History:Â
Gardner House was built ca. 1875 by an Albion hardware merchant, Augustus P. Gardner, who came to Michigan from New York in 1837 as a young man. Augustus Gardner married Samantha Pickins of nearby Marengo, Michigan in 1841. They had one child who died in infancy. After Samantha's death in 1893, Augustus Gardner occupied the house until his own death in 1905. Prior to his death, Gardner deeded the property to his adopted daughter Belle Gardner Gale who sold it to Henry Wochholz in 1909. The Wochholz Family sold the house to the City of Albion in 1963. At one time, the City entertained an idea of making it into a library annex.
Albion Historical Society purchased Gardner House in May, 1966. Long neglected, the Victorian brick structure required extensive repairs, in addition to new wiring, plumbing, and the installation of gas heat.
In May of 1968, the Museum was opened to the public and, since then, has attracted thousands of visitors, both local and out-of-town. An award of Merit was presented to the Society by the American Association for State and Local History in 1969. In 1971, Gardner House Museum was officially placed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The Museum was redecorated in 1988 through funding by a Michigan State Equity Grant and local matching funds. The redecoration project included the use of elegant Victorian pattern wallpaper, something that had not been available during the original restoration. Roof cresting, track lighting, and fire and security systems were also installed at that time.
Today, Gardner House Museum is owned and governed by the Albion Historical Society, a non-profit organization. The Museum is operated by volunteers.
The aim of the Albion Historical Society is to preserve and display the heritage of Albion and surrounding vicinity. Items in the Museum have been donated by the people of Albion and other friends. Contributions are solicited for the operation and maintenance of the Museum. Memorials and bequests are encouraged.
The rooms of the Museum have been developed to represent a typical dwelling of the 1875-1900 period. Each room contains numerous artifacts and furniture that were once part of area homes. Pictorial Tour of Gardner House
The Henry D. Brown Memorial Room on the second floor contains local history displays, which are changed annually. This room allows for the exhibition of numerous items from the Museum's archives.
The basement of the Museum houses a primitive tool room and representations of a typical 1900-era kitchen and a neighborhood grocery store.
