Rebecca Dewey Chapter

Three Oaks, Michigan

 

 

NSDAR Motto

God, Home, and
Country

 

 

 

Chapter & Town History


Click on the historic marker to see an enlargement.
Click on the cannon or gazebo to see the cannon close-up.

Chapter History - The Rebecca Dewey Chapter, NSDAR, Three Oaks, Michigan, was organized July 9, 1909, with a membership of seventeen.  It was chartered December 21, 1909, with fourteen members.  Since Three Oaks had secured the Dewey Cannon at the close of the Spanish-American War, it was decided to name the Chapter after Admiral Dewey's great grandmother.  Rebecca Dewey Chapter NSDAR currently has 41 Members.

Dewey Cannon - This cannon, captured in the Spanish-American War by Admiral Dewey, was presented to Three Oaks when its citizens raised $1,400 for a memorial to the men of the battleship Maine. This was the largest contribution, per capita, of any community in the nation. “Three Oaks Against the World,” a local paper proudly boasted. This park was dedicated October 17, 1899, by President William McKinley, and others. Presentation of the cannon took place on June 28, 1900. Guest of honor was Helen Miller Gould, called the Spanish-American War’s “Florence Nightingale.” Thousands of people were in attendance on each occasion.

Three Oaks - The village of Three Oaks is located in the southwest corner of Michigan, just 5 miles from the shores of Lake Michigan and within 2 miles of the Indiana border. The village was first settled by Henry Chamberlain in 1850. Mr. Chamberlain gave the small community its name in reference to three oak trees growing in a cluster within the village. These oak trees were a guidepoint for stagecoach travelers in estimating how close they were to Chicago. As of 2007, there was only one of the original oak trees standing.

 

   

 

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