Contest

Share Your History

To commemorate the USA 250th anniversary, we will be awarding $250 total in cash prizes for winning entries of local history.
To commemorate the Dover School’s 150th anniversary, the top prize will be $150.

CCHS logo
USA flag

Prizes

1st: $150

2nd: $75

3rd: $25

Winning entries will be awarded and displayed on Old Fashion Day (Sep. 26, 2026).

Submissions

  • Entrants must be Clare County residents. All ages welcome. Minors must have parent permission. One entry per person.
  • Entries must be truthful stories relating to Clare County, Michigan history. Any time period welcome. Various mediums & topics welcome.
    ◦ Printed or handwritten personal memories or researched stories (up to 2,000 words).
    ◦ Original or hi-res copy photographs with detailed captions (identify people, places, times, events).
    ◦ Digital entries (photo, audio, or video) welcome but must be made publicly available online.
  • Entries must be submitted in person at CCHS museum. Deadline is Saturday, September 12, 2026 at 4 p.m. For digital entries, provide internet addresses on entry form.
  • Entries will be judged according to historical value, local connection, storytelling, and refinement.

Contact

CCHS Museum
7050 S Eberhart Ave
Clare, MI 48617

5 miles north,
1 mile east
of City of Clare

Open Saturdays May – September, 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. and by appointment.

Email: museum@clarecountyhistory.org

cchs_contest-flier-2026Download
cchs_contest-submission-2026Download
Suggestions
  • Have a photo of something from Clare County’s past? Make a hi-res copy of it and write a description of what it shows (person, place, time, etc.).
  • Know a veteran from Clare County? Write an essay detailing their military service.
  • Have an old family recipe used for social gatherings? Make a copy and describe your memories of some gatherings where the recipe was used.
  • Want future generations to know what life was like during the COVID-19 pandemic? Write an account of your own experiences.
  • Like to sew? Make a period-accurate item of clothing and describe who would have worn it.
  • Like to talk about the past? Record one of your stories and post it online (must be publicly accessible; YouTube, Google Drive, Spotify, Dropbox). If you post on social media, tag with #CCHSmuseum and #CCHScontest.
  • Not born in Clare County? Describe how and why your family came to live here.
  • Looking for a topic to research? See Characters and Timeline pages.