Jun 21, 2009

Historic Village Park gets gift shopBy Leanne RogersHomeTownLife.com

Fans of Westland Historic Village Park can show their support with shirts, mugs and other items at the new gift shop inside the Octagon House.

The commemorative items are all contained in a glass display case but it’s a start and only part of the efforts at the park on Wayne Road which has six buildings on site.

There are T-shirts, sweat shirts and polo shirts, tote bags, post cards, mugs and a book on Eloise, later the Wayne County General Hospital. All have the Westland Historic Village Park logo, except for the book.

“We can order the shirts and tote bags in any color and the shirt sizes go up to XXX,” said Georgia Becker, a Westland Historical Society member. “And the book, it’s great. It has information under all of the photos.”

The gift shop is open 1-4 p.m. Saturdays, except holidays, when the Westland Historical Museum is open.

“Once we get the (historic) houses done, we would like to expand the shop and sell things to promote us,” said Westland Historical Commission member Jo Johnson.

Constructed in 1870-80, the Octagon House was originally located on Newburgh south of Warren where the Clyde Smith produce market was located. The house was built by a Smith relative.

The home was later moved to Warren Road when it was owned by the Guthrie family, who added to the original octagonal-shaped house. Being in the lumber business, the Guthries naturally added extensive wood work to the addition.

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