RevisedSpring2012_Layout 1 5/24/12 10:01 AM Page 1 A NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK SPRING 2012 480 South Adams Road Rochester, MI 48309-4401 MeadowBrook Michigan’s Newest SALE! OWN A PIECE OF THE LANDMARK National Special to readers of Meadow Brook Be part of this year’s Tudor Revival theme and celebration of Meadow Brook’s Historic Magazine: National Historic Landmark designation with merchandise from The Hall’s own Landmark 25% off the Museum Store. The Store offers a number of items displaying the house and architectural series: its architecture, several pictured on this page. Stop by or shop online at: Mention this ad to meadowbrookhall.org (click on the “Shop” button) or call 248-364-6206. get the discount. Gift certificates are available. Sale good through Labor Day (in-store purchase only). Watercolor print and matching note cards. Print 17"x11" (reg. $9.95, on sale for $7.45). Note cards, set of 8, 6-1/4" x 4-1/2" (reg. $9.95, on sale for $7.45). Prints of 6 of the 12 Zodiac stone corbels seen on the exterior of the Sun Porch by artist Ken Tote bag (reg. $9.95, on Taylor. (Leo pictured). 11"x14" (reg. $29.95 sale for $7.45). Postcards, each, on sale for $22.45). set of 6 (reg. $5.95, on sale for $4.45). INSIDE: Servants Rooms Restored| Inside the Vaults | Donor Report RevisedSpring2012_Layout 1 5/24/12 10:01 AM Page 3 YourYour FinancialFFinainnanciaal FamilyFFaammillyy |Contents 14 18 8 2| Editor’s Column 8 | At your service A landmark achievement The Hall restores the Servants Dining and Sitting Rooms to their original functional splendor. 5| Around the Estate TThehe OakOaklandlaand UnivUniversityersity BrBranchancch OU BRBRANCHANCHH MEMBERS A picture is worth . 10 | The making of a mansion Hall awarded state grant From inspiration to groundbreaking, the construction of a prproudlyoudly ssupporsupportsts OakOaklandland ENJOENJOYY THESTHESESE BENEFITBENEFITSS Prime time coverage future landmark building was a testament to good old UnivUniversityersity andd its a liaa liates. l tes. • Home IImprovementmpprovement LLoansoans You won’t want to miss . American ingenuity, practicality and attention to detail. • MMortgagesortgagess First of two parts OOurur crcreditediit union is operoperatedated bbyy • LLowow RRateate AAutouto LLoansoans 26| Behind the Ropes and fforor mmembers of the OakOaklandland • SSavingsavings OpOptionsptions Housemen at the “red”y 14 | Safe & sound • FREE TTotallyotally GreenGreen CheckCheckinging UnivUniversityersity ccommunity.ommunity. What was so valuable that Matilda and Alfred Wilson were • FREE AATMTM AAccessccess 28| Last Page driven to install more vaults than most commercial banks? • FREE 24/7 AAccountccount AAccessccess Hats off to Meadow Brook 18 | “We didn’t have television back then...” VVisitisit the OaOaklandakland University BrancBranchch OakOaklandland UnivUniversityersity BrBranchanch A conversation with the Wilson children, Richard and todatodayy to jjoinoin the famifamily!ly! 3265 FFiveive PPointsoints DrDriverive Barbara. Second of two parts AAuburnuburn HHills,ills, MI 48483268326 MMemberember SServiceservices (248)248) 364-4708 www.msufcu.orgwww.msufcu.org TToll-FToll-Freeoll-Free 800-766-800-766-OUCUOOUCU • 800-766-6828 24 | 2011 Meadow Brook Report to Donors MMondayonday - FFridayriday 7:7:00:00 a.m. - 9:00 pp.m..m. Friends, Guilders and Cornerstone Society members build a SSaturdayaturday 9:00 a.m.. - 3:00 pp.m..m. base of support. BrBranchanch Hours: MMondayonday - TThursdayhursday 9:00 a.m. - 5:30 pp.m..m. FFridayriday 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 pp.m..m. SSaturdayaturday 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 pp.m..m. 179*IHIVEP179*IHIVEP On the Cover: ''VIHMX9RMSRVIHMX9RMSR Meadow Brook stands proud as it receives word in March of its designation as a National Historic Landmark by the Secretary of the Interior. For the back story, see the Editor's FFederallyederally insurinsureded Column on page 2. Photo by Kim Zelinski bbyy the NCUNCUAA RevisedSpring2012_Layout 1 5/24/12 10:01 AM Page 3 YourYour FinancialFFinainnanciaal FamilyFFaammillyy |Contents 14 18 8 2| Editor’s Column 8 | At your service A landmark achievement The Hall restores the Servants Dining and Sitting Rooms to their original functional splendor. 5| Around the Estate TThehe OakOaklandlaand UnivUniversityersity BrBranchancch OU BRBRANCHANCHH MEMBERS A picture is worth . 