In 1858 the Harmonial Society of Sturgis built on this site a free church dedicated to religious liberty, the first of its kind in the world. To perpetuate the memory of its founders, this ground was granted to the City of Sturgis to be forever maintained as The Free Church Park, in accordance with an agreement filed with the County Register of Deeds. The founders were Jonathan G. Wait, Balser B. Gardner, Harrison Kelley, John B. Jacobs, James Johnson, Nathaniel L. Hutchinson, Benjamin C. Buck, and William H. Osbon. The grant was made in 1920 by trustees Frank W. Wait, Pres., Harrison W. Kelley, Frank Gilhams, Arthur H. Wait, Joe D. Sturgis, and Bert H. Parker.