In memory of Terry E. Wantz and all Michigan Historians

Our goal is to provide opportunities for all people to learn, understand and appreciate their heritage.

The Terry Wantz Historical Research Center maintains comprehensive histories of the 24 townships in Newaygo County. The center houses genealogical records for over 900 families. Visitors receive complimentary access to 27 research websites for family history or other topics. The center also offers extensive collections on the railroad, lumbering, land, schools, churches, farms, and both historical and current businesses. Collaborative efforts continue with local schools, museums, historical societies, and libraries. We want visitors to explore our communities and feel at ease, knowing our staff are highly skilled in research and well-versed in the area.

The History Center Provides:

  • Free access to online genealogical databases

  • Help with your family history research

  • Books on local schools, yearbooks and Plat maps

  • Fremont newspapers on microfilm

  • Genealogy classes when offered

  • Information on historic preservation and digital documentation

Black and white photograph of eight children and one adult woman sitting outdoors on a rocky ground, with trees and bushes in the background. The children are wearing old-fashioned clothing, some with hats, and appear to be posed for a photo.
An old map of Wyoming with colored regions highlighted and a pink border around the state.

What We Preserve

  • Family Photographs

  • Yearbooks from Newaygo County and surrounding areas

  • Family histories

  • Funeral cards and obituaries

  • Histories of local business, churches, clubs and organizations

  • Books pertaining to local, regional and state history

  • Historic newspapers and magazines

  • Maps, atlases and almanacs

A historical black-and-white photo of a group of children and adults standing in front of a wooden church building with a gabled roof, with some children in the front row and adults behind them, and four boys holding bats standing in the foreground.

We are grateful for the following foundations for their funding:

Logo of Dogwood Foundation with a dogwood flower and a gray branch.
Fremont Area Community Foundation logo with blue stylized 'F' and text.

The TWHRC is supported by the Fremont Area Foundation,
Dogwood Foundation, Terri Teall Memorial Fund, respective contributors, visiting authors, and our patrons and volunteers.

About

To promote the responsible preservation of historical and genealogical resources. We will collect, preserve and interpret documents, photographs, and artifacts of our distant past, while providing public access to Newaygo County Businesses (Past and Present) to our collections and resources.

JOIN THE COMMUNITY

Hours & Location

Address

P.O. Box 2 30
East Main St.
Fremont, MI


Hours of Operation

Tuesday – Friday
9am – 5pm

Saturday by appointment

Sunday – MondayClosed


Contact

twhrc.info@gmail.com
231-335-2221

Wheel Chair Accessible

Parking available in front and back of the center

An office with wooden paneling, bookshelves, desks, laptops, chairs, and holiday decorations hanging from the ceiling.
A dark wooden office drawer cabinet with eight labeled drawers, topped with old, open books and papers. Behind it are framed photos, a decorative sign, and a lamp, with an office chair nearby.
Black and white photographs displayed on a wooden table, including group photos of people in casual and formal attire, and a framed photo of two men shaking hands.

Meet the Team

  • Close-up of a woman with black hair wearing a yellow hoodie, sitting indoors with wooden paneling and ceiling tiles in the background.

    Dannielle A. Converse

    DIRECTOR, DIGITAL ARCHIVIST

    Contact
  • An elderly woman with long gray hair, glasses, and a white cardigan sitting at a desk in an office, writing on a notepad with papers, a computer keyboard, and printer nearby. A wall behind her displays memorabilia, framed photos, a calendar, and various displayed items.

    Peggie Morris

    CENTER MANAGER

    Contact
  • A man sitting at a desk in a workspace, wearing glasses and a light blue button-up shirt with a company logo. The desk has papers, markers, and office supplies. Behind him are framed maps on a slatwall, a bookshelf with binders and books, and a cardboard box labeled for live plants.

    Doug Day

    VOLUNTEER

    Contact
  • Abstract smooth curved shapes in shades of purple and white with a minimalistic background.

    Carol Frens

    VOLUNTEER

  • Board Members

    Kyle Converse-President

    Mary Frazier- Secretary

    Belva Bowsma-Treasurer

    Doug Day

    Nadine Andrews

    Gale Mack

Old printed map of Woodland Park and Lakeside Park area, showing streets, land plots, a pond, and topographical details.
Open book with illustrated maps, showing a map of Croton, New York, and a map of surrounding areas, including lakes and roads, on a dark surface.
An open book displaying a detailed map of Bridgeton, Sheridan, and Ashland areas with various streets, plots, and geographical features.
Stack of old, worn maps on a shelf with a handwritten label indicating they are from Newaygo County Maps.
Open restaurant or cafe menu with handwritten entries, newspaper-style heading, and a dark wooden table surface.
Close-up of a vintage newspaper page with advertisements and illustrations, including illustrations of a hat, a cannon, and a rock.
An open vintage guest book or registry with handwritten cursive entries, resting on a wooden surface. The top of the page reads 'Hotel De Haras,' and there is a green and red date stamp indicating November 1, 1907. The handwriting is elegant and flow
Old, torn advertisement document for Danford's Improved Iron Mower and Reaper from 1855, with decorative border and a colored illustration of a man riding a horse-drawn mower in a rural setting.
Close-up of a vintage wooden record player with a turntable, tonearm, and a brown wooden lid.
Close-up of a vintage turntable with a record labeled 'Specialty' spinning, and a shiny metallic tonearm resting on the record, with a wooden surface in the background.
Sepia photograph of a multi-story building with decorative brickwork and a sign reading 'D. L. 1888'. People are gathered on the street and a horse-drawn carriage is present in front of the building.
An old vintage globe displaying North and South America placed on a wooden surface.
A framed black and white photo collage featuring a large group of people and several buildings, including transportation trucks with advertisements, and utility poles, likely depicting a community or event from an earlier time period.
A black and white vintage portrait photograph of a group of women and children dressed in old-fashioned clothing, posed indoors with decorative architectural details in the background.
An old sepia-toned photograph of three people, two women and one man, dressed in vintage clothing. The women are wearing large hats, and the man has a mustache. The photograph is displayed on a small stand in a glass case.
A framed black-and-white class photo from 1948 showing rows of students' headshots with their names written underneath, and a picture of a field or park in the middle of the photo.
A box of GEM micro matic single edge blades inside a wooden cabinet, with a small figurine and a metallic object nearby.
Two old, worn books placed vertically on a white surface, with the spine of one book facing outward. The background features framed photographs and documents on a striped wall.
Open vintage wooden chest filled with vintage Boy Scout books, pamphlets, and a small pouch, with books visible on shelves around it.
A bookshelf filled with various books, including history and travel books, with a gray frame and a yellow sticky note on the upper right corner.
A newspaper titled "The Gerber News" resting on a wooden surface. The top section features a black and white photograph of a smiling baby with the headline "Special Edition - April 1974." Below is a segment about Daniel F. Gerber, with a partial arti
Black and white photographs displayed on a wooden surface, including a group photo of children and adults, a photo of adults shaking hands, and various historical images of buildings and people.