Ada History Center - Ada Historical Society

06/23/2026

06/21/2026

Could this father have imagined?

~That his son Harry would serve in WWI, return to Ada, and operate the community's first fire truck.
~That his daughter-in-law Hattie would write Ada's column in the local Lowell Ledger newspaper for many years.
~That his granddaughter Charlotte, who grew up in the former Georgie's Consignment shop by the covered bridge, would volunteer to serve with the WAVES, the women's branch of the US Naval Reserve during WWII.

Photo: Ada resident Wellington Fitch, Jr. (1861-1934)

06/19/2026

Honoring the triumphs and sacrifices of those who fought for freedom.

Happy Juneteenth—also known as Freedom Day!

Juneteenth marks the day when U.S. General Gordon Granger and his federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas in 1865 to take control of the state and ensure that all enslaved people be freed a full two and a half years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation.

After the Civil War ended in the spring of 1865, General Granger’s arrival in Galveston that June signaled freedom for Texas’s 250,000 enslaved people. That December, slavery in America was formally abolished with the adoption of the 13th Amendment. Juneteenth marks an effective end to slavery in the United States and is considered the longest-running African American holiday.

06/17/2026

☹️

⛈ Due to both current and projected weather concerns, tonight's Music on the Lawn concert has been cancelled.

We look forward to seeing you next week as we welcome Yacht Rocket on June 24th.

06/15/2026

Sew fun. Hope you can join us this Thursday, 7pm.

06/14/2026

Our annual PSA for Flag Day!

06/10/2026

🌟Stories of the American Spirit🌟
In honor of America's 250th, we take inspiration from the Ada Cemetery. Who helped build Ada — and what does that say about America?

Today we remember Albert J. Sisson and Max Souzer, two veterans whose lives reflect service, resilience, and continued dedication to community after war.
Albert J. Sisson served in the Civil War as part of the 1st Regiment of U.S. Sharpshooters, fighting with the Army of the Potomac. After the war, he and his wife, Tryphenia, made their home in Ada, where they raised eight children. Sisson established a slaughtering business and co-owned a general store, with his home on Bronson St. doubling as both workplace and household. His story reflects a generation of veterans who returned from war to help build and sustain the towns they called home.
Max Souzer’s service spanned two world wars, serving as a Navy pharmacist’s mate in both World War I and World War II. His remarkable commitment to care and duty placed him at the intersection of service and healing during times of global conflict. Beyond his military role, Souzer remained an active member of the Ada community, including involvement with the local Masonic Temple. Today, his legacy is preserved through artifacts and memories at the Ada History Center that offer a window into his life of service.
Together, their stories reflect a broader American truth: the legacy of service does not end when war concludes, but continues in the lives veterans build, the communities they strengthen, and the remembrance carried forward by those who honor them.

Images:
~Albert Sisson, serving during the Civil War, lived on Bronson St. and is buried in Ada Cemetery
~Max Souzer, serving during WWII, lived on Ada Dr. and is buried in Ada Cemetery.

06/08/2026

Huge thanks to this crew who presented the Americana Barn Sale this past weekend, and to all who came out to find new treasures and appraise the old.

Proceeds benefit Ada's historic artifact collections. Yessssssssssss!

06/04/2026

Stop by! Wonder what treasures you might find.🪄
Or bring your own treasure for a road show-type appraisal.

https://www.estatesales.net/MI/Ada/49301/4944174