Resident Spotlight
These are the stories of our lives, the stories of our neighbors, our friends. These collective stories make a community and over time become our history. Please enjoy the stories of our residents in the spotlight!
Featuring: Royce Hyde
Royce Hyde: Tyrone Township’s Supervisor for 27 Years, and Tyrone Township Historical Society’s First President
Written By: Deanna Cypher
“Royce served a year on the Tyrone Township Board and then went on to serve as supervisor for 27 years. His father, Raymond Hyde also served on the Tyrone Township Board.
When Royce was on the board, he served with many through those years including Gwen Lyons, Carroll Becker, Harold Hill, Connie Riddell and Dick Schumacher. This position was great for Royce because he always has enjoyed people and conversation. In the 1948 class yearbook, the Fentonian, under Royce’s picture was the following statement, “Just give me a listener and I’ll do the talking”.”
Featuring: Connie Powell
Constance Powell: A Remembrance of a 30-year Tyrone Township Historical Society Member and Past President
Written By: Amy Powell Clark
“It’s a funny thing that the Tyrone Township Hall landed immediately next door to my parents. In 1975 the modern township hall was built, and my mom soon became involved in the Historical Society. In 1976 when the Old Town House (1887) was moved on the Township Hall property on Center Road, mom was integral in planning and executing the Bicentennial celebrations that took place on the property. She organized for the Fenton High School marching band to play. She collected antique wedding dresses and children’s clothing from all over the community for a historical fashion show. She loved watching other people fall in love with the things she cherished. She was involved with the historical society for over 30 years! She resided as president for 5 of these years and of course, along the way she got her father involved as treasurer (he didn’t even live in Tyrone Township!) and us kids too enjoyed coming to the bi-monthly potluck dinners and listening to an interesting talk.
So invested was she in this little hall that she and my father were responsible for designing and planting the gardens that surround the Township Hall on Center Road today. Those rocks were all moved from my parent’s farm. She enjoyed giving of her time and talents. It filled her to fill other people up. And I can’t help but think she filled up the historical society as well.”
Featuring: Curtis Elmore
Tyrone Township Resident
The Old Country School Bus, 1994
Oil on canvas
Curtis Elmore was born in West Lumberton, NC in 1937. He began painting under the mentorship of a German neighbor named Hans at the young age of 6. They often salvaged discarded pup tents to use as canvas for their work. Over the years, Curtis refined his skill to become a talented painter. He considers this painting to be one of his best. The historic school bus that inspired this painting can still be seen in Pelkie, MI. Located in Houghton County, the Keweenaw Bay Area.
Curtis moved to the greater Flint area as a teenager, and later purchased land in Tyrone Township. He worked hard to save his money and built his home from the ground up in 1958. He married that same year and raised three daughters.
Curtis is also known as a talented musician and played guitar in a band called Southbound from 1971-1979.
Donated to Tyrone Township by the artist 2022
Our special thanks to Diamond Sport Gear, Holly Art & Framing, Ed Murray, Marcie Husted, and Residents for Community Preservation for making this project possible. Photo credit: © @DIANEJOHNSONPHOTOGRAPHY
