The bell tower of the Howarth Schoolhouse will be removed temporarily this week so students from Upland Hills School can work on restoring it.
The roof will also be repaired before the tower is replaced several weeks from now and the school bell will be returned to the tower before it is reinstalled.
The repairs to the roof and bell tower are in part funded by the Save Our History grant program, which was awarded last year to the Orion Historical Society.
The Society is working to restore the building in phases as funding becomes available, and plans to use the building in the future for educational and historical programs for students and the public.
A sample of archaeological artifacts from the site will be on display at Paint Creek Elementary School in April.
Like other local elementary schools that have been working to raise funds to restore the schoolhouse with Math-a-thons during March, Paint Creek is planning to raise funds with a coin drive in April.
Artifacts will also be on display for the public on Saturday, May 12, from 1-3 p.m. at the Orion Township Library.
As reported in last week’s Review, Upland Hills School middle school students will present a DVD they are producing about their participation in the Howarth project.
The DVD will include parts of four oral history interviews with former Howarth students, footage from their work on the archaeology dig, and their work on the bell tower.
Following the student presentation, Darrell Zehel, archaeology field site supervisor for the Howarth project, will present his findings and discuss why the Howarth site is so unique.
For further information, contact Leslie Pielack, Project Director, at (248)693-6718, or Sara Van Portfliet, (248)693-4154, or visit the Orion Historical Society’s website at www.orionhistoricalsociety.org.
Come back to The Review next week for a detailed look at the fundraising efforts, with photos you won’t want to miss.