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Built by the Chandler family in 1875 and purchased by the Wing family in 1882. This 2nd Empire Victorian home would remain in the Wing family until 1974 when granddaughter, Adaline (Wing) Kershaw, sold it with furnishing and artifact to the Branch County Historical Society.

Wing House Museum

Open April through November
3rd Saturday of the Month from Noon until 4:00 P.M.
Or by appointment

Location: 27 South Jefferson Street Coldwater, MI 49036
Appointment Tours contact: 269-251-7179 (Penny)
Leave a message: 517-278-2871

Step back in time and enjoy a guided tour of the museum with history and stories galore. The Wing House Museum is a unique example of the 19th century Second Empire architecture. Learn how families worked and thrived in the late 1800s at this home museum that is one of the very few available year-around to the public. The home was built by the Chandler family for their son, Jay, and his bride-to-be, Francis Campbell, in 1875. Learn about the turn of events that led to the dissolution of their marriage and the subsequent sale of their beautiful home to prominent businessman Lucius M. Wing in 1882. Lived in by three generations of the Wing family, it was sold to the Branch County Historical Society in 1974. The museum still contains many of the Chandler and Wing furnishings and artifacts that were included with the home to the historical society.

Little Red School House

Owned and operated by the Branch County Historical Society
Open during the Branch County Fair in the first full week of August
Hours: Approximately Noon until 5:30 P.M., Monday to Saturday
Location: On the Branch County Fairgrounds property South Sprague Street, Coldwater, MI
Children groups may arrange special visits by calling 269-251-7178

The first Quincy schoolhouse was a log cabin built around 1841. In 1846 they enlarged the school and built it from mill cut lumber. This small one-room schoolhouse was used from 1846 until approximately 1852 when it was moved and a larger again school was built on the same location. Two groups wanted the building when it was to be moved in 1852, and the community settled the winner of the building by a unique oxen pulling contest. It was used for many different purposes over the decades until it was finally abandoned to sit and wait for demolition. Fortunately, the building was obtained by historical society member, Elmer Dobson, who arranged to have it moved to the Branch County Fairgrounds where the society went about refurbishing it with historic school items. It is used to demonstrate to children what kind of lifestyle and learning environment their ancestors experienced compared to their school experience of today.

This rare 1846 one-room schoolhouse has been saved and restored to demonstrate the conditions of our ancestor’s educational environment as children in the mid-nineteenth century. It was given the Most Improved Historic One-room Schoolhouse award by the Michigan One-room Schoolhouse Association for 2012.

Historic Sites

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