Holt-Delhi Historical Society

          The Holt-Delhi Historical Society (HDHS) was established in the Spring of 2014 by a group of dedicated residents that held the common belief that the history of Holt and Delhi Township need to be preserved for the benefit of future generations. 

          The idea of a historical society was spurred by the success of the "Holt, Michigan: A Slice of History" Facebook page, which was launched by our founding president Jacob McCormick in the Summer of 2013. The page gained hundreds of followers and ultimately broke 1,000 followers in a very short period of time, indicating a strong community interest in its history. 

          The Holt and Delhi Township community has not had any kind of formal historical organization since 1967, when a historical society was formed to celebrate Delhi Township's 125th anniversary. That group fizzled out after the anniversary celebration. Interest in history reached a peak in 1976 during the United States bicentennial celebration. In 1987, local history was again of interest to many residents when the State of Michigan celebrated its sesquicentennial, then again in 1992 when Delhi Township celebrated its sesquicentennial. Delhi Township's 175th anniversary (2017) was on the horizon when the Holt-Delhi Historical Society was established in 2014. 

          The HDHS has maintained a small board who put together an annual calendar of events, including tours, open houses, programs, and more. The organization also collects local history artifacts, photographs, information, and more, to preserve and share the history of our community. Frequent displays are put together in the lobby of the Delhi Township Hall. We place an emphasis on the digital sharing of history via our website and social media. 

          Delhi Charter Township has been a strong partner for the historical society in providing space for collection storage and a place for meetings and events to be held. The HDHS falls under the umbrella of the Holt Non-Profit Coalition, which is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. The Delhi Township Downtown Development Authority has been a tremendous partner for the historical society in providing office and storage space in the Holt Community Center. These strong community connections place the Holt-Delhi Historical Society is the firm position to focus our attention on the preservation of the community's history and the education of community members, young and old, on the fascinating details surrounding the formation and development of Holt and Delhi Township.