Meridian Historical Village Finding New Ways to Move Forward
According to the Lansing State Journal, Meridian Village was established in the 1970s, but most of its buildings are more than a century old.
There is a lot of history in Meridian Historical Village. When my kids were much younger I would take them both there to see this incredible Historical Village.
If you're not familiar as to where the Meridian Historical Village is, it's located in beautiful Central Park. A Meridian Township park located at 5151 Marsh Road in Okemos.
Not only my kids, but every year thousands of school children visit the collection of century old buildings at the Meridian Historical Village.
The Lansing State Journal said that,
The student tours of the Okemos property's farmhouse and general store and lessons inside its one room schoolhouse help Friends of Historic Meridian, the nonprofit that maintains the village, fulfill its mission. That mission is to create and sustain an active appreciation of history.
In the last year, due to the global pandemic, school visits to the village have ground to a halt. So have the many buildings and its chapel.
The Lansing State Journal mentioned that since March 2020, the village has lost two thirds of its annual revenue.
Brad Brogan, who is the president of Friends of Historic Meridian said it could be autumn before regular programming returns to the site.
At this point, according to the Lansing State Journal and the village's executive director, the nonprofit is tasked with addressing its building's ever present maintenance needs.
Meridian Historical Village is hoping that tours will resume by the end of the year. The Lansing State Journal reports that virtual options, including Zoom events, will likely be part of what the village offers in the near future.