Historic District Study Committee
(7 Members)

Established by local ordinance 94-21, 1994. Seven members (appointed by the City Commission) shall consist of a majority of persons interested in or having knowledge of historic preservation. Shall contain one or more members of the Historical District Commission OR Historical Commission. 3-year term.

It is the duty of the Historic District Study Committee to inventory and research proposed historic sites within the city of Royal Oak. This Committee shall be guided by the selection criteria for evaluation issued by the United State Secretary of the Interior. Their research is presented to the state for historic designation under the Michigan Local Historic Districts Act of 1970 (amended 1992).

Historic District Commission
(7 Members)

The Historic District Commission established by Ordinance 95-13, September 11, 1995. Seven members (appointed by the City Commission). 3-year term. 2 members from a list supplied by one or more duly organized local historic preservation organizations, if possible a graduate of an accredited architectural school with two years experience or registered in the State of MI. At least one member of the Historic District Study Committee. They shall oversee the preservation of historic resources within the city. It is the duty of the HDC to review all plans for construction, addition, alteration, repair, moving, excavation, or demolition of historic resources within a designated historic district. This Commission shall review and act upon only the exterior features of an historic resource unless interior work causes a visible change to the exterior of the resource.

Historical Commission
(7 Members)

Established by Ordinance 95-14, October 30, 1995. Seven Members (appointed by City Commission) 3 year term. At least one member of the Historic District Commission or Historic Study Committee shall serve.

This Commission is a policy making body, advisory to the City Commission on any activity or project which advances the historical interests of the city.

The Historical Commission is involved with the collection, preservation, and display of historical artifacts and materials. This Commission shall also set policies for the use of the historic Starr House at 3123 N. Main Street.

The Royal Oak Historical Society
Founded in 1938

The Royal Oak Historical Society is a volunteer membership organization whose purpose is to encourage historical study and research and to collect and preserve material and folklore connected with Royal oak and its vicinity. Its newly founded Museum is temporarily housed at the Churchill Community Center. ROHS's major goal at this time is to find a permanent site. "We have our eye on the Northwood Fire Station and hope to find a way to achieve this goal."

The Historical Society hosts occasional Town Hall meetings with a speaker or speakers on times past and an Annual Dinner with election of officers and board members.

For more information, go to www.royaloakhistoricalsociety.com.

The Guild has assumed the responsibility for the interior upkeep of the 1845 Orson Starr House, since 1976 a city-owned property and designated a historic district in 1985. The house is located at 3123 North Main Street and is now maintained as a Museum. An Open House is held from 1 to 4 p.m. the second Sunday of each month. The Guild, which welcomes new members, meets in the Museum at 1 p.m. the Wednesday before each Open House. For information, call Blanche Howard at 248-541-6141.