The Governor John S. Barry Historical Society was established in 1944 for the purpose of collecting and preserving antiques, providing historical information, and maintaining the Governor John S. Barry museum, former home of Michigan’s third elected governor (1842-1850). John S. Barry came to Constantine in 1834, when Michigan was a territory. He built the first frame building in Constantine, opened a general store (where the Harvey Hotel now stands), was elected to the first State Senate, served as president pro-tem of the State Senate, and was a member of the first Constitutional Convention, helping to write Michigan’s first constitution. He later loaned the State money to build the first railroad between Marshall and Kalamazoo.