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As a "labor of love" and "because it's my home," Rubenstein has proposed to voluntarily archive any historical artifacts for the township.

A book on that history is also being authored by Deborah and her husband, Bruce Ruben-stein. The couple has also presented the township board with a proposal to be brought on as a volunteer historical archivist. The board has not yet made a decision on that proposal.

"People have done an amazing job and I want to archive it," Deborah said. "We'd like as much information on any artifact as possible—whether it's loaned, given, or reproduced. We want photos of any time period—whatever's occurred here: Historical farms, farm implements, letters from the Civil War or World War I."

While the field of genealogy and historical research is currently popular, the Rubensteins have a deep interest in the recording of posterity. Deborah has been an adjunct instructor in English and history at St. Clair County Community College since 2001. Bruce has been a professor of history with the University of Michigan-Flint since 1974. Also, among his others books, Bruce with Lawrence E. Ziewacz wrote Michigan: A History of the Great Lakes State in 1981. The book is now in its third edition.

Goodland Township celebrated its 150th birthday last summer after it was designated by the state legislature in 1855. The Rubensteins liked how the township's artifacts were exhibited at the celebration so much that they've decided to help put it all in its historical context.

While she hasn't gone through all of the township's historical archives yet, Deborah said one photo in particular struck her as being quite profound. It's an interior photo of the Flansburgh School with an inscription circa 1905. Deborah said what's ironic about the photo is there's photos of Presidents Abraham Lincoln and William McKinley hanging on the wall. While McKinley was assassinated in 1901, Deborah said his photo would've been draped in crepe out of honor—meaning she placed the photo likely to have been taken between 1899 or 1900.

According to historical information, reportedly James Hills was the township's first settler in 1851. He is attributed with suggesting the name Goodland. The first township board meeting was in the shingle shanty of William Hagadone on what's now known as Armstrong Road.

An early plat showed a Native American cemetery (which was possibly the Younge Site, considered a premiere archaeology site with origins dating back to 1,000 A.D. and listed on the National Registry of Historic Places) and trading post in 1856 and encampment in 1858.

In its early days, the township was known for its lumbering operations. Lumber was floated down Mill Creek to mills in Port Huron and many settlers came by boat up on the waterway that stretches into Lapeer County from St. Clair County.

By 1874, the township's population was 920, there was 22,578 acres of taxable land, 684 sheep, 365 cows and 9,004 wheat bushels. A few years later, in 1880, the township had a population of 1,241. The number of school children in 1882 was 474 and there were six school buildings.

While that may already be a lot of history, there's much more to be discovered. Deborah said her hope is to eventually add a new volume on township history at every annual open house for future generations to reflect back on.

To donate any township historical information or share artifacts, contact the Rubensteins at (810) 614-8653 or by e-mail at: crawford4218@earthlink.net.