SPRING/SUMMER 2018 350 Estate Drive Rochester, MI 48309-4401 MeMeadowBradowBrooookk Museum Store Commemorate the 75th anniver- Fit to a Tee sary of Wing Commander, Frances A new line of apparel has arrived in the Meadow Brook Museum Dodge’s champion American Store. The men’s and women’s t-shirt line is fashioned in trendy Saddlebred, with your copy of colors and crafted in soft, lightweight material, styled in a relaxed fit. Sizes range from S-XXL and are priced at $24.95/$22.45 MBH Riding on the Edge: Frances Dodge members.. Also, arriving later this summer, a new winter apparel and Dodge Stables – the fascinating line which will feature more t-shirt styles and baseball caps. biographical account of automo- tive heiress Frances Dodge and her ascendancy into the highly The World’s competitive worlds of horse shows, harness racing and high Finest...Again society…with a trend-setting style all of her own. $11.95/$10.75 MBH members. RIDING ON THE EDGE Frances Dodge and Dodge Stables To order, visit Meadow Brook’s Museum Store or contact store manager Kelly Lenda at 248-364-6206 or email [email protected]. BY KAREL BOND LUCANDER INSIDE: Summer Events| Games People Played| Frankophile SHOW YOUR OU PRIDE |Contents And Help OU Credit Union Support Oakland University Programs 8 18 22 8 | Up next 2| Editor’s Column Check out all the tours and events at Meadow Brook you won’t Time marches on want to miss this summer and fall...from Enchanted Evenings to the sizzling Summer Concert Series to the all-new Beats, Brats and Brews. 4| Around the Estate 12 | Ask the woman who owns one Denim & Diamonds The recent gift of Anna Dodge’s 1938 Packard limousine sets the Antiques “Action!” stage for interpreting the wider Dodge story that includes Horace Gone, but not forgotten alongside his older brother, John. From the Halls... 14 | Once again Start those engines! The six-room playhouse built for 12-year-old Frances Dodge has been When you use your OU Credit Union Platinum Plus Visa Credit Card, you’ll earn unlimited 1% cash back World’s greatest turns 75 restored to its 1926 fit and finish...from timbers to wallpaper to on every single purchase, every single time. Whether you’re at the grocery store, out for a night on the One company, one family, original furnishings...thanks to the generosity of longtime Meadow town, or lling up at the pump, you’ll earn cash back while supporting the university you love. one century Brook Estate supporters. Lost can be found 18 | Game on! Tree-rific! When the weather failed to allow outdoor leisure pursuits on the Estate improvements Meadow Brook estate, the Dodge and Wilson families took their penchant for fun and games indoors, playing everything from bridge and billiards to Tiddledy Winks and Clue. CASH 32| Last Page Happy Birthday, Horace! 22 | Let’s be Frank Honesty, dedication, talent and hard work earned longtime Meadow 1 BACK BC|Museum Store Brook Farms carpenter and builder Frank L. Rewold his most % Fit to a tee important title: right-hand man to Matilda Dodge Wilson. 28 | 2017 Donor Report Open your Platinum Plus Visa and start earning CASH BACK today! Friends, Guilders, Cornerstone Society members, foundations, and corporate and Adopt-an-Artifact donors build a strong case of support oucreditunion.org • 248-364-4708 • 800-766-6828 for the Meadow Brook Estate. On the Cover: Knole Cottage, the world’s finest dollhouse, has reopened after a year-and-a-half of restoration and conservation work. Photo by Rick Smith. Members will earn 1% cash back on all purchases. Cash back is not earned on tax payments, any unauthorized charges or transactions, cash advances, convenience checks, balance transfers, or fees of any kind. Visit oucreditunion.org/cashback for full terms and conditions. Federally insured by NCUA. SHOW YOUR OU PRIDE |Contents And Help OU Credit Union Support Oakland University Programs 8 18 22 8 | Up next 2| Editor’s Column Check out all the tours and events at Meadow Brook you won’t Time marches on want to miss this summer and fall...from Enchanted Evenings to the sizzling Summer Concert Series to the all-new Beats, Brats and Brews. 4| Around the Estate 12 | Ask the woman who owns one Denim & Diamonds The recent gift of Anna Dodge’s 1938 Packard limousine sets the Antiques “Action!” stage for interpreting the wider Dodge story that includes Horace Gone, but not forgotten alongside his older brother, John. From the Halls... 