About Us:

We are glad you are interested in the history of our Mason, Michigan community.  The Mason Area Historical Society (MAHS) is a group of volunteers organized as a nonprofit and supported by membership dues, fund-raisers, and donations.  Financial contributions are tax deductible.

History:

In the 1800s, Mason was the center of Ingham County activity, even more than was Lansing, the state capital. 

In 1836 Charles Noble purchased an area of forest, cleared 20 acres (81,000 m2), and founded Mason Center.  

Lewis Lacey, the first settler to arrive in 1836, built a saw mill for Noble & Co., following which a member of the firm, Ephraim B Danforth, settled in the region.  

Around the same time, Charles Noble purchased part of a forest and established Mason Center on 20 acres of cleared woodland.  Soon after the "Center" part of the name was dropped, and the community was then known as "Mason" in honor of Stevens T. Mason, Michigan's first Governor.  In 1847, Mason became the seat of Ingham County.  It was Incorporated first as a village, and in 1875, Mason was given the status of a city.

In 1847, however, the state chose Lansing Township 12 miles (19 km) northward to be its capital due its potential for water power. Noble managed to make Mason the county seat instead. Ingham County's first downtown courthouse was built in 1843, and was replaced in 1858, and then again in 1905.

In 1865, Mason was incorporated as a village; in 1875 the town became a city.

In 1877, Lansing attempted to take the status of county seat for itself, but the two cities made an agreement that moved some county offices and courts to Lansing in exchange for Mason remaining the county seat.