250 Years of America Celebrated at Oakland History Center in Pontiac

(Crystal A. Proxmire, Aug. 2, 2026)

Pontiac, MI – “We need to pass history on to children, so they can improve our country, and bring us closer to that ‘more perfect union’,” said Arnetta Burroughs of Southfield while attending the America 250 celebration held at Oakland History Center in Pontiac on July 26. She was there representing the Association for Study of African American Life and History, at an event full of history lovers from across Oakland County on hand to share their passion and stories.

“We take steps forward and steps backward,” she said. “but when people come together and stand up for each other, we get closer.”

Burroughs has been active in the Michigan Chapter of ASALH for over 20 years, taking a particular interest in encouraging people to register and to vote. “There were times in history that black people didn’t have the right to vote, and women didn’t have the right to vote. Young people need to know how important that right is.”

The Oakland History Center brought historic clubs, speakers, and performers together for the history-focused event. The History Center is part of the Wisner Mansion where Governor Moses Wisner and his family lived. Wisner was the 12th Governor of Michigan, serving from 1859 to 1861. He was also an attorney and farmer who also served as a Civil War colonel and an advocate for ending slavery. The estate, known as Pine Grove Manor, serves as a museum and gathering space – and the perfect setting for celebrating the nation’s history.

Tours of the mansion were given through the two-day event, with volunteers like Michelle Pfarrer sharing stories with hundreds of guests. Stationed in the “summer kitchen,” Pfarrer shared that the small one-room building was separate from the main house for a couple of good reasons. The most obvious, she said, was to cordon off the heat. But it was also a fire-safety measure in case anything should go awry while cooking. The focal point of the summer kitchen is a Sears & Roebuck Acme Queen cast iron stove. Not only was the stove used for cooking, but the flat top surface was perfect for heating up irons used to smooth out the fabric of linens and clothing.

“Governor Wisner’s first wife, Sarah, passed away, and he built the summer kitchen for his second wife, Angelina,” Pfarrer said.

Also on the property is a barn that is used for the Oakland Historic Society’s office and storage of historic records and items, including examples of Native American tools, and books about various cities, townships, and villages.

Groups from near and far set up booths under a large tent on the Pine Grove lawn. Among them was the Commerce Township Area Historical Society. “In honor of the 250th I brought pictures of products from 1876, which was the county’s centennial” said researcher and Corresponding Secretary Ruth DuFresne. “Hires Root Beer was launched in 1876 at the World’s Fair in Philadelphia. It was marketed as a temperance drink.” She explained that 1876 was also the first year that caramel corn and popcorn balls became a popular treat. Also at the World’s Fair, John Henry Heinz introduced a new product to the world – ketchup.

For DuFresne, history is about the stories that stick from generation to generation. “I grew up with a family that always talked about history, and stories that fascinated me,” she said. Wanting to know more about her family drew her to gemology, and eventually to learning more about her home, and her community of Commerce Township.

“Commerce is a big recreational area, that used to be the place for ‘up north’ cottages on the lakes,” she said. “We were close to the Walled Lake Amusement Park which was a big part of our local history.”

Also on hand were representatives of the Rose Township Heritage Committee, which was solidified as an official government committee in 2018. Tasked with preservation of natural spaces as well as history, volunteers like Chairperson Maura Jung and founding member Marilee Carstens have been keeping the history alive. They organized a bus tour for residents to explore historic places. They work with Michigan Nature Association to protect sensitive wetlands. And they’ve been part of Township efforts to restore that historic township hall, which now can be used for meetings or rented for events. Their next big task is looking at ways to better preserve historic cemetery records.

“The whole township is really special,” Jung said. “We have the element of the natural landscape, all these hickory trees and wild prairie roses. It’s a beautiful place that we need to protect.”

In addition to learning about history, guests enjoyed free ice cream, discussions in the old one-room schoolhouse, musical performances, games and fun activities for the kids, vendors and more.

While the nation’s birthday celebration is over, there are more upcoming events at Oakland History Center. Learn more at https://www.ocphs.org/