When Holly Martin, the great-granddaughter of the late Miles DuChene, was getting prepared for her wedding, there was no question where she wanted to be for those special moments prior to taking her vows.
She wanted to be where she felt closest to her family roots — the historic farmhouse on King Road in Brownstown Township.
It’s the farmhouse, now historical museum, that DuChene built in 1916.
The farmhouse serves as home to the Brownstown Historical Society.
Although a few special events are held there, it is not set up to host weddings or for a bride to prepare for her wedding.
But, for this occasion, Debbie Galik, president of the society, said it was all hands on deck to turn a portion of the museum into a dressing area fit for a bride.
Galik said Martin contacted the society with the request about a year ago and she knew instantly this was an extraordinary request and a challenge Galik and the society were happy to accept.
“I knew we needed to open the museum and work this out,” Galik said. “This was their family home and we did everything we could to pull this off.”
Historical society curators, board members and family members helped to decorate the museum with past family wedding memorabilia to help set the mood for yet another DuChene wedding at the historic farmhouse.
They spent about three days getting things set up and decorated for Martin’s arrival.
Galik said they all knew having this opportunity was special to the bride-to-be, and they wanted to make everything just right.
“This was one dream she had for her wedding — to be at that house,” Galik said. “This is just one of those houses you walk into and you can feel a lot of love. It just feels good, and the more research I did on it the more I knew why.”
The DuChene farmhouse has a rich family history.
Miles’ youngest daughter, Edna DuChene Martin, grandmother of the bride, was the last DuChene descendant to live in the family house.
Darleen Martin, the youngest daughter of Edna DuChene Martin, also celebrated her wedding to William Ciaky in the family house in 1961.
The farmhouse was once the centerpiece of Brownstown and it remains a landmark.
These days, the farmhouse looks a bit different than it did when the DuChene family relocated here from Canada and had it built.
Galik said everything at the museum couldn’t have turned out better.
“It’s such a wonderful story,” she said.