10 | The making of a mansion Hall awarded state grant From inspiration to groundbreaking, the construction of a prproudlyoudly ssupporsupportsts OakOaklandland ENJOENJOYY THESTHESESE BENEFITBENEFITSS Prime time coverage future landmark building was a testament to good old UnivUniversityersity andd its a liaa liates. l tes. • Home IImprovementmpprovement LLoansoans You won’t want to miss . American ingenuity, practicality and attention to detail. • MMortgagesortgagess First of two parts OOurur crcreditediit union is operoperatedated bbyy • LLowow RRateate AAutouto LLoansoans 26| Behind the Ropes and fforor mmembers of the OakOaklandland • SSavingsavings OpOptionsptions Housemen at the “red”y 14 | Safe & sound • FREE TTotallyotally GreenGreen CheckCheckinging UnivUniversityersity ccommunity.ommunity. What was so valuable that Matilda and Alfred Wilson were • FREE AATMTM AAccessccess 28| Last Page driven to install more vaults than most commercial banks? • FREE 24/7 AAccountccount AAccessccess Hats off to Meadow Brook 18 | “We didn’t have television back then...” VVisitisit the OaOaklandakland University BrancBranchch OakOaklandland UnivUniversityersity BrBranchanch A conversation with the Wilson children, Richard and todatodayy to jjoinoin the famifamily!ly! 3265 FFiveive PPointsoints DrDriverive Barbara. Second of two parts AAuburnuburn HHills,ills, MI 48483268326 MMemberember SServiceservices (248)248) 364-4708 www.msufcu.orgwww.msufcu.org TToll-FToll-Freeoll-Free 800-766-800-766-OUCUOOUCU • 800-766-6828 24 | 2011 Meadow Brook Report to Donors MMondayonday - FFridayriday 7:7:00:00 a.m. - 9:00 pp.m..m. Friends, Guilders and Cornerstone Society members build a SSaturdayaturday 9:00 a.m.. - 3:00 pp.m..m. base of support. BrBranchanch Hours: MMondayonday - TThursdayhursday 9:00 a.m. - 5:30 pp.m..m. FFridayriday 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 pp.m..m. SSaturdayaturday 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 pp.m..m. 179*IHIVEP179*IHIVEP On the Cover: ''VIHMX9RMSRVIHMX9RMSR Meadow Brook stands proud as it receives word in March of its designation as a National Historic Landmark by the Secretary of the Interior. For the back story, see the Editor's FFederallyederally insurinsureded Column on page 2. Photo by Kim Zelinski bbyy the NCUNCUAA RevisedSpring2012_Layout 1 5/24/12 10:01 AM Page 2 MeadowBrook |Editor’s Column property by Oakland University the Advisory Board to the National through the building’s use as a cultural Park Service on May 25 at the head- MAGAZINE center and historic house museum . quarters ballroom of The National and to the support of hundreds of vol- Trust for Historic Preservation in Editor & Publisher unteers, community members and Washington, D.C. Sixteen other hope- Geoffrey C. Upward donors, including the foundation Mrs. ful properties would also present their Wilson established in the 1940s, the cases over the course of three days. Associate Editor Matilda R. Wilson Fund. Colleagues Kim Zelinski (The Hall’s Kimberly Zelinski _____________________ The process for applying for land- director of museum services and ad- mark status began in 2005, when staff vancement) and Robin Gardner (The Art Direction at The Hall were contacted by a re- Hall’s director of administration and fi- Lynn Metzker gional representative of the National nance) and I made our case to the Graphic Design _____________________ Park Service suggesting that the build- Landmarks Committee in front of a ing was thought to be worthy. large audience of preservationists from Photography Shortly thereafter we began a search the public and private sectors. After the Rick Smith _______________________ for a qualified writer to research and 30-plus-minute presentation complete prepare the application. We found one with images and maps, the committee Contributing Writers of the best in Paula Mohr, an architec- (made up of historians, architectural Lisa Drummond tural historian who had written several historians, archaeologists, architects Madelyn Rzadkowolski _______________________ similar applications and who came and professional preservationists from highly recommended. Paula made two around the country) asked a number of Business Manager trips to Meadow Brook from her home probing questions about the building, Robin Gardner base in Iowa, spending days at a time the property’s history and the business Ford Museum, the State Capitol and in The Hall’s Archives and engaging in model employed to support its preser- the Fisher Building. MEADOW BROOK MAGAZINE is published twice a year for interviews with a variety of people as- vation and operation. The National Park Service will cast a friends of Meadow Brook Hall. sociated with the estate, past and pres- After a dramatic pause, they voted commemorative plaque that will be Reproduction without permission ent. She also consulted with national publicly and unanimously to support dedicated at The Hall in the coming is prohibited. ISSN 2161-2358 experts to get unbiased opinions of the the application moving to the next months. In fact, we have chosen Friday value of the building and associated stage . a review by the full Advisory July 20 as a day for the community to EDITORIAL OFFICES farm structures. Board. Both during the presentation celebrate the landmark that lives are located