert, Sherrie Lynn, and Maureen Frey. Thanks go to our ticket taker Yvette Babish, our videographer Joe Francis, and our photographer Marty Kerstens. And thanks to our script coordinator Heidi Nielsen. Phew!

A skit performed at the Plymouth Historical Museum's 2017 gala, "A Night for the Museum. Plymouth Living History Troupe members Jackie Schubert, Dave Tennies, David Walker, and Mike Woloszyk performed the skit.

Members of the Plymouth Living History Troupe performed a short skit during the "Plymouth Rides the Rails" Member Preview Skit in February 2020.

A brief walk through the history of the caboose in U.S. railroading.

The Plymouth (Michigan) Historical Museum was gifted a 1980 C&O caboose by CSX in 2019. This video shows the arrival of the caboose in Plymouth and the process of restoration. Thanks to Chris Troy of Foundation Productions for creating the video. Thanks to TJ Gaffney and Jonathon Leese for talking about the caboose in the video.