Rochester-Avon Historical Society presents “Four Fabulous Foremothers” for Women’s History Month

Join the Rochester-Avon Historical Society (RAHS) on Tuesday, March 5 at noon at the Rochester Hills Museum at Van Hoosen Farm for a lunchtime program titled, “Four Fabulous Foremothers” with Ginger Ketelsen and Michele Dunham. Spend an afternoon listening to stories brought to life by Ketelsen and Dunham as they present Abigail Adams, Sojourner Truth, Mother Jones, and Lucretia Mott from the foremothers collection of the late Dr. Gladys McKinney, a Rochester Community Schools educator for many … [Read more...]

Rochester-Avon Historical Society Announces New Initiatives to Fund and Support History and Culture in the Community

The Rochester-Avon Historical Society (RAHS) is pleased to announce two major funding initiatives in the first quarter of 2023. Early in the year, the society established the Rochester-Avon Historical Society Scholarship in the amount of $1,000 for eligible Oakland University (OU) students with a passion for history.   Kelly Brault, CRFE, senior director of annual giving and special audiences at Oakland University (left) and Tiffany Dziurman, president, Rochester-Avon Historical … [Read more...]

Annual Antique Appraisal Day April 2

Rochester-Avon Historical Society Hosts 29th Annual Antique Appraisal Day at Rochester Hills at Van Hoosen Farm, April 2. Have you ever wondered if that necklace you bought in an antique store is worth more than what you paid for it? Or what the story behind grandpa's coin collection is? If you have antique treasures or family heirlooms that you’ve long wondered about, bring them to the Rochester-Avon Historical Society during their 29th Annual Antique Appraisal Day on Sunday, April 2, from … [Read more...]

The Father of Computer Science & Artificial Intelligence

Rochester-Avon Historical Society will present “The Father of Computer Science & Artificial Intelligence” on October 7 at 7:00 p.m. at Rochester Hills Public Library as a part of the Smart Towns program series. Oakland University professor, Frank Cardimen, will discuss the life and genius of Alan Turing, the mathematician who broke the German Enigma Machine during World War II, and his impact on today’s technological revolution.  Smart Towns is a lifelong learning program for everyone … [Read more...]

Using DNA Tests for Family History

Rochester-Avon Historical Society will present “Genetic Genealogy” as part of its popular lunchtime Brown Bag program series on Tuesday, October 5 at 12:00 noon at the Rochester Hills Museum at Van Hoosen Farm. Registration is required. This meeting is free and open to the public. Bring a lunch (optional). Genealogist Katherine R. Willson will introduce the basic principles of genetic inheritance, the types of tests currently being marketed by the big DNA companies, and examine the … [Read more...]

Life History Narratives of Detroit Auto Workers in the 1950s

Smart Towns presents “Life History Narratives of Detroit Auto Workers in the 1950s” with Daniel Clark, September 23 Smart Towns host Oakland University history professor Daniel Clark on Thursday, September 23, at 7:00 p.m. at Rochester Hills Public Library. Clark will discuss the lives of 1950s Detroit autoworkers and their resilience during a time of economic and job insecurity.  Clark's first book, Like Night and Day: Unionization in a Southern Mill Town, explored what … [Read more...]

A Colorful History of American League Baseball Parks

The Rochester-Avon Historical Society will present “A Colorful History of American League Baseball Parks” on Thursday, September 2 at 7:00 p.m. in the Rochester Hills Public Library’s Multipurpose Room. Presented by Paul Hinz, a baseball enthusiast, sit back and experience the evolution of the original ballparks of the eight Charter Members of the American League in this informative presentation. This program is free and open to the public. Registration is required. … [Read more...]

Spectacular Rochester, a Brush Up on Local History

In collaboration with the Rochester-Avon Historical Society, the Brown Bag Lunch programs are going virtual. Attendees may register to join online, to brush up on local history topics, during the noon lunch hour. The first virtual Brown Bag Lunch is Tuesday, March 2 from 12 noon - 1:00 p.m. Register to receive a Zoom link to join in. The people, places, and events that shaped the community's history are introduced through historic photographs, maps, documents, and fascinating stories. … [Read more...]

Rochester-Avon Historical Society Publishes New Heritage Tour Book

With a generous grant provided by the Community Foundation of Greater Rochester, Rochester-Avon Historical Society recently published a new book titled, History in the Heart of the Hills: A Rochester Area Heritage Tour. This historical tour guide introduces the reader to the heritage sites of Rochester and Rochester Hills, Michigan, that have withstood the test of time and continue to poke through the fabric of the local landscape. Included are commercial, residential, industrial, and … [Read more...]

A Bike Tour Highlighting Women In Rochester’s History

Rochester Hills Public Library to Partner with Local Historical Agencies for Pedal The Past In partnership with the Rochester Hills Museum at Van Hoosen Farm and the Rochester-Avon Historical Society, the Rochester Hills Public Library (RHPL) will host “Pedal the Past: Women in Rochester History Bike Tour” on Thursday, June 25 from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. This in-person bike tour will take riders on a three-mile ride through Rochester to visit historic sites highlighting women in … [Read more...]