By Jason Wesseldyk
Sports Editor
Have a question related to the history of Plainwell?
If so, then Sandy Stamm likely has the answer.
Stamm has spent more than four decades uncovering, documenting and preserving the city’s rich history through research done largely at Ransom District Library.
For those selfless contributions to the city and its residents, Stamm was recently named winner of the Chris Haas Volunteer of the Year Award.
Ransom District Library director Joe Gross nominated Stamm for the honor, which has been given annually since 2019 in memory of Chris Haas. Haas, whose volunteer work included countless hours at Ransom, passed away in 2018 at the age of 64.
“When Joe told me about the award, I told him I wished he had not done this,” Stamm said. “I do not do this for awards. I do it because I love the history of our community.”
Despite not wanting the spotlight on her and the work she has done, Stamm was nonetheless appreciative for the recognition of her efforts.
“It was nice that the city and the Haas family wanted me to have this Chris Haas Award this year,” she said. “I knew Chris personally, so this is special for me.”
This is just the latest honor for Stamm, who was named Plainwell Rotary Citizen of the Year in 2004 and the Historical Society of Michigan’s Distinguished Volunteer Service Award recipient in 2010.
In 2002, Ransom named its archive room after Stamm, and when the new library opened its doors in 2020, the staff proudly introduced the Sandy Stamm Local History Room.
“I think the Haas family made a wonderful choice,” Gross said. “Sandy has deflected praise at every turn while working for forty-five years to preserve the history of this area. Like Chris Haas herself, Sandy lives at the heart of her community. Her contributions can’t really be estimated. She and the work she has done are invaluable treasures.”
Stamm’s connections to Plainwell and its history run deep. She was born in a house on Marsh Road in Plainwell and, after growing up in Kalamazoo, moved back to Plainwell with her husband Ron in the 1980s.
It was then that she started her research into local history, spending hour after hour at Ransom to learn as much as she could about the city’s past. Her work has included indexing a hundred years of the Union/Plainwell Enterprise and cataloging the histories of houses and figures of Plainwell’s past, most notably the Plainwell soldiers who have died in combat.
“To me, everything I learn about Plainwell is exciting,” Stamm said. “When I started, items and pictures were just thrown in boxes. At first, I had no one to help me. I now have others to help out.”
Not only has Stamm never charged for her services, but she has often spent her own money to support her efforts.
In 2006, Stamm shared some of her historical knowledge in the book “Images of America: Otsego & Plainwell.” Stamm co-authored the book with then-Otsego District Library director Ryan Wieber.
“When Ryan and I wrote the book ‘Images of America, Otsego & Plainwell,’ it was Ryan’s idea. He thought that I was the best person to represent Plainwell since I had been studying Plainwell for so long.
“When Ryan and I wrote the book, it was Ryan’s idea,” Stamm said. “He thought I was the best person to represent Plainwell since I had been studying Plainwell for so long. He handled the Otsego portion.”
Stamm also anchored the research for Plainwell’s historical plaques that detail the histories of various buildings in the city. That project has been featured in various publications, including the November/December 2013 issue of Michigan History Magazine. It has also been used as a template by other towns in Michigan.
“Sandy does what she does because it is her passion,” Gross said. “Her love. Sandy does not want, or particularly even like, a lot of attention or praise for her work. She is, however, going to have to keep living with it.
“Truly, no one could put a price on the value that Sandy Stamm has brought for decades to the Plainwell area community. What do we have without our own history? She is the greatest of local treasures.”
Stamm can still be found at least one day a week at Ransom, continuing her research.
“If you catch her, be sure to ask for a story,” Gross said. “She’s got one.”