by Wayne Clements, Past President

Our fathers told us that some day, the area east of our town would be solidly built up between Saline, Ann Arbor, and Detroit. As kids in a 1940s one-room country school, we thought Dad was smoking some funny tobacco. However, looking back, we know the forecast was a good one and that we should seldom question the common sense trait that comes naturally to farmers.

Today, there is only one stretch of open land separating our communities. All the farms have been replaced with houses or industrial buildings. This mammoth change in our Saline community has influenced our residents in a variety of ways. The Saline Area Historical Society has felt the effect of the changing environment and has resolved to do something about it.

In the 19th century, Saline was an active member of the Pioneer Society of Washtenaw County and had many local members. Saline shared monthly meetings with other towns in the county. William M. Gregory, who had a farm in Section 15 of Saline Twp., is the first known leader of this group. He wrote many articles and gave talks for the Pioneer Society.

The Saline Area Historical Society began as the Literary Society, an arm of the local library. Our organization has been alternately active and dormant. In 1966, we were very active because of the Centennial of Saline (1866-1966). At that time, the group was led by Mary and Daniel Lirones, Paul Meyers, Norman Blackie, and Alberta Rogers. Unfortunately, the society went into decline in the early- to mid-1980s as key members either died or moved away.

More recently, it came back to life in 1987 when a core group began working “to preserve our past for the future.” Community interest grew through the projects and activities of the society. In 1988, a vacant historic house developed into a successful Designers’ Showcase House Tour. The next year, preservation of barns and windmills drew increased public attention to the efforts of our resurrected society.

Income came from membership dues and a small, annual antique show, so our treasury was thin. At that time, we operated mainly out of our homes and held meetings at the Saline Senior Center. We began to realize that if we were to survive, a close working arrangement with the City of Saline would be paramount.

The opportunity to “go for it” came our way when an 1830s livery barn, scheduled for demolition, came to our attention. Fortunately, an experienced timber framer offered to supervise volunteers to take it down and rebuild it. But, we needed a site.

Ever since the local railroad stopped running in 1961, our railroad depot built in 1870 and now owned by the City, was being used for various activities. Research told us that originally the railroad complex included two barns for storage. Our preservation instincts told us to re-create the landscape at the historic depot site by moving the livery barn. After public hearings and cooperation with the Saline Historic District Commission, we were allowed to re-establish the livery barn on the depot site. In the spring of 1990, the restored barn was formally presented to the City of Saline.

From then on, activities mushroomed as membership grew to 100 persons or more:

• 1991: An original Saline Standard Windmill was restored.
• 1992: Second Designers’ Showcase was held at the Tefft Farm on Textile Road.
• 1993: We went to the Michigan State Fair to demonstrate our Operating Windmill.
• 1994: Positive public support grew for developing a Depot Museum.
• 1995: The Saline Depot Museum opened on July 4th.
• 1996: The loading dock at the depot was restored.
• 1997: An authentic wooden caboose was installed on the tracks and furnished to period.
• 1998: Ground work was laid for developing a second museum.
• 1999: The Rentschler Farm Museum opened in May with a gala Springtime on the Farm.
• 2000: The Society was honored with two statewide awards: “Special Events Award” by the Historical Society of Michigan and “Quest for Excellence” by the Michigan Museums Assoc.
• 2001: A bronze bust of Saline’s Founder Orange Risdon was commissioned and presented to the City.
• 2002: The One-Room Weber-Blaess School was moved to property owned by Saline Area Schools and restored for historic classroom experiences.
• 2003: A wooden windmill was installed at the Depot Museum; our first book was published: Voices over the Valley by James Cameron.
• 2004: The 100th Anniversary of the REO was celebrated by hosting a Hometown Truck Show at the Rentschler Farm.
• 2005: The 135th Anniversary of the Depot and the 10th Anniversary of the Depot Museum was celebrated in July.
• 2006: Rentschler Day drew 75 family members. The day was part of our year-long celebration of the 100th Anniversary of the Rentschler Farmhouse. History in a Tent in Downtown Saline was the society's contribution to the 75th Anniversary of the City of Saline.
• 2007: History in Motion was a new activity that provided a trolley with a step-on guide for visitors from Downtown Saline to the Depot Museum during Summerfest. Another highlight was an effort to update society bylaws.
• 2008: Rentschler Farm celebrates its 10th Year as a museum with a big celebration in September.
• 2009: The Depot Museum hosted an Old Vehicle Day for the first time. A small building was acquired from the old Cody Farm on Textile Road. It was moved to the Rentschler Farm for a future gift shop.

Our Mission Statement is: “To provide an association for people sharing common interest in the history of the Saline area and to encourage preservation and provide education and activities that best illustrate local heritage.”

• Photo by James Roth of Saline, MI: The Saline Area Historical Society Operating Team stands on the steps of the 1906 caboose, purchased in 1997 by Jeffrey Fryman and Wayne Clements, moved to the site of the Saline Railroad Depot, and donated to the City of Saline for everyone’s enjoyment.
• Left to right, back row: Robert Harrison, Warren Rentschler, Dean Greb, Mary Lirones, Margaret Lane and Michael DiGiamberardino. Front row: James Cameron, Wayne Clements, Agnes Dikeman, Marilyn Rentschler, and Robert Lane.
• Members absent from the photograph: Cathy Andrews, Rick Kuss, Janet Swope, and Linda Greb.

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