Midland County experienced severe flooding on May 19/20 when two dams failed after excessive rain. We will post updates here, but please also visit the facebook pages of the individual museums: Midland County Historical Society Sanford Centennial Museum
Monday, April 19, 2021 Here is a great video interview with Chuck Dinsmore about the flood at the Sanford Centennial Museum showing the amazing recovery progress they had made already by the end of summer. (by Jordan Mowbray)
The Midland County Historical Society can use conservators/curators to help with damage assessments and cleaning of flood damaged textiles and artifacts, as well as general assessments and condition reports for undamaged textiles, artifacts books and archival collections and help with photographing artifacts/textiles. Past Perfect is available on site for people to work directly in the computer. Work will primarily be done on Thursdays and Fridays, and the goal is to get as much accomplished as possible by September 1st. Contact Crystal for more information or to volunteer. Thursday, June 11 Midland County Historical Society is in need of volunteers with training in conservation, Past Perfect, and/or condition reporting for the next several weeks. If you can help, please contact Julie Johnson (johnsonj@midlandcenter.org). Wednesday, May 27 Sanford Centennial Museum is in need of volunteers with collections training through the rest of the week for onsite artifact stabilization. Contact Jared Yax (jyax@tchmuseum.org, 616-443-6607.) Midland County Historical Society has wrapped the emergency stage of their flood response. Approximately 350 volunteers evacuated around 12,000 artifacts between Saturday and Tuesday. More volunteers with curatorial training will be needed once power is restored to the building and they will let us know when that is. Both museums seem to be wrapping up their initial emergency response and need for volunteers on a large scale, at least after the next day or two. The Historical Society of Michigan has created a GoFundMe Campaign to provide direct financial support. Sunday, May 24 Midland County Historical SocietyVolunteers are still needed to evacuate artifacts from the buildings. Contact Julie Johnson (johnsonj@midlandcenter.org). Also needed are storage and packing materials especially regular and oversized boxes. They have enough freezer space now. https://www.ourmidland.com/news/article/Doan-History-Center-Heritage-Park-rescue-damage-15292194.php Sanford Centennial MuseumThis museum compound was also engulfed and according to their facebook page volunteers are needed for cleanup. We are working to find a contact to get logistics for how to assist. Saturday, May 23 VOLUNTEERS NEEDED THIS WEEKEND All artifacts, damaged and otherwise, need to be removed from the buildings at the Midland County Historical Society Heritage Park immediately. People with Collections/Curatorial training are needed to lead small teams of volunteers with the removal. Facilities/construction personnel are also needed to remove walls and make building modifications to protect those structures. Safety needs in light of the pandemic are being considered and volunteers will work in small, socially-distanced groups. If you are able to travel to Midland to help, please contact Julie Johnson (johnsonj@midlandcenter.org). They are also in need of additional freezer storage. Damage is more significant than initially thought and many usual resources are not available due to COVID-19. If you have any connections with sources for freezer space in the area or that can be moved there, please ask if it can be utilized and then Julie know necessary contact information. |
Thursday, May 21
The Midland Center for the Arts/Midland County Historical Society Heritage Park was completely flooded and while access is still limited, there is clearly water in the buildings. They are in need of the following immediately:
Please contact Julie Johnston (johnsonj@midlandcenter.org) if you can provide any of the above.
When the Dams Broke in Midland, Michigan - Belt Magazine
Historic Flooding Left Part of Michigan History Underwater - Detroit Free Press (6/22/2020)
Saving History: Volunteers Work to Save Doan History Center and Heritage Park - Catalyst Midland (6/4/2020)
Historical Triage: Museum Curators Race Against Time to Preserve Museum - Traverse City Record Eagle (5/32/2020)
Midland Museum Seeks Volunteers to Help Save Artifacts Damaged by Flood - MLive (5/23/2020)