OKEMOS - The Okemos Library held a special story time today in honor of the 175th anniversary of Meridian Township.

The library hosts “Homeschool Discoveries” twice a month where youth services librarian Tom Shilts reads and puts together activities for children to play. During this special story time, Shilts read to kids about Makinac Island and taught them many things about the history of Meridian Township. They also made homemade butter and played old school games like marbles that were popular back when Meridian Township was first established.

This event comes just in time to kick off national reading month. which occurs during the month of March. Shilts says events like these are important to teach young children what the township was like long ago and to also promote reading about history.

“I think that it shows us that throughout hundreds of years there’s been a lot of people and a lot of different ethnic groups, a lot of different kinds of people that have had a part in building and making Michigan what it is today,” said Shilts.