…wonderful paintings and sketches by Lawrence Falardeau from 10am until 3pm on Saturday at the Haven Hill Festival.
Read MoreA selection of collectible items for you and your home will be presented on the grounds of the historic Edsel Ford Barn at Edsel and Eleanor Ford’s former Haven Hill Estate. The historic barn is undergoing renovation by the parks’ volunteer Friends Group, and is located within Highland State Recreation Area between Duck Lake and Bogie Lake Roads in White Lake.
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Weighing approximately 300 pounds each, the new rear doors for the Edsel Ford Barn in Highland State Recreation Area
The Friends of Highland Recreation Area volunteers are proud to reveal a first look at the giant newly-rebuilt rear doors for the Edsel Ford Barn. The doors as shown in the photos were completed to this level of construction at a recent FOHRA weekend volunteer work bee. Friends group volunteers support the Michigan Department of Natural Resources with park events, historic restoration projects such as this, and park amenities, among other things.
The historic Barn, which is located in the Haven Hill section of Highland State Recreation Area in Highland/White Lake, Michigan, was once a major structure in a collection of buildings that comprised Edsel and Eleanor Ford’s former Haven Hill estate. Prior to a severe storm in June of 2008 the Barn extended the entire length of the visible concrete pad from north to south. High winds destroyed the long southerly expanse of the Barn, and what now remains is the functional front-end. Therefore the existing rear doors as they now stand were actually inside the Barn, and are now exposed to the elements as exterior doors. These new doors will replace the old doors now visible to Park visitors.
Above: 2 GIANT new rear doors for the Edsel Ford Barn
Progress continues on the restoration of this beloved and historic structure. The installation of new doors is targeted to occur prior to the July 27 Haven Hill Festival.
Browse the FOHRA website and Facebook entries, make donations, and come to the Park and volunteer. Look for a list of upcoming events at Highland State Recreation Area at www.fohravolunteers.org.
Headquartered in Highland Township, Michigan, the Friends of Highland Recreation Area is a nonprofit 501c3 organization comprised of Michigan residents, private businesses, local user groups, and various resource organizations, working to combine the existing activities and amenities of Highland State Recreation Area, with the unique historical and cultural background of Edsel and Eleanor Ford's former Haven Hill estate.
Despite the lack of snow, the Snakes will still slither at the Edsel Ford Barn on Sunday...
The Boy Scouts of America Chief Pontiac Trail Committee Snow Snake races will be held at the Edsel Ford Barn. Race Day is Sunday, January 29, 2017 from 1 PM to 4 pm at the Edsel Ford Sheep Barn, near the Organizational Camping Area. $3 per competitor; pay at the event. Includes one CPPC Lil’ Brave Segment patch. Extras Snow Snakes on hand to use and to purchase.
Recreational Passport (RP) required. Buy your Rec Passport for 2017 if needed ($11.00).
For more details click the link below...
http://www.chiefpontiacprograms.org/SnowSnake.html
The Friends of Highland Recreation Area are proud supporters of the Boy Scouts and the Chief Pontiac Trail Committee.
ABOVE: The Edsel Ford Barn in Highland State Recreation Area is having the old paint removed and new paint applied this summer of 2016.
For the first time in many years (unknown) the Edsel Ford Barn is going to get a newly painted exterior! The Friends of Highland Recreation Area have worked with the MDNR, Oakland County historic structure color experts, and old photographs to finalize choices of a light exterior with dark trim. See historic photo below.
ABOVE: Old photo of Edsel Ford barn showing light exterior and dark trim.
A local area professional painter has been recruited by the volunteers to perform the job. The Friends group and its' supporters have prepared the building since the 2008 collapse with walls, beams, rafters, shingle and siding replacement, corner trim, and new windows.
ABOVE: Strong but "gentle" pressurized washing techniques are being used to remove the layers of old paint and mildew.
Come see the Barn's new paint job underway at the Haven Hill Festival on August 27th between 10:00 am and 3:00 pm. There will be an Antiques and Collectibles Sale at the Barn during the Festival. All proceeds go to FOHRA as a fund raiser. Come out and see the inside of the Edsel Ford barn on this special day open to the public!
