Royal Oak, Michigan, USA
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Lincoln Artifact authenticated by PBS History Detective


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Pancake Breakfast
Memorial Day
May 28th 2012
7am - Noon

Annual Dinner



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Royal Oak Historical Society
1411 W. Webster
Royal Oak, Mi, 48073

Phone
248.439.1501

Email

The Museum is located in the
Northwood Fire Station on Webster at Crooks road.



Click to view CMNtv news video of Lincoln/Civil War exhibit.



The Beginnings of Royal Oak

 

            The Royal Oak Historical Society Museum opened  its new exhibit,

"The Beginnings of Royal Oak.”

            Our new exhibit will take you on a journey starting in the 1830s: Visitors will see the first family farms, the building of  roads, the introduction of trains and  trolleys.

            Then into the early 1900s with the first churches, schools, banks, businesses, and homes designed to attract Ford Plant workers. Royal Oak’s first firefighters and policemen, and elected officials and their first buildings and equipment are displayed.

Hours: 1- 4 p.m. each Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. Group visits may be arranged. Phone: 248-439-1501.
 
curator@royaloakhistoricalsociety.org

 



Codling's second store on Main at 4th St.

Codling's
J. Frank Codling was born in 1881, in Ontario, Canada. He learned to be a telegrapher in Syracuse N.Y. and in 1901 married Margaret King. They moved to Detroit and resided there for seven years before moving to Royal Oak .

Working in a jewelry store he learned to repair watches and distributed milk as a second income. In 1906 he established his own jewelry and optometry store in the window of the Crane Furnishing Store at 307 south Main. In 1908 he purchased the Crane company and moved to a new store on Main and 4th Streets. Taking on his brothers as associates the J. F. Codling Co. was incorporated in 1914. They purchased an adjoining building and established a men's furnishings retail business.

Dr. Codling served his community in many capacities, as fire chief, on the first city commission and one year as the mayor. He practiced as an optometrist in the Washington Square Building until 1937. He died in 1945.
 

Store built by J.F. Codling on Main at 2nd St.in the 1930's.


Codling's building in the 1940's as the Klett & Cain stove and furniture store.


Bright Ideas Store at Main and 2nd today.
                                                          
If you would like to submit a column about Royal Oak history, or growing up in Royal Oak please contact Muriel by phone at 248.439.1501 or via email at: curator@royaloakhistoricalsociety.org

The
 Historical Society Museum





Museum hours are:

1- 4 pm- Tuesday, Thursday,
      and Saturday



Historical Society Museum-

Extends Special Thanks to-

Emagine Royal Oak
Town Tavern- Bill Roberts
Holiday Market
Frank Arvan- FX Architecture
Buttons Rent-it
Chuck Bennett- Bloom Construction
Andrew Androff-Professional Movers Inc.
Roy & Paul Painting & Decorators
Frentz & Sons Hardware
Hermman's Bakery
Leonard Bros.Data Management- Paul Leonard
All of our moving volunteers.

Please patronize these local businesses.

Major Contributors

Linda M. Penney and David G. Penney Ph.D

Shop online link

(click logo)


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