Headquarters

Our headquarters for research is in Hart at 114 Dryden St.  Open Wednesdays 10 am-5 pm – All year

Oceana Historical Park and Museum Complex

5809 Fox Road, Mears MI 49436.  Open in June, July & August on weekends from 1 – 4 pm. Free Admission

Museums in Mears are Swift Lathers Museum, Tool Museum, Boynton Cottage Museum, Transportation Museum, Robinson Museum, Swedish Church, and Old Town Hall.

Visit our website for more pictures and details at: www.oceanahistory.org

Board

Officers

• President: Paul Erickson
• Vice President: John Varenhorst
• Recording Secretary: Joni Wegner
• Corresponding Secretary: Loretta Harjes
• Treasurer: Dennis Gale
• Past President: Walter Urick

Board Members

• Betty Driscoll
• Karen Urick
• Carl Wiegand
• Carmine Osborne
• Larry Osborne
• David Rakosky
• Sharon Hallack
• George Sadler
• Barbara Sheren

History of Our Organization

The Oceana County Historical Society was organized in 1967 with an organizational meeting in Pentwater. In 1974 the Swift Lathers home in Mears, Michigan was given by the family for a museum. Since that small beginning, the museum has grown into a Historical Park with five buildings and one storage building. In addition, the Society now is the proud owner of the historic ” Swedish Mission Church”. And in 1984 the society purchased the Chadwick-Munger house from the county to be used as its headquarters. The Society is a non-profit organization, relying totally on dues from its membership and gifts from individuals. There is no paid staff. A dedicated staff of volunteers maintains genealogical material and collected artifacts. Volunteers also conduct tours of the museum, answer questions about Oceana history, and conduct fundraisers.