Help Save This Historic Home

The Calhoun County Land Bank Authority today announced tickets are now available for purchase for the “MAYDAY!” fundraiser on Wednesday, May 1, at 26 Fremont St. in Battle Creek. Tickets are $50 apiece and can be purchased by clicking “Get Tickets” at calhounlandbank.org/events.  All proceeds will go toward repairing the exterior millwork of the 1800s Victorian house.

“This fundraiser provides Battle Creek residents a unique opportunity to play an important role in restoring this historic Battle Creek property, as well as see the beautiful, ornate features of a home built nearly 180 years ago,” said Krista Trout-Edwards, executive director of the Calhoun County Land Bank Authority. “We encourage anyone with an interest in history or who cares about preserving what remains of Battle Creek’s historic houses to purchase a ticket.”  Trout-Edwards will be a guest on this Monday's 95.3 WBCK Morning Show with Tim Collins.

The “MAYDAY!” event is a distress call for immediate financial assistance to continue this important project. The event includes exclusive, unlimited access to all parts of the building and its amazing features.

“We hope the community rallies around this important project and sees the value of restoring historic assets like 26 Fremont before it’s too late,” Trout-Edwards said. “Each ticket purchased is a small investment in preserving a piece of Battle Creek’s history for future generations to enjoy.”

As reported by the Battle Creek Enquirer, the home at 26 Fremont Street was built by the Barber family in 1870 and served as the family’s home for 70 years. The What Not Shop, a small local business, operated out of the home during the 1920s. Of the four grand homes that once stood at the corner of Fremont and Frelinghuysen when Battle Creek was a thriving new frontier, 26 Fremont is one of two remaining.

Last summer, 26 Fremont served as a learning lab for those interested in preserving and restoring historic homes. The workshops paired residents with skilled tradespeople who taught them how to repair windows, plaster and foundations. To bring the workshops to 26 Fremont, the Land Bank coordinated partnerships with the city and the state and received as nonprofit support from the Michigan Historic Preservation Network and the Battle Creek Community Foundation.

MAYDAY! corporate sponsorships include event tickets and are available at the following levels:

• Honor Guard – $5,000 | 10 tickets
• Mission Support – $2,500 | 8 tickets
• Search & Rescue – $1,000 | 6 tickets
• First Responders – $500 | 4 tickets
• Good Samaritan – $250 |2 tickets

Donations are tax deductible and can be made directly to the Battle Creek Community Foundation at bccfoundation.org/cclb.  For more information, contact the Land Bank at 269-781-0777 or landbank@calhouncountymi.gov.