Digging into the past

BURTON — The city’s youngest committee, the Public Access Committee, is setting its sights on bygone times by initiating the creation of a Burton Historical Society.

The committee met last week to go over the intricacies of creating a historical organization.

Many specifics have yet to be hashed out on the project and the Public Access Committee is looking for residents with historical artifacts or simply good memories to come forward.

“I think we’re going to have to reach out to residents with black and white photos,” said Councilman Steven Heffner, noting pictures of the first firehall and images of Saginaw Street as a dirt road exist.

Heffner acknowledged that the Burton Historical Society could experience a slow start.

Councilman Danny Wells is in discussions with the Historical Society of Michigan on what to do to get started.

The Burton Historical Society will require a mission statement and fundraising objectives in addition to 501C status, which they can borrow from the city for awhile. The society will also have to be registered with the Bureau of Labor and Economic Growth. Wells suggested asking an attorney to donate time for the legal set-up.

The Public Access Committee is looking for a combination of seasoned trustees and new blood to comprise the historical society.

“This is a tremendous undertaking. We’ve got to find committed people to keep it going past the founding fathers,” Wells explained.

Councilman Vaughn Smith, who’s lived in the city since the age of 5, says that the organization needs a leader with a passion for history.

The historical society can meet at churches, schools and VFW halls and Burton’s libraries and the Parks and Recreation Committee can also become involved in the process.

Wells recommends the society be comprised of three sub-categories: events, people and sites.

“People love history. I think this will sell itself,” commented Wells. “People have asked me how far we’d like to go back. I say the city of Burton can go back to the Township days.”

Heffner points out that Burton already boasts a few historical homes.

“There’s some great stories out there,” Heffner said.