GREENBUSH TOWNSHIP– Greenbush Township will be celebrating 150 years of existence on Sunday with all-day activities at the township hall.

There is an entire lineup of events with free admission to celebrate the township’s history, as well as the 50th annual Fire Department BBQ.

The Greenbush Sesquicentennial is being put on by a variety of community members, including volunteers from the Greenbush Historical Society Board of Trustees.

Pat Daily, the township treasurer, said the Historicial Society trustees were instrumental in bringing the event to fruition. As a major milestone for the township and Alcona County, it will be paired with the fire department’s annual barbecue that has been taking place for half a century.

The efforts to preserve the local history have been tremendous and Daily is excited to have the chance to bring the community together to enjoy it.

“Help us celebrate 150 years! We want to have a great celebration,” Daily said.

For those interested in the township history, there are free sesquicentennial booklets available, featuring an in-depth timeline of the county and township happenings starting from the beginning. The timeline was compiled from a variety of sources, including the Alcona County Review, which has served the county for more than 140 years.

Daily said Carolyn Bummund, Cheryl Franks, and Sheila Scott worked tirelessly to create the historical overview.

It captures the early years when the county was first established and known as Negwegon County, named after a Chippewa chief, and follows the area’s gradual growth. There are detailed descriptions of early industry — including logging, a ship refueling station, a sawmill, and a train depot — and information about how each shaped the area. It also has photos highlighting the area over the last 150 years and details about how the county and township were named. As one of the county’s three original townships, Greenbush is packed with history, and the sesquicentennial is a continued preservation of it.

The celebration will start at 10 a.m. at the township hall, 5039 Campbell St., Greenbush.

People can shop the craft fair, check out quilts on display, and enjoy a free mini-cupcake. The Old School House will have a bake sale and visitors can view the historic building, which is now a museum run by the Greenbush Historical Society.

There will be kids’ activities, including a bounce castle and a dunk tank.

At 11:15 a.m., a parade will start at Spencer park. The route will go from Ridley Road to Cedar Lake Road, ending near F-30.

The Fire Department will kick off their 50th annual barbecue in the township hall at noon. The chicken dinner will come with sides and a dessert. Food can be purchased to eat in or take out.

The big event will take place at 2 p.m., with the opening of a time capsule buried 25 years ago. This unearthing will have items showcasing what Greenbush was like a quarter of a century ago.

Afterward, there will be items put in the time capsule to be reburied and dug up decades from now.

Kaitlin Ryan can be reached at kryan@thealpenanews.com or by phone at 989-358-5693.

If you go:

WHAT: Greenbush Township sesquicentennial

WHEN: Events begin at 10 a.m Sunday, with an 11:15 a.m. parade and a 2 p.m. unveiling of a 25-year-old time capsule

WHERE: Events begin at Township Hall, 5039 Campbell St., Greenbush

INFO: For more information please contact Pat Daily at 989-739-5088 or Sheila Scott at 989-335-0055.