Even though the local disaster of the Whaley Historic House Museum’s roof catching fire was over a month ago, the discussion of restoration is still relevant. Luckily, no one was injured, but an artifact of Flint’s history has been significantly damaged and will take time and money to repair.
Whaley Historic House’s history began in 1885, when the Whaley family moved into the house on Kearsley Street, joining several other notable Flint families. Robert J. Whaley – president of Citizens Bank – and his wife Mary McFarlan Whaley owned the house. When Mrs. Whaley died in 1925, the house became a home for elderly women. Following that, the house went through a transformation until 1976, and that time the Whaley Historical House Association was created.
Now, the Whaley Historic House Museum holds old-fashioned quilting bees, along with other programs like History Happy Hour, Lumber City Baseball Club, and the Whaley Dinner Club. Whaley Historic House will also be establishing more programs to discuss the restoration of the house. Other programs will still happen in order to educate the Flint community, even though the house itself is closed. Additionally, you can follow Whaley Historic House Museum on Facebook to keep track of the progress. You can also call 810-471-4714, or e-mail director@whaleyhouse.com with any questions.
A Go Fund Me web page has been set-up, and some have already donated. As explained in the description of the web page, a hole has been found in the insurance coverage. Insurance companies take into account depreciation when it comes to restoring after a fire. In this case, the insurance payout for the 10-year-old roof is what it would cost to put on a 10-year-old roof. Knowing this, the Whaley Historical House Association would appreciate any and all contributions. Every little bit counts! Help restore and continue to preserve a significant part of Flint’s history.
