The HCHS Heritage Center - at the corner of First St. and N Ave. in Lake Linden
Since the Father's Day flood of 2018, the Heritage Center has served as our temporary office space and Research Room. Our Research Room is open by appointment only. Please call (906) 296-4121 to request an appointment.
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The History of the First Congregational Church of Lake Linden (now the Houghton County Heritage Center)
The Houghton County Historical Society Heritage Center is housed in the former First Congregational Church of Lake Linden. The church structure was built on land donated by the Calumet & Hecla Mining Company. The structure follows the Victorian "Stick" style, set upon a non-coursed mine rock foundation and was built by Emery & Curdy, Contractors in 1886 at a cost of $8,325.00, with materials provided by the mining company. The use of decorative hardwood highlights this unique building, as well as the intricate patterns of siding and detail on the exterior, making this structure an architectural treasure.
The First Congregational Church continued as an active organization for almost 100 years, ending its service to the community in 1979. At that time, the structure was donated to the Houghton County Historical Society, and it was planned to use the structure as a Heritage Center for Houghton County. Over recent years, efforts have been made to restore the structure, and the community rooms through donations and grants. A $50,000.00 grant from the Americana Foundation has allowed the HCHS to both restore our wonderful Garret House organ, and undertake the restoration of the steeple. New plumbing, roofing, electrical, and heating have been supplied through grants from the Leuthold Foundation, the National Park Service, and generous donations from Mr. & Mrs. John Siller, and others.
Limited building restoration was begun in 1993. The paint and repair on two sides of the Heritage Center were completed in 2006 with the help of a grant from The Americana Foundation. The paint was analyzed to be the original colors, then the North and West sides of the building were scraped, repaired and meticulously hand painted by LCS, Inc. Shingle repair and replacement on the exterior walls and a portion of the steeple was completed in 2020.
1874 Garret House Tracker Pipe Organ
The two-manual Garret House organ at the former First Congregational Church of Lake Linden was constructed in 1874 for the First Congregational Church of Calumet. It was built by House in the last third of his career as a domestic tracker organ builder. House built these instruments in Buffalo, New York. The organs have no electric or electro-pneumatic parts, in the classic style that would be familiar to 17th and 18th century masters such as J. S. Bach. These tracker organs control the flow of wind traveling to the pipes by the use of wooden rods and levers to open and close both stops and pipe valves. The wind in the organ that sounds the pipes was originally provided by a person hand pumping the organ to keep the air in the wind chests below the pipes at a constant pressure. While the newly restored organ can still be pumped, the wind is now provided by a whisper quiet blower.
Organ Restoration:
The restoration of this unique and significant organ was undertaken in 2001 by the HCHS as part of the overall effort to restore the church, and was funded by individual donations and a $25,000.00 grant from the Americana Foundation. The restoration was initiated by Ms. Dana Hull of Ann Arbor, and completed by Mr. Helmut Schick of Ann Arbor, and Rev. John Cawkins of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Their efforts were augmented by many HCHS volunteers, especially Andrew McInnes, of Stanton Township.
Your tax deductible gift to the Heritage Center of $1,000 or more will be appreciated with a framed keepsake art piece of the 120 year old original floor cover. Please make your check payable to Houghton County Historical Society and designate to the Heritage Center. Mail to Houghton County Historical Society, Box 127 M-26, Lake Linden, MI 49945
The Houghton County Historical Society Heritage Center is housed in the former First Congregational Church of Lake Linden. The church structure was built on land donated by the Calumet & Hecla Mining Company. The structure follows the Victorian "Stick" style, set upon a non-coursed mine rock foundation and was built by Emery & Curdy, Contractors in 1886 at a cost of $8,325.00, with materials provided by the mining company. The use of decorative hardwood highlights this unique building, as well as the intricate patterns of siding and detail on the exterior, making this structure an architectural treasure.
The First Congregational Church continued as an active organization for almost 100 years, ending its service to the community in 1979. At that time, the structure was donated to the Houghton County Historical Society, and it was planned to use the structure as a Heritage Center for Houghton County. Over recent years, efforts have been made to restore the structure, and the community rooms through donations and grants. A $50,000.00 grant from the Americana Foundation has allowed the HCHS to both restore our wonderful Garret House organ, and undertake the restoration of the steeple. New plumbing, roofing, electrical, and heating have been supplied through grants from the Leuthold Foundation, the National Park Service, and generous donations from Mr. & Mrs. John Siller, and others.
Limited building restoration was begun in 1993. The paint and repair on two sides of the Heritage Center were completed in 2006 with the help of a grant from The Americana Foundation. The paint was analyzed to be the original colors, then the North and West sides of the building were scraped, repaired and meticulously hand painted by LCS, Inc. Shingle repair and replacement on the exterior walls and a portion of the steeple was completed in 2020.
1874 Garret House Tracker Pipe Organ
The two-manual Garret House organ at the former First Congregational Church of Lake Linden was constructed in 1874 for the First Congregational Church of Calumet. It was built by House in the last third of his career as a domestic tracker organ builder. House built these instruments in Buffalo, New York. The organs have no electric or electro-pneumatic parts, in the classic style that would be familiar to 17th and 18th century masters such as J. S. Bach. These tracker organs control the flow of wind traveling to the pipes by the use of wooden rods and levers to open and close both stops and pipe valves. The wind in the organ that sounds the pipes was originally provided by a person hand pumping the organ to keep the air in the wind chests below the pipes at a constant pressure. While the newly restored organ can still be pumped, the wind is now provided by a whisper quiet blower.
Organ Restoration:
The restoration of this unique and significant organ was undertaken in 2001 by the HCHS as part of the overall effort to restore the church, and was funded by individual donations and a $25,000.00 grant from the Americana Foundation. The restoration was initiated by Ms. Dana Hull of Ann Arbor, and completed by Mr. Helmut Schick of Ann Arbor, and Rev. John Cawkins of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Their efforts were augmented by many HCHS volunteers, especially Andrew McInnes, of Stanton Township.
Your tax deductible gift to the Heritage Center of $1,000 or more will be appreciated with a framed keepsake art piece of the 120 year old original floor cover. Please make your check payable to Houghton County Historical Society and designate to the Heritage Center. Mail to Houghton County Historical Society, Box 127 M-26, Lake Linden, MI 49945
