3 Manchester DAR Members Working to Honor Governor Croswell with Historical Marker in Adrian
Croswell House. This was the home of the 17th Governor of Michigan. This property was given to the Lucy Wolcott Barnum Chapter in 1927, by his widow, Elizabeth Musgrave Croswell Merrill, as a memorial to Governor Croswell. Photo courtesy of Daughters of the American Revolution
Three Manchester women—Betty Cummings, Karen Jenter, and Lois Wacker—along with their follow members of the Lucy Wolcott Barnum Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), will dedicate an historic marker and celebrate the 125th anniversary of the founding of the Daughters of the American Revolution on October 11 at Croswell House, 228 North Broad Street, Adrian. The public is invited to tour the house from 1 to 2 pm. The dedication ceremony will commence at 2 pm.
Charles Croswell, 17th governor of Michigan.
Croswell House is a Greek Revival house that was built in the 1840s by Daniel Hicks, the uncle of Charles Miller Croswell. Croswell bought the house from his aunt in 1853, following the death of his uncle. Croswell had an illustrious political career that included serving two terms as Governor of the State of Michigan. His widow gave the house to the chapter in 1927 as a memorial to him. It was placed in the State Register of Historic Sites on February 19, 1958, and the National Register of Historical Sites on March 16, 1972.
This celebration also marks the 125th anniversary of the founding of the DAR by four women on October 11, 1890. Their simple mission was to promote historic preservation, education, and patriotism. The DAR is a nonprofit, nonpolitical volunteer women’s service organization with over 179,000 members in 3000 chapters worldwide. The organization has admitted almost 1 million members since its founding.
The Lucy Wolcott Barnum Chapter was founded in Adrian on April 19, 1909. Both Cummings and Jenter play leadership roles in the Chapter. Cummings has served as the Chapter Regent (President) since 2011. Jenter serves as co-chair of their Real Daughters Committee. A Real Daughter is a DAR member whose father fought in the Revolutionary War. Jenter’s committee locates the graves of Real Daughters and makes sure they are marked.
Chapter members visit kindergarten classrooms and present approximately 1,400 small U. S. flags to kindergartners each year—a tradition that has been going on for years. They presented over 300 flag lapel pins to naturalized citizens last year. For ten years, the chapter has presented scholarships to female high school seniors who will be attending college. Three scholarships were awarded this year. The chapter sponsors the Naval Sea Cadet Corps Wolverine Division at Monroe Community College and the Adrian Composite Squadron Civil Air Patrol. They honor the Outstanding Cadets with certificates and medals.
The Lucy Wolcott Barnum Chapter is a proud Commemorative Partner of the United States of America Vietnam War Commemoration, marking the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War. The 2008 National Defense Authorization Act authorized the Secretary of Defense to conduct such a program with an emphasis on holding events during 2015 through 2017. The mission is to thank and honor our 7.2 million living Vietnam veterans and the families of all 9 million who served in uniform from November 1, 1955, to May 15, 1975. The chapter held several events this year and more are planned for the next two years.
Members are involved in conservation and community service. They volunteer in hospitals, assisted living residences, and memory care residences. They participate in cleaning up local parks and roadsides and planting flowers, bushes, and trees. During the last three years, members throughout the world volunteered in excess of 10 million hours in their local communities.
If you have questions about the Lucy Wolcott Barnum Chapter or the upcoming event, contact Betty Cummings by phone, 734-428-7628 or by email, bettyc@umich.edu.
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