Haven Hill History Hike - Enjoy the Fall Colors and Area History

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Fall is a great time of year to get outside in Michigan to enjoy the beautiful autumn colors, and if you visit Highland State Recreation Area between October 10th and 18th, you can combine the beautiful trails of SE Michigan's only Natural National Landmark with a self-guided historical tour of Edsel and Eleanor's Haven Hill Estate. With four different, well-marked trails, you can enjoy walking through nature, visiting historical Ford estate features located throughout the park. The trails are open during park hours and is free with a Michigan Recreation Passport.

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/ Highland State Recreation Area/ /
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John Fitzgerald

The Friends of Highland Recreation Area (FOHRA) volunteer organization was established in 2007, and is a 501 (c) (3) tax exempt non-profit organization operating under lease agreement with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. 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.

FOHRA Parades!

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This year’s Haven Hill Festival will include, for the second year, the Novi Brass Band accompanying the 1860’s Base Ball Game on the Goose Meadow ball field.

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FOHRA Hosts Speaker Mr. Steve Stanford at Goose Meadow

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The event was one of many to be held in 2013 around the Detroit area in celebration of the Henry Ford’s 150th birthday and coordinated by the MotorCities organization.

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HRA History: Pontiac Press Lodge Photo

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Digitizing of some fantastic photos and newspaper articles that were collected by Marge Sawruk of the Friends of Highland Recreation is underway. This wonderful old photo of the lodge (below) from the October 31, 1962 edition of the Pontiac Press shows its magnificent sloping roofs and two of the six giant chimneys. For those of you who didn't know, the Pontiac Press became the Oakland Press in 1972.

Click on the photo to see and read the text. Use your "back button" to return to this page.

Marge Sawruk is the Secretary of the White Lake Historical Society and a long-standing member of the Friends of Highland Recreation Area. Our sincere appreciation goes out to Marge for saving and collecting  such wonderful historical records.

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REQUEST for OLD PHOTOS and DOCUMENTS:

The FOHRA would like to extend a formal request for any and all old photographs that reflect the natural and man-made hsitory of the Highland Recreation Area and Haven Hill. We'll carefully scan your pictures of the park and return them to you unaffected. In retun, the FOHRA will send along with a free computer disk containing all of the preserved images. Please contact Jay Fitzgerald (FOHRA group Secretary) at (248) 494-8919 or write a email to jayman@friendsofhighlandrec.org. Thanks ahead of time!