Items from your home that you are no longer using might be of great help fundraising for Haven Hill and the efforts to refurbish the historic Barn and the other buildings. Do you have any items from your yard, home interior furnishings, trinkets, children's toys, or maybe even garage items that you would like to donate?
The Friends of Highland Recreation Area are having an Antiques and Collectibles Sale at the Edsel Ford Barn in Highland State Recreation Area. The Sale will be held during the Redbud Reveal event on Saturday, May 14 between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm.
Our volunteers would like to begin organizing and pricing items at least a week before the event. Please contact Dick Russell at 248-563-7428 with questions, or to make plans to drop off your donated items at the Park.
All proceeds from the sale of donated items will benefit the Friends of Highland Recreation Area and their restoration efforts at the former Haven Hill Estate. We can provide you with a receipt for your donated items for your taxes upon request. FOHRA is a 501c3 nonprofit organization dedicated to restoring the structures and spirit of the historic Haven Hill.
Enter the Recreation Area at 5200 Highland Road (M-59), White Lake, Michigan. The entrance to the park is on the south side of the highway. The Michigan DNR requires the Recreation Passport on your license plate for state park entry. It is a great value and will give you and your family access to all of Michigan's State parks and waterways. A Passport may be purchased at the park on the day of the event.
Go to http://www.fohravolunteers.org/sale/ for more info.
Thank You,
FOHRA
The Friends of Highland Recreation Area are once again proud to announce the “Redbud Reveal”, a season-opening event at Highland State Recreation Area in Highland/White Lake, Michigan.
To celebrate the arrival of the 2016 spring and summer season, the Reveal will be held from 10:00 am until 4:00 pm on Saturday, May 14 (rain date Sunday, May 15). Visitors are encouraged to come and see the beautiful and historic Haven Hill section of the Highland State Recreation Area which includes the Haven Hill Gate House, the Edsel Ford Barn, the picturesque Carriage House and the Haven Hill Lodge footprint high upon Haven Hill. Light refreshments will be served on the lawn around Edsel and Eleanor Fords’ wonderful former estate entrance. Come on out and join area residents to see if the redbuds are in bloom at Haven Hill!
The Friends of Highland Recreation Area are once again proud to announce the “Redbud Reveal”, a season-opening event at Highland State Recreation Area in Highland/White Lake, Michigan.
To celebrate the arrival of the 2016 spring and summer season, the Reveal will be held from 10:00 am until 4:00 pm on Saturday, May 14, (rain date Sunday, May 15). Visitors are encouraged to come and see the beautiful and historic Haven Hill section of the Highland State Recreation Area which includes the new Cedar Creek Trail, Haven Hill Gate House, the Edsel Ford Barn, the picturesque Carriage House and the Haven Hill Lodge footprint high upon Haven Hill. Light refreshments will be served on the lawn around Edsel and Eleanor Fords’ wonderful former estate entrance. Come on out and join area residents to see if the redbuds are in bloom at Haven Hill!
2016 Antiques and Collectibles Sale
A selection of collectible items for you and your home will be presented at the Edsel Ford Barn within Edsel and Eleanor Ford’s former Haven Hill Estate at Highland State Recreation Area. The historic barn is undergoing renovation by the park’s Friends Group, and is located in the Recreation Area between Duck Lake and Bogie Lake Roads on the south side of the highway at 5200 Highland Road (M-59), White Lake. The Sale event will be held during the “Redbud Reveal” spring season-opening event on Saturday, May 14, 2016 from 10 am until 4:00 pm. Once inside the park please follow the signs to the event sites and the Sale at the Barn. All proceeds from the sale of donated items benefit the Friends of Highland Recreation Area and their restoration efforts at the former Haven Hill Estate. Michigan DNR requires a Recreation Passport for state park entry. Visit www.fohravolunteers.org/sale for more information.
Another great snow snake race has taken place this last Sunday, February 8, at the Edsel Ford Barn in Highland State Recreation Area! A great time was had by all in attendance.
Friends of Highland Recreation Area
PO Box 800, Highland, Michigan, 48357
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Within one of the most picturesque, fascinating, and historically significant state parks in southeast lower Michigan, our goal is to combine the former Haven Hill estate history with Highland Recreation Area’s existing amenities, wilderness, and recreation.
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