It’s time to reroof the historic Hackley House in downtown Muskegon. The Historic House Museum invites the community to help raise awareness and funds for the roof restoration project at the Hackley House Shingle Signing Party from 4:30-6:30 p.m. on July 25 at the Hackley & Hume Historic Site at 484 W. Webster Ave.
During this free event, guests will have the exclusive opportunity to purchase cedar shake shingles for the Hackley House. Each shingle can be personalized with their name, a heartfelt message, or as a memorial to a loved one. Singles will be time-capsuled on the Hackley roof during their August installation for 25+ years. The cost is only $62 per shingle. Additional evening festivities include live music from local pianist, Kathy Casazza, tasty treats, historic lawn games, and a condensed-themed tour of the Hackley House.
The Hackley & Hume Historic Site is not just a collection of buildings, but a living testament to Muskegon's rich history. These homes, built between 1887 and 1889, were once the residences of Muskegon’s most famous lumber barons. The use of cedar shake shingles, a common roofing material at the time, adds to the authenticity and charm of these structures. Most cedar shake shingles last between 17-20 years. The last time the buildings were reroofed was in 2005 (Hackley House) and 2006 (Hume House and City Barn). Before that, they were reroofed from asphalt back to cedar shake in 1988.
The Lakeshore Museum Center, with the support of the community, continues to reroof using cedar shakes to maintain the authentic historic aesthetic and styles that the Hackley and Hume families originally chose. By participating in the Hackley Reroofing Project, you are not just contributing to the preservation of our history, but also becoming a part of it. Learn more about the project and ways to donate by visiting Roof Restoration - Lakeshore Museum Center.