14 | Once again Start those engines! The six-room playhouse built for 12-year-old Frances Dodge has been When you use your OU Credit Union Platinum Plus Visa Credit Card, you’ll earn unlimited 1% cash back World’s greatest turns 75 restored to its 1926 fit and finish...from timbers to wallpaper to on every single purchase, every single time. Whether you’re at the grocery store, out for a night on the One company, one family, original furnishings...thanks to the generosity of longtime Meadow town, or lling up at the pump, you’ll earn cash back while supporting the university you love. one century Brook Estate supporters. Lost can be found 18 | Game on! Tree-rific! When the weather failed to allow outdoor leisure pursuits on the Estate improvements Meadow Brook estate, the Dodge and Wilson families took their penchant for fun and games indoors, playing everything from bridge and billiards to Tiddledy Winks and Clue. CASH 32| Last Page Happy Birthday, Horace! 22 | Let’s be Frank Honesty, dedication, talent and hard work earned longtime Meadow 1 BACK BC|Museum Store Brook Farms carpenter and builder Frank L. Rewold his most % Fit to a tee important title: right-hand man to Matilda Dodge Wilson. 28 | 2017 Donor Report Open your Platinum Plus Visa and start earning CASH BACK today! Friends, Guilders, Cornerstone Society members, foundations, and corporate and Adopt-an-Artifact donors build a strong case of support oucreditunion.org • 248-364-4708 • 800-766-6828 for the Meadow Brook Estate. On the Cover: Knole Cottage, the world’s finest dollhouse, has reopened after a year-and-a-half of restoration and conservation work. Photo by Rick Smith. Members will earn 1% cash back on all purchases. Cash back is not earned on tax payments, any unauthorized charges or transactions, cash advances, convenience checks, balance transfers, or fees of any kind. Visit oucreditunion.org/cashback for full terms and conditions. Federally insured by NCUA. MeadowBrook |Editor’s Column MAGAZINE Editor & Publisher Geoffrey C. Upward Associate Editor Time marches on Save the date! 9 20 2018 Kimberly Zelinski | | Meadow Brook’s business model is unusual, if not unique, among the country’s Assistant Editor historic house museums. Without the obvious benefit of a significant endowment Madelyn Rzadkowolski that contributes ongoing investment income, we must work creatively and diligently _____________________ to generate on average $10,000 a day to fund operations, interpretive programming Art Direction and preservation projects. Lynn Metzker Unquestionably, renting The Hall and grounds provides the lion’s share of our Graphic Design income. And, therein comes the challenge. Rental _____________________ events provide much-needed revenue to finance Photography museum and educational activities, but events can also Rick Smith be disruptive to touring and cause significant wear-and- John Sobczak tear on the building and collections. It’s Wild! _______________________ A recent mishap offers a “timely” example of how Contributing Writer this conflict can play out. In December, an attendee at TICKETS & TABLE SPONSORSHIPS NOW ON SALE! Faith Brody _______________________ an evening social function tripped coming down the grand staircase and reached out to break her fall. The Your evening will include tours of The Hall, live and silent MEADOW BROOK MAGAZINE object she reached for was a c. 1905 eight-foot-tall is published twice a year for grandfather clock, placed on the landing by Matilda Wilson in the 1960s. auctions, cocktail & hors d’oeuvre reception, a four-course friends of Meadow Brook Hall. Fortunately, the guest was not hurt, but the clock suffered a different fate, crash- Reproduction without permission ing down the stairs and shattering into dozens of pieces. Unfortunately, the signifi- gourmet wild or mild game dinner and more. is prohibited. ISSN 2161-2358 cant cost precludes a full repair and rebuilding. While we are looking for a suitable EDITORIAL OFFICES replacement – in terms of age and scale – these are not easy to find. All proceeds support the preservation of this National Historic Landmark are located at Meadow Brook Hall Nor will it be easy to find a replacement for another longstanding Meadow Brook 350 Estate Drive institution: Director of Catering Matt Durack. Matt Rochester, MI 48309-4401 and his company began preparing and serving food CALL (248) 364-6263 OR VISIT MEADOWBROOKHALL.ORG HOW TO REACH US and beverage for Meadow Brook events in 1988, only Email: [email protected] 20 years after Matilda Wilson’s passing. Presenting Sponsor Phone: 248-364-6204 His team’s four-star cuisine and dining service has Fax: 248-364-6201 set a high standard of quality for the past 30 years, ap- ADDRESS CHANGES propriately reflective of Meadow Brook’s storied history Email: [email protected] and its National Historic Landmark status. And their Mail: Shannon O’Berski consistent delivery has been invaluable in attracting and Meadow Brook Hall pleasing the clients and guests who are the lifeblood 350 Estate Drive of our business model. Rochester, MI 48309-4401 But time was winding down on Matt’s career, and he retired in January, passing the torch to two extremely MEADOW BROOK capable partners.