Historical Society works with Meijer to save mail pouch barn siding
FAYETTE TWP. — The Hillsdale County Historical Society has worked diligently with the Meijer Corp. to save the antique mail pouch barn siding from a barn set to be demolished to make way for Meijer's new Hillsdale store.
Morgan Morrison, an integral part of the Historical Society's team, has been the go-to person working with Meijer.
"We are happy that it will be well preserved and safe in our storage location," Morrison said. "We are currently thinking through how to display it, properly light it inside one of our museums and build an informational display to tell the story of mail pouch barns."
Remaining mail pouch barns have grown to icon status.
According to www.eriehistory.org, the Bloch Brothers Tobacco Company of Wheeling, West Virginia, had nearly 20,000 barns in 22 states painted with the iconic "Chew Mail Pouch Tobacco Treat Yourself to The Best" advertising between 1891 and the early 1970s when the company opted to stop the advertising method. However, existing advertisements were often touched up until 1992.
More:Construction on Meijer Hillsdale store to begin in spring 2023
The company paid farmers up to $2 a month for the right to rent the barn for the ads, sent them free tobacco and the farmers received a free painting for their barns, which were often located along main roads before the interstate system.
Morrison believed the Fayette Township barn, located on Beck Road near M-99, is one of a few mail pouch barns in good condition left in Michigan.
"Mail pouch barns are a fascinating example of folk art being used for branding and marketing," Morrison said. "Farmers needed paint on their barns and mail pouch (tobacco) needed to prominently display their brand near highways. It was a genius marketing idea."
Subcribe Now:For all the latest local developments, breaking news and high school sports content.
Disassembly on the Fayette Township mail pouch barn began March 27 and Morrison said the Historical Society is anticipating taking delivery of the siding in early April.
The Meijer Corporation will secure the siding in an organized manner and is assisting in preserving its history.
The Fayette Township mail pouch barn will be completely demolished to make way for Meijer's new Hillsdale store, set to open later this year.
— Contact Reporter Corey Murray at cmurray@hillsdale.net or follow him on Twitter: @cmurrayHDN.
This article originally appeared on Hillsdale Daily News: Historical Society works with Meijer to save mail pouch barn siding
