Restore Douglass (b. 1914), Mecosta Co.

Photo by Mary Whalen on behalf of Michigan State University

Michigan Heritage Awards Biography of Restore Douglass, 2001 awardee.

 The following bio is from the 1986 OMFA book, page 151:

“1907 was the year of my birth near Pittsburgh, PA., being one of a family of 5 children. My father worked as a lumberman in the woods and also as a salesman. In 1939 I married Freda Foss. We have 3 girls, all married, and a granddaughter and grandson.

I started to play the violin at age 12. A friend of my dad who played the volin and taught me how visited us. before he left for home, I could play 3 tunes. At age 17 I played in a hall, and after that, at a lot of house parties and various other halls. I play by ar. I have been an OMFA member for 3 years.”

The following bio, written by Sandy Jones, is taken from 2001 OMFA book:

“Restore was born February 2, 1907 near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He was one of five children. After moving to Michigan, his father was a lumberman and a salesman. It was a friend of his father’s that started Restore playing fiddle at age 12. By age 17 he was playing in halls, house parties, and any other events that came along. At age 94, Restore is still playing fiddle and appears at a lot of the jamborees and other music events.

In 1939 he married Freda Foss who passed away last year. They had three children; Carol of Big Rapids, Judy and Nancy of Florida.

Restore is the 2001 recipient of the Michigan Heritage Award for performance in old time fiddle music and was honored in Lansing on August 11, 2001. Restore has been a member of the OMFA for 18 years. Restore is known to many of his friends as ‘Goog’, a name given to him by his father. One of his favorite songs is ‘When the Rain and Snow Falls Around My Front Door, I’ll Be Coming Home To You Little Girl.'”