Margaret Dunning
Encyclopedia
Margaret Isabel Dunning is a philanthropist
and benefactor of the Plymouth (Michigan) Historical Museum. She was born in Redford, Wayne County, Michigan
.
. The 156 acre (0.63131016 km²) farm had been purchased by her grandparents, who were original settlers in the area. When Charles died in 1923, Margaret and her mother, Bessie, moved into Redford and later to the village of Plymouth, Michigan
. Bessie purchased property in the village and built the home where Margaret still resides. Margaret attended the country school where her father was a student, and was then sent to Dana Hall, a private school in Wellesley, Massachusetts
. She returned to Plymouth in 1927 and graduated from Plymouth High School
in 1929. She attended the University of Michigan
for two years and then studied at the Hamilton Business School in Ypsilanti, Michigan
.
While growing up on the farm, Dunning developed a life-long love of tinkering with old cars. She has lovingly restored several old cars that she still owns. In 1985, she donated a restored 1906 Model N Ford to the Gilmore Car Museum
at Hickory Corners, Michigan. She also donated a 1930 Cadillac convertible to the Museum. She still drives one of her cars in the annual Woodward Dream Cruise
in Detroit each August.
and assistant cashier for the First National Bank of Plymouth between 1935 and 1940. During that time, she was among the victims of a bank robbery. The bank robber, Willard Long, was eventually caught in East St. Louis, Illinois
, and extradited back to Michigan. After the First National Bank, she went to work at the Plymouth United Savings Bank for several years.
In 1947, Dunning purchased Goldstein's Apparel on Main Street in Plymouth and renamed the store Dunning's. In 1950, she moved Dunning's Department Store to Forest Avenue in downtown Plymouth, about two blocks away. She sold Dunning's in 1968 to Minerva Chaiken and the store became known as Minerva-Dunning's.
In 1947, Margaret and her mother, Bessie, purchased a property and building to house the Plymouth branch of the Wayne County Library System. Because of their generosity, the city renamed the branch the "Dunning Branch." Today, the Plymouth District Library (no longer part of the Wayne County System), is housed in the "Dunning-Hough Library."
Dunning served on the board of Community Federal Credit Union in Plymouth from 1962 to 1984, and was president of the board for 19 of those years. The assets of the Credit Union increased from $1 million and one office to $40 million and six offices during Dunning's tenure on the board. The Credit Union established the Margaret Dunning Scholarship Fund in 1989 in her honor for her contributions to the Plymouth community. She has served on other local boards, including the Board of Directors of the Dunning Branch of the Wayne County Library.
In 1971, when the Plymouth Historical Society was looking for money to build a new museum building, Dunning stepped forward and donated in excess of $100,000. That donation allowed for the construction of a 15000 square feet (1,393.5 m²) building to house the historical artifacts of the community. In 1998, the Plymouth Historical Society purchased a sizeable collection of Abraham Lincoln
memorabilia from Dr. Weldon Petz. By this time, the Museum was at capacity and there was nowhere to store or exhibit the new collection. Again Dunning stepped forward, this time with a $1 million donation to add an additional 9800 square feet (910.4 m²) to the Museum building on two floors. Dunning is a permanent member of the Plymouth Historical Society's Board of Directors.
In 1997, Dunning established the Margaret Dunning Foundation as a private grantmaking foundation, which also gives occasional grants to the Plymouth Historical Museum.
Dunning was in the first group of 16 individuals inducted into the Plymouth Hall of Fame, sponsored by the Plymouth Kiwanis
Club, on August 11, 1980. Others inducted were some of Plymouth's founders and benefactors, including Ebenezer J. Penniman
and George Anson Starkweather
.
Philanthropist
A philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, and/or reputation to charitable causes...
and benefactor of the Plymouth (Michigan) Historical Museum. She was born in Redford, Wayne County, Michigan
Wayne County, Michigan
-History:Wayne County was one of the first counties formed when the Northwest Territory was organized. It was named for the American general "Mad Anthony" Wayne. It originally encompassed the entire area of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan, as well as small sections that are now part of northern...
.
Personal life
Dunning is the daughter of Charles Dunning and Elizabeth (Bessie) Rattenbury. Margaret spent her first 13 years on a dairy and potato farm owned by her father, located at the corner of Plymouth and Telegraph Roads in Redford Township, MichiganRedford Township, Michigan
The U.S. Census Bureau also defined Redford Township as a census-designated place in the 2000 Census so that the community would appear on the list of places as well on the list of county subdivisions...
. The 156 acre (0.63131016 km²) farm had been purchased by her grandparents, who were original settlers in the area. When Charles died in 1923, Margaret and her mother, Bessie, moved into Redford and later to the village of Plymouth, Michigan
Plymouth, Michigan
Plymouth is a city in Wayne County of the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 9,132 at the 2010 census. The City of Plymouth is an enclave completely surrounded by Plymouth Charter Township, Michigan.-Geography:...
. Bessie purchased property in the village and built the home where Margaret still resides. Margaret attended the country school where her father was a student, and was then sent to Dana Hall, a private school in Wellesley, Massachusetts
Wellesley, Massachusetts
Wellesley is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. It is part of Greater Boston. The population was 27,982 at the time of the 2010 census.It is best known as the home of Wellesley College and Babson College...
