The combined efforts of the Friends of Highland Recreation Area volunteers and the DNR resulted in removal of a giant fallen tree off of the back fence yesterday. Great job everyone!
Above: Tree and Fence Before
Above: After!
Above: FOHRA volunteers working together with the DNR to complete the job.
I've never considered myself a "tree hugger"... just a nature lover, an outdoors person, someone who appreciates the wilder areas that are left on our planet. And ya know what makes me mad? It makes me angry when I find trash strewn along a lakeshore that was obviously deliberately left by someone, maybe even a family, after they enjoyed the same thing that I do.
Fishing bait plastic tubs, beer can, misc. - all could have been easily taken home by the users, or at least put in the trash cans near the meadow.
As members of the FOHRA let's remember to take along a trash bag when we hike, and pick up what we can. I suppose we have chosen to accept an obligation to make up for the members of the human race that can't think to do it themselves. That makes me feel better!
Take a walk in the park - spring is in full gear!
A gang of FOHR members started some exterior debris pick-up around the barn on Sunday April 27th. Some interior work was continued also.
This weekends' activities felt like the first gathering of the Spring/Summer as the weather and temperatures were nice for working outside.
We used the "treasure" display to create an info. table for passers-by. The HUGE dumpster is getting filled (again) from all of the clean-up efforts!
In the spirit of Earth Day and with our continued need to "get the word out" about the Friends of Highland Recreation, we attended the 2008 Earth Day festival in the park in Milford, Michigan on April 20th.
Mother Nature handed out free white pine sapplings, and gave everyone a fairly nice day for an outdoor celebration of spring. The FOHR display attracted a lot of visitors, and a lot of e-mail addresses to be added to our distribution list.
A photo collection and the "Treasure" display was set up for guests to see. Brochures and info. were handed out to inform others of the Groups' activities.
What could be more Earth friendly than recycling an entire group of historic structures? Go FOHR!
Head on over to the Rec. area today for a regular work party. Demo and refuse disposal will be on the agenda.
We had a great experience at the annual MBPN conference at the Kellogg Center in Lansing this weekend. It was amazing how many people are unaware of our gem of a park and barn! Our display seemed to draw the most attention with folks stopping by to ask and learn about our project.
Pam, Ted, Jay, Steve, Tim, Dick, and Chris all met and greeted a lot of interested people. The event for us was very much a "get out the word" opportunity.
Our themed "Edsel Ford Lost Treasure!" display was great. I think visitors could really feel our passion and enthusiasm about the project. We had "Promos" on DVD playing in the center of the display also.
It was a real surprise to receive an unexpected "Certificate of Appreciation" for our efforts to preserve the barn... Dick Russel accepted the certificate for the Friends.
The large graphics in our display that were designed by Chris and printed by Larry were awesome to say the least!
Bring on the next opportunity! We're ready!
And the barn is covered in another white blanket of snow!
The DNR rangers were plowing this Saturday... check out these great shots of the plow and the truck roaring by!
Eva and I drive into the Highland Recreation Area fairly often because we live nearby and love the outdoors. March 1st several folks were getting outside to go skiing and hiking even at 8:30 in the morning. Interest and use of the area seems high/good to me.
The group tore down more second floor flooring above the north east room on Sunday the 24th of February. We also added more tarps to the lower east roof.
The 2nd floor boards are rotted most severely under each of the old skylights that have leaked in the roof overhead.
We worked to demo the old floor safely on scaffolding from below.
Above: What a view looking up through the 2nd floor supports!
The debris pile... we need another dumpster soon!
I had a new adventure the other day after the work day at the barn... I found and photographed the old Gatehouse to Haven Hill. It's located a hundred yards east of the Ranger Station. Click on the pics to see the larger version of each photograph.
What a neat old structure... rotting away unfortunately. I can just imagine guests to the area arriving here years and years ago, checking in with the attendants, and then shuttling off through the winding roads and hills towards the lodge!
I'll learn more of this structure from other members of the Friends Group I'm sure. I can't wait to ask more about it. Amazing.
Well I finally did it... I grabbed the dog and we headed over to the rec. area and hiked up to the ruins of the Edsel Ford Haven Hill lodge. Beautiful in winter, the ruins seemed kind of pristine covered by a blanket of snow. This was my 1st visit to the ruins - I had heard of the site that is inside of the Highland Recreation Area in Southeast Michigan several years ago. From the parking area the hike appears to be just at or under a mile (I'm guessing) until you come upon the "carriage house" or what appears to have been the "welcoming building" for guests.
This is an amazing little cabin - the only remaining structure from Edsel's day.
I am told that this carriage house is an excellent example how the lodge was constructed - solid stacked logs and a wonderful stone chimney.
From the backside it's obvious that vandals have broken into the old building - a gaping hole in a plywood board covering the window to a bathroom. Shame.
Here's a great photo (below) of the Haven Hill Carriage House - larger size. Click to view the full-size image.
As you look North and slightly west you then see what appears to be the remnants of an arched entranceway to what I assume was a walkway to the lodge's front door.
Then a large fireplace/chimney appears and you can begin to understand the actual size of the lodge by the ruins of the foundation. I wish I had seen the actual building before it was burned to the ground in 1997.
This day in mid February the snow was obscuring the ground all around and inside the foundation.
The building must have been truly amazing in it's hay day! And to think that the likes of Thomas Edison, Admiral Bird, and other famous figures have stood right there many years ago!
PRESERVATION: Sometimes I wonder if the information that I'm posting on this website might result in those with "ill-wills" damaging a historic site like this. I hope not. As a matter of fact, I believe that by sharing this information maybe attention can be drawn to this amazing location that might inspire caring persons to visit the area and be a part of its' preservation. Come and see and join the forces for good will!
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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