Locals and visitors to Cass County will soon have a chance to step back in time and tour one of the area’s oldest dwellings.

The Cass County Historical Society plans to reopen the George Newton House for free public tours beginning next month. People are invited to check out the historic dwelling, located at 20689 Marcellus Highway, Decatur, from 1 to 4:30 p.m. on the first Sunday of the month in June, July, August and September.

The two-story house, built in 1870 for George Newton, the son of Cass County pioneer James Newton, contains hundreds of artifacts from the mid-1800s that members of the historical society have collected over the years, including some of the original
furniture that once furnished the residence. Volunteer tour guides will take visitors throughout the residence, including up to the cupula, a small vestibule-like structure on the roof of the house.

The house has been open to the public since 1974, when the Cass County Historical Commission began leasing the home from Michigan State University, which had until that point used the house as a residence for its foresters at the neighboring Russ Forest.

“MSU agreed to charge as little as possible for the lease, as long as the commission kept the house open to the public,” said Ann Palmer, a member of the Cass County Historical Society.

The artifacts on display in the house includes old furniture, stoves, tools, clothes and other items one would expect a home from the era to contain. People have donated many of the items to home curators over the years, with members purchasing others at auction.

The society continues to maintain the home to this day, with a caretaker living on the premises to handle all the upkeep.

“It has taken a lot of people over the years to keep the house alive,” said Al Palmer, Ann’s husband and one of the volunteer tour guides.

In addition to tours, the historical society hosts a Harvest Festival the first Sunday in October at the house, offering tours as well as tractor rides around the property, as well as serving refreshments to guests.

The historic society is looking for additional people to volunteer as tour guides. People interested in joining may call (269) 684-0082.