. She returned to Plymouth in 1927 and graduated from Plymouth High School
Plymouth-Canton Educational Park
The Plymouth-Canton Educational Park encompasses three public secondary schools—Salem High School, Canton High School, and Plymouth High School—in Canton Township, Michigan, United States. PCEP is located on a campus in Wayne County...
in 1929. She attended the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
for two years and then studied at the Hamilton Business School in Ypsilanti, Michigan
Ypsilanti, Michigan
Ypsilanti is a city in Washtenaw County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 22,362. The city is bounded to the north by the Charter Township of Superior and on the west, south, and east by the Charter Township of Ypsilanti...
.
While growing up on the farm, Dunning developed a life-long love of tinkering with old cars. She has lovingly restored several old cars that she still owns. In 1985, she donated a restored 1906 Model N Ford to the Gilmore Car Museum
Gilmore Car Museum
The Gilmore Car Museum, located in Hickory Corners in the U.S. state of Michigan, houses a collection of classic automobiles. The collection ranges from the 1899 Locomobile, to muscle cars of the 1960s, as well as alternative fuel cars like the Stanley Steamer, and the Western Michigan University...
at Hickory Corners, Michigan. She also donated a 1930 Cadillac convertible to the Museum. She still drives one of her cars in the annual Woodward Dream Cruise
Woodward Dream Cruise
The Woodward Dream Cruise event is a classic car event held annually on the third Saturday of August in Metropolitan Detroit, along Woodward Avenue. The WDC Event spans much of the avenue, from Pontiac through Ferndale in Oakland County, Michigan, all the way to the State Fair Grounds inside the...
in Detroit each August.
Professional career
In the early 1930s, Dunning briefly worked making voltage regulators at the Phoenix Mill Ford Plant in Plymouth, a Ford Village Industries plant that employed only women. She worked as a bank tellerBank teller
A teller is an employee of a bank who deals directly with most customers. In some places, this employee is known as a cashier. Most teller jobs require cash handling experience and a high school diploma. Most banks provide on the job training....
and assistant cashier for the First National Bank of Plymouth between 1935 and 1940. During that time, she was among the victims of a bank robbery. The bank robber, Willard Long, was eventually caught in East St. Louis, Illinois
East St. Louis, Illinois
East St. Louis is a city located in St. Clair County, Illinois, USA, directly across the Mississippi River from St. Louis, Missouri in the Metro-East region of Southern Illinois. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 27,006, less than one-third of its peak of 82,366 in 1950...
, and extradited back to Michigan. After the First National Bank, she went to work at the Plymouth United Savings Bank for several years.
In 1947, Dunning purchased Goldstein's Apparel on Main Street in Plymouth and renamed the store Dunning's. In 1950, she moved Dunning's Department Store to Forest Avenue in downtown Plymouth, about two blocks away. She sold Dunning's in 1968 to Minerva Chaiken and the store became known as Minerva-Dunning's.
Volunteer and philanthropic activities
Dunning's largest impact on the Plymouth community has been in her volunteer and charitable endeavors that began in 1942. From 1942-1945, Dunning served as a volunteer in the local American Red Cross motor pool, driving a truck.Dunning served on the board of Community Federal Credit Union in Plymouth from 1962 to 1984, and was president of the board for 19 of those years. The assets of the Credit Union increased from $1 million and one office to $40 million and six offices during Dunning's tenure on the board. The Credit Union established the Margaret Dunning Scholarship Fund in 1989 in her honor for her contributions to the Plymouth community. She has served on other local boards, including the Board of Directors of the Dunning Branch of the Wayne County Library.
In 1971, when the Plymouth Historical Society was looking for money to build a new museum building, Dunning stepped forward and donated in excess of $100,000. That donation allowed for the construction of a 15000 square feet (1,393.5 m²) building to house the historical artifacts of the community. In 1998, the Plymouth Historical Society purchased a sizeable collection of Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He successfully led his country through a great constitutional, military and moral crisis – the American Civil War – preserving the Union, while ending slavery, and...
memorabilia from Dr. Weldon Petz. By this time, the Museum was at capacity and there was nowhere to store or exhibit the new collection. Again Dunning stepped forward, this time with a $1 million donation to add an additional 9800 square feet (910.4 m²) to the Museum building on two floors. Dunning is a permanent member of the Plymouth Historical Society's Board of Directors.
In 1997, Dunning established the Margaret Dunning Foundation as a private grantmaking foundation, which also gives occasional grants to the Plymouth Historical Museum.
Dunning was in the first group of 16 individuals inducted into the Plymouth Hall of Fame, sponsored by the Plymouth Kiwanis
Kiwanis
Kiwanis International is an international, coeducational service club founded in 1915. It is headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana. Current membership is 240,000 members in 7,700 clubs in 80 nations...
Club, on August 11, 1980. Others inducted were some of Plymouth's founders and benefactors, including Ebenezer J. Penniman
Ebenezer J. Penniman
Ebenezer Jenckes Penniman was a politician from the U.S. state of Michigan.Penniman was born in Lansingburgh, New York. He attended the common schools, apprenticed as a printer, and moved to New York City in 1822. Later, he moved to Orwell, Vermont, where he engaged in business as a dry-goods...
and George Anson Starkweather
George Anson Starkweather
George Anson Starkweather was the first non Native American born in what is now known as the city of Plymouth, Michigan . He is not to be confused with his Uncle, also named George A. Starkweather, of New York State, or several other distant cousins also named George Anson Starkweather...
.