In another attempt to preserve part of the past, the Davisburg Rotary Club has joined forces with the Springfield Township Historical Society to help renovate a historic harness shop at 610 Broadway.
Diana Walls is a member of both the historical society and the Rotary. Because of the 2005 centennial of the international Rotary organization, local clubs have been urged to take on a major service project.
‘We had a list of quite a few projects, but we kept coming back to doing this,? Walls said.
The historical society obtained almost $4,000 from a federal community development block grant to replace the building’s roof, and Rotary members are providing the labor.
If they can raise enough money, they would like to replace windows and doors, scape and repaint the structure and do other minor repairs to make the building presentable for public use.
‘It will be used again as a museum,? she said. ‘Everything we had in there ? and we have some really neat artifacts ? are in storage.?
The total cost for all the desired improvements is estimated at just less than $10,000, Walls said, and the Rotary is seeking donations toward the project.
According to background information gathered by the historical society, the ‘Schultz Building? was built in the early 1870s. The architecture of the building at the rear is Greek revival, with a ‘false front? store facade in front. Researchers presume its original purpose was as a harness shop. One quote from 1916 said there was a clock repair shop in front and a harness shop in back, and in 1933 Fred Schultz purchased the building from William Barsby, who had operated it as a cobbler.
Schultz continued the harness and leather repair shop, but also worked as a cobbler, a barber (in the shop next door), operated the Davisburg milk shop (where farmers brought their milk for rail shipment to Detroit) and served as Springfield Township Clerk for more than 55 years.
The shop was closed in the late 1950s, and the Schultz family donated the building to the historical society in 1971. Since then the society has effected renovations twice, adding a cement foundation to help strengthen the building. Funds ran low, however, so a lot of work has yet to be done.
With the renovation will come one deliberate omission: the building will continue to lean to the east. Walls said there is no structural danger with the leaning, and many believe it adds to the historic character.
‘It’s always been that way, and structurally it’s sound,? she said. ‘It’s the Davisburg leaning tower.?
The historical society has other local buildings they’re concerned about, and Walls feels a sense of urgency for their work.
‘Our hope is to preserve and maintain as much as we can historically,? she said. ‘Once they’re gone, that’s it.?
The Rotary and the historical society welcome both monetary donations and volunteer labor.
Donations go to the Rotary foundation fund, with no overhead.
Those interested in helping are asked to call project manager Greg Kazmierinski at (248) 620-5594.