Hartland Museum Seeks Family of Noted 19th-Century Taxidermist

About a decade ago, a woman stopped by the Florence B. Dearing Museum in Hartland and told a volunteer she was related to the noted 19th century taxidermist Martha Street, whose assortment of animals are on display there.

Now, members of the Hartland Area Historical Society, which owns and runs the museum, would like to find that woman or the descendants of Street's family in hopes of enhancing the exhibit.

"Maybe they will have old pictures, old photographs that we could have here," said Barbara Krueger, a docent at the museum.

Street, who lived from 1839 to 1917 in Tyrone Township, took up taxidermy after in 1870 a runaway horse team threw her from a wagon breaking a joint in her spine and incapacitating her for nearly two decades, according to the museum's research on her.

Yet in becoming a taxidermist, Street became well-known for her work and ability to also create natural settings for displays of the animals in what became a profitable business. Animals were sent to her from across the country, particularly birds, which interested her the most, the research says.

"The specimens of her mounted birds and fowls attest to her skill and are of great interest to all students of natural history," said the Portrait and Biographical Album of Ingham and Livingston Counties that was published in 1891.

The Streets had one daughter, Stella, who married J.M. Becker, according to the book. But her husband, Philo, had six siblings who survived into adulthood, and Street, whose maiden name was Dexter, was one of 12 children, the book said.

"I would think of all those kids, somebody lives in the area and we'd like to have them come in," Krueger said.

After Street's death, she was buried in Clough Hill Cemetery in Tyrone Township not far from where she lived with her husband on Hogan road. Street's collection stayed at the home until 1959 when her family donated most of it to the museum.

Those with information about Street's family are asked to contact Krueger at 248-887-1283 or email her at BEK4450@aol.com.