Rediscovered Treasure at the Museum
Poking around a file cabinet

Poking around a file cabinet and behind a bunch of brooms and dry mops, the Historical Society discovered, rolled up in an old sheet, a 36 star American flag that had hung on the museum wall for many years. The flag had been nailed to the wall gathering dust and in 1991 it was removed. After it had been reviewed by a textile expert in October 1991 the intent was to have it mounted on a better backing material to stabilize the fabric from further deterioration. Local area quilt groups were contacted and there were several debates on how to quilt the flag. Finally, in March 1992, one quilter volunteered. Then through a series of events the flag was forgotten. The flag ended up rolled in a sheet under the bed of the quilter. A few years went by, the quilter passed away, and the flag was eventually returned to the museum in 1996 in the same condition as when it left. 
 
If you have any information on the background of our 36 star flag given to Mrs. Dearing in 1958 by Mae Dexter, please contact Nadine Cloutier, Curator at 810.626.2142 or Emma Winegarner, Registrar at 810.632.5741.