Clawson residents can order historical home plaques

CLAWSON — Leah Davis, curator of the Clawson Historical Museum, is facilitating a project in response to requests from residents who wish to procure a plaque denoting the historical value of their homes.

The historical home plaques will not give homes any historical designation through the state, and all costs of the plaque, shipping and installation will be covered by the homeowners. The museum will not make any profits from the project. To be considered for a potential bulk discount, orders must be placed by July 1.

Davis said she is working with Muskegon-based Signature Streetscapes, which is currently working with Corktown on a similar project.

She added that having a plaque on a home does not offer any tax rebates, grants, property tax assessments or limit the owner from making cosmetic changes to the home, as is the case with a historical designation through the state.

“Clawson has many homes that date between 1900 and 1940 that are either past 100 years old or coming up on 100 years old,” Davis said. “We will not turn anyone away, so if you’ve got a 1950s house that you’re really proud of, we’ll get you a plaque for that one as well.”

According to data from 2015, Davis said there are more than 600 homes in Clawson that fall between the 1900 to 1940 range.

Davis said the cast plaques that Signature Streetscapes designed for the city are round, 9 inches in diameter with two holes for installation in the top and the bottom, and they come with all the hardware necessary for installation. Plaques can be installed directly onto homes or affixed to a stake in the ground if homeowners do not wish to drill holes in their houses, she said.

Residents can choose from either recycled aluminum or bronze, which is made from 85% copper, Davis said. The cost for aluminum is $147 and the cost for bronze is $239. Both options include an additional $25 fee for shipping.

“They are made with a high-gloss clear coat, coated with a three-part urethane paint and baked in industrial ovens,” Davis said. “They come with a lifetime limited warranty and take four weeks to be completed, allowing for shipping as well.”

Any additional characters beyond the standard inscription, such as the original owner’s name, whether the residence is a kit home, or any other significant information, will cost extra, she said. The museum can help homeowners discover who might have owned their home or their home’s age.

Davis said the museum has already ordered its plaque in aluminum, which will be displayed at the Blair Memorial Library so that residents can view the physical plaque.

“We’re hoping it will be here by the end of the month,” she said.

The deadline to indicate interest in a plaque is July 1, so Davis can send the numbers to the company to determine if the order qualifies for a bulk discount.

“I will immediately contact everyone to let them know what the discount is and whether they will want to be a part of it,” she said. “The payment is due July 22, and I’ll be placing the order on July 25.”

Residents can pay using cash, check or electronic payment.

“This is not a one-and-done thing. This is just to try and get a bulk discount. Anytime after this, people can put in singular orders as well,” Davis said. “We’re just hoping this project will add some small-town charm and keep everybody proud of their old houses.”

She added that the museum can print order forms and either mail or drop them off and has already had several requests to do so.

“It’s a nice way to show the history of our community and to identify properties that were around even before Clawson became the city of Clawson,” Mayor Paula Millan said. She said the plaques can help build community and give people more to look at when walking or biking.

For more information or to place an order for a historical home plaque, contact the Clawson Historical Museum at (248) 588-9169; email historicalmuseum@cityofclawson.com; visit facebook.com/clawsonmuseum; or visit cityofclawson.com, select “Departments,” click on “Clawson Historical Museum” and choose “Resources for Residents.”

The Clawson Historical Museum is located at 41 Fisher Court, near 14 Mile Road and Main Street. The Blair Memorial Library is located across the street from the museum at 416 N. Main St., north of 14 Mile Road.