BLACK EARTH HISTORICAL SOCIETY

-Black Earth History Museum at the Depot 

Open for 2022 Summer Season

The Black Earth History Museum at the Depot is now open with all new or revamped displays of historic Black Earth artfully curated by our board member volunteers. New displays for 2022 include the Black Earth Fire Department, former police chief and public works employee Clarence Obright, and Cliff Mickelson with his lifelong career with service stations in Black Earth. Please visit the Museum page on this website for more information about our beautiful museum. 

-Historic Downtown Black Earth Building For Sale

The former Sarbacker Blacksmith Shop at 1010 Mills Street is for sale, listed by Scott Schroeder of RE/MAX Grand, MLS #1927613. This 1906 photo of the building shows the original concrete block construction. To the left of the blacksmith shop is the former brick post office. 

The blacksmith shop was owned and operated by John H. Sarbacker, who also built the concrete block home next door on Webb Street shortly after the shop was completed. Sarbacker lived upstairs in the blacksmith shop until the home was completed, according to his granddaughter Ann Sarbacker Wick. 

Decorative concrete block homes were popular from about the 1890s to 1930s. Concrete block machines could be ordered from the Sears catalog with the blocks often made right at the construction site.

The Mills Street building is currently zoned residential/commercial and used as a multi-family. Photograph provided by Ann Sarbacker Wick, member of the Black Earth Historical Society.

-Black Earth Historical Society Facebook Page, Please Like + Follow

The Black Earth Historical Society has a brand new Facebook page administered by Historical Society board member Gary Ballweg. Like and follow our page for the absolute latest news and event updates. A link to the new page is here or below in our contact information. The BEHS page is separate from the Facebook group Gary also administers called Black Earth History. The group allows more interaction from group members about Black Earth history. It's a good idea to both like the page and join our group!