West Bloomfield Historical Society

The West Bloomfield Historical Society strives to preserve the history of Bloomfield by showcasing a collection of items that represent Bloomfield throughout the past 200 years. Within our walls, the past comes alive through an extensive collection of artifacts generously donated by town residents. These items date from the early 1800s to the 20th century and depict life in West Bloomfield, Ionia, and North Bloomfield—the settlements that form the Town of West Bloomfield today. The collection includes items from the area’s earliest households, farms, and businesses, as well as those that depict education, religious life, and Scouting. A unique relic is a section of pipe from the famous “Bloomfield gas well” that attracted national attention in the late 1800s and generated stock sales of $100,000. Other artifacts and photos tell the stories of the town’s ordinary citizens and famous residents. Among these are blacksmiths, millers, and teachers; Revolutionary minutemen and Civil War veterans; farmers who developed new plant varieties; a nationally recognized conservationist; and an illustrator of children’s books.