https://friendsofhistoriccommons.org/philosophy daily 0.75 2023-06-25 https://friendsofhistoriccommons.org/home daily 1.0 2025-06-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6033149567a0aa2fe9ca717e/1615997299023-EJBH1DG6AW6P8GTP07G1/unnamed.jpg Home The Friends of the Historic Commons exists to celebrate, preserve, protect, and enhance the development of the structures, landscapes, historic vision, and cultural significance of the former home of the Traverse City State Hospital. https://friendsofhistoriccommons.org/who-we-are daily 0.75 2025-04-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6033149567a0aa2fe9ca717e/1613966570988-QXAMQIT9AHH4PP8YAJ0L/unnamed-4.jpg Who We Are - Our Mission To celebrate, preserve, protect, and enhance the development of the structures, landscapes, historic vision, and cultural significance of the former home of the Traverse City State Hospital. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6033149567a0aa2fe9ca717e/1613965335572-M2V6XDSTWYO8AXKA56HD/unnamed-5.jpg Who We Are Jennifer Hricik is passionate about access to learning. Her higher education-focused career includes enrollment, strategic planning, marketing, branding and development. The Historic Commons is an anchor to her exploration of local hotspots, trails, and our city’s history and culture. She also connects with the community through her role at the NMC Foundation. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6033149567a0aa2fe9ca717e/1674569865713-CCO9MA71ZSAXNTQQK01T/TakReady.jpg Who We Are Tak Ready grew up in Slabtown in Traverse City, just blocks away from the State Hospital when it was still in operation. The Commons was an extended playground for him. Tak has taught history and government at Traverse City West Senior High School since 1998. Tak is the social studies department leader at West. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6033149567a0aa2fe9ca717e/1613965427670-SY4QWCWDBJX7MFMLXT7P/unnamed-8.jpg Who We Are Ken Richmond has been an architect in Traverse City, MI for thirty years with his offices in the Commons since 2001. He was a Traverse City Planning Commissioner when Historic Building 50 was slated for certain demolition in 1998 and as a result helped found Architects and Engineers to Save Building 50…the group that saved Building 50 with grass roots community support. An early member of the Botanical Garden at Historic Barns Park, Ken was instrumental in helping the organization locate the garden and secure their site near the Historic Barns in the Commons. Ken has also renovated Building 88, the historic Old Munson Hall and its outbuildings. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6033149567a0aa2fe9ca717e/225f2cc7-f048-4f13-9abf-19dec3714105/Matthew+Ross+edit.jpg Who We Are Matthew Ross is the Executive Director of The Botanic Garden at Historic Barns park and is a nationally recognized educator and leader in public horticulture. Prior to moving to Traverse City to lead the gardens, Matthew was the director of continuing education at Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, Pa, an educator at Owens Community College in Toledo, OH, and a horticulturist at Toledo Botanic Garden. He provides over 20 years of horticultural expertise to the Board and is passionate about sharing the story behind the trees that comprise the historic abroretum. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6033149567a0aa2fe9ca717e/81c71b13-1ffd-4379-9dd7-cbd467be0137/LeslieSickterman.jpg Who We Are Leslie Sickterman is a Traverse City resident who can often be found exploring the trails and grounds at the Commons and Botanical Gardens (with either her husband Rob or their dog Pepper in tow). By day, she works as a community planner for Long Lake Township. Her passion for history and natural areas along with her background in planning and grant administration led her to serve on the Friends Board. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6033149567a0aa2fe9ca717e/1613965497406-3HFDWRHTTWOYGIETZAUB/unnamed-9.jpg Who We Are Winnie Simpson practiced law in Atlanta, GA, before retiring to Traverse City. She lives in Building 50 and has served on the boards of both the Mercato and Village Site Associations. Between hiking the trails at the Commons and biking the TART trail, she writes murder mysteries about a Southern lawyer. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6033149567a0aa2fe9ca717e/1743597745999-KDF4CNZXQOYKY1QP92Z8/headshot.jpg Who We Are Steve Stannard is a veteran Landscape Architect, geographer, and visualist. He offers a background in the design, construction, and planning of urban, suburban, and regional facilities, offering 40 years of both public and private sector experience. With both a passion for community planning and the Traverse City region, Steve offers a deep understanding of regional historic reuse. He can be seen around town in search of a good cup of coffee, interesting company, and a great place to sit and sketch. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6033149567a0aa2fe9ca717e/1613965366006-1WLUGKTUUHT6ZUUYUC86/unnamed-6.jpg Who We Are Kathleen A. Steeves has been a career history educator and public historian at diverse locations ( MI, IA, OH, MA, VA) and levels ( Pontiac Central HS, George Washington University, Smithsonian Institution). Her area of specialty is U.S. history focusing on the history of technology. She returned to Michigan from Washington DC. where she has had a residence in historic Building 50 since 2008. https://friendsofhistoriccommons.org/contact-us daily 0.75 2025-07-06 https://friendsofhistoriccommons.org/the-commons daily 0.75 2023-06-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6033149567a0aa2fe9ca717e/1614021852204-58OKCZH1E8JN79FVRZPE/unnamed.png The Commons https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6033149567a0aa2fe9ca717e/1614021942133-45M2NCXQIQFRJ57HYWVV/unnamed-1.jpg The Commons https://friendsofhistoriccommons.org/donate daily 0.75 2023-10-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6033149567a0aa2fe9ca717e/d603516a-62e9-4289-bea4-6a5bafe84818/FoHC-Venmo-QR-Code.jpg Donate - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://friendsofhistoriccommons.org/media daily 0.75 2023-06-25 https://friendsofhistoriccommons.org/privacy daily 0.75 2023-06-25 https://friendsofhistoriccommons.org/208404738068 daily 0.75 2023-06-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6033149567a0aa2fe9ca717e/0961b77b-8278-4bfd-b498-5db40b88cc9e/IRS_Letter.png https://friendsofhistoriccommons.org/projects daily 0.75 2025-07-25 https://friendsofhistoriccommons.org/projects/our-living-history monthly 0.5 2025-07-06 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6033149567a0aa2fe9ca717e/1637348442528-YAFKX2O2E81MI1W3INHR/historic-grand-traverse-commons.jpg Projects - Our Living History - The Friends of the Historic Commons (501c3 nonprofit) works to preserve the history and cultural significance of the hospital and its extensive grounds. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6033149567a0aa2fe9ca717e/1637348442528-YAFKX2O2E81MI1W3INHR/historic-grand-traverse-commons.jpg Projects - Our Living History https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6033149567a0aa2fe9ca717e/ec12baf9-b21d-4649-8860-20faf6b8c487/munson-asylum-leaders.jpg Projects - Our Living History https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6033149567a0aa2fe9ca717e/48de648c-0663-4ee1-a517-bed49d811551/dr-munson.jpg Projects - Our Living History https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6033149567a0aa2fe9ca717e/1614021802181-HPJ4NVMCMUODNVICJ1X9/unnamed-3.jpg Projects - Our Living History https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6033149567a0aa2fe9ca717e/1614021942133-45M2NCXQIQFRJ57HYWVV/unnamed-1.jpg Projects - Our Living History https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6033149567a0aa2fe9ca717e/1614021775251-JLSJMSQ6T66DOTIX4MKH/unnamed-1.png Projects - Our Living History https://friendsofhistoriccommons.org/projects/preserve-the-arboretum monthly 0.5 2025-07-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6033149567a0aa2fe9ca717e/ad9ed594-65ae-4239-819f-62c7d52d895f/IMG_0910.jpeg Projects - The Munson Arboretum