Fun fact about me that you might not know…I come from a family of organized antique collectors that has a museum in North Branch Michigan. The Museum is called The Orr Family Museum. It’s a treasure in time, full of neat collections from my grandfather, my uncles, my great grandparents, and wonderful people from my mother’s hometown (she is an Orr). I stopped in on my latest trip to Michigan and it really helped me make sense of where I am in my life. I guess treasure hunting and repurposing antiques with my grandpa and my mom has gotten me to where I am today, a professional junker!
The museum was donated to the village of North Branch by my family so it could be open to the public and enjoyed on a more regular basis. My cousins help maintain it along with village volunteers. I hope it has a long legacy but with a town as tiny as North Branch it can be a wonder. The Orr’s owned (and still own) a beautiful hardware store in North Branch so the museum is full of items that they sold/traded/stumbled upon throughout the years. This post is more of a visual story so just take it all in…
What a neat Dental cabinet!
My great-grandfather’s boy scout certificate!
My grandma is the 4th from the left in the top row, what a beauty!
Marjorie Ross…what a beauty! She grew up across the street from my grandpa and they began dating after the war.
These are the old post office boxes, my mom was trying to see if she still knew the combo for my great grandma Ross’, too cute!
I love this military collection, so special considering most of it came from local folks.
This china set was a wedding gift to my great grandparents in the early 1900s, Dwight and Laura. My Aunt Anne donated a piece back to the museum so it could be completed.
It’s hard to see but my Grandpa Orr is in the 2nd row from the top, 3rd from the right. He passed away 15 years ago and I miss him so much.
Each generation! My grandpa and his brothers Claire and Preston on the left. Then Octie and Daniel in the middle and Great Grandpa Orr on the right. Octie’s daughter Frances is still alive and live in Palo Alto, she is 95 and a very special person. Such a neat thing that we only live a few miles apart now.
My Grandpa’s brother Preston is the oldest living Orr, next to my cousin Frances. If you stop by the museum or the hardware store you might see him standing guard. I love to run into him because he reminds me of my grandpa in a way.
The North Branch garden club started a memorial garden outside of the museum and if you stop by you will find my name on a paver. I’ve spent so much time with my grandparents in North Branch over the years that I am lucky enough to recognize and remember many of the names, special memories.
I hope you enjoyed my quick photo tour of the museum. It’s a special place and you can find it open on Saturdays from 10am-2pm!
Nancy says
Hey Amanda:
Thanks for sharing such an interesting family story. Your chosen profession makes total sense when seeing this pictorial history! I have a great love of antiques that must have been sparked when my mother gave me her old treadle White sewing machine. It is the machine she taught me to sew on. I still have the sewing machine and treasure it.
kuzakscloset says
I’m glad you enjoyed the post!
Nancy Hurtienne says
Hi Amanda:
That really is a lot of family history & you’re so lucky to have it.
I also like the term “professional junker”. Never thought that is what we do, searching for old things.
When I was a child in southern Wisconsin, my dad would let me join him when he went to the “dump” to search for “stuff”. Guess that’s how I started my own searching for good old things.
Thanks for sharing a part of your life.
kuzakscloset says
I know, I’m so lucky! Thank you for reading and I’m glad you enjoyed it!
Gretchen Orr says
The pictures are wonderful! You certainly have the photography
knack that your Grandpa had.Thank You for visiting the Museum, sharing your pictures and for the lovely presentation. Sorry I missed seeing you. Uncle Pres hopes that your “advertising” will bring more people to visit the museum.We talk with Frances occasionally…so nice that you live near her.THANKS again! With love, Aunt Gretchen
kuzakscloset says
Thank you for your comment! I am glad I could tour through on my way to the airport, North Branch has a very soft place in my heart! It was great to connect with Pam and also see Uncle Pres, he always reminds me of Grandpa, such sweet and funny guys! Take care and have a great summer!