Come learn about the ecological and historical gem in our own back yards, Highland State Recreation Area! Larry and Jay will focus on Haven Hill’s unique natural and cultural history and present day efforts by The Friends of Highland Recreation Area to steward the historic Edsel and Eleanor Ford Family Estate into the future.
Read MoreFriends of Highland Recreation Area
2015 Annual Meeting
Wednesday, November 4, 2015
White Lake Township Community Hall, 7500 Highland Road (M-59), White Lake, MI 48383
The Board of Directors of the Friends of Highland Recreation Area (FOHRA) would like to welcome its Members and the Public to the 2015 FOHRA Annual Meeting and Social. Our yearly event showcases FOHRA’s volunteer activity at Edsel and Eleanor Ford’s former Haven Hill estate within the Highland State Recreation Area.
The 1st ever classic young person’s road trip? 100 years ago, in 1915, then 21 year old Edsel Ford and several of his young friends made a little-known drive from Detroit to the World’s Fair in San Francisco. A special program of Autoline Detroit “The Last Drive” will be shown that tells portions of this great Edsel Ford story. Some highlights of FOHRA’s 2015 volunteer year at Haven Hill will also be shown. Other informative and enjoyable Haven Hill displays will be presented during the evening.
Agenda
The Haven Hill Barn Stormers scored 1 ace and the Gate House Family Nine earned 7 as the 2015 vintage base ball match came to a rainy end in the 9th inning at Goose Meadow at the Highland State Recreation Area Haven Hill Festival last weekend. Saturday, August 29's base ball game was enjoyed by all the cranks as players showed skill on both clubs as they paid tribute to the early games of base ball.
2015 Haven Hill Barn Stormers Base Ball Club
2015 Gate House Family Nine Base Ball Club
Ballists on both teams showed great sportsmanship and prowess as the struck the pill around the field. Next year's Haven Hill Festival game is already anticipated by all the players.
The sights and sounds of base ball played the way it was during the days of its early origins in the 1860’s will ring throughout the Goose Meadow Ball field at Highland State Recreation Area on Saturday, August 29 during the annual Haven Hill Festival. Players dressed in uniforms of the era will participate in a match starting at 10:00 am.
Adults and children will enjoy seeing the game played as it was a long time ago. “Base ball” (two words) as it was referred in the day, was played with a focus on good sportsmanship, fresh outdoor air, exercise, and skill. Base ball lingo in the day was also different than it is now. The “hurler” would throw an underhand pitch to a “striker” who would attempt to put the “pill” in play and sprint to the “1st sack” possibly resulting in an “ace” for his teammate “legging it” to home plate. Bare-handed fielders would scoop up the ball and attempt to “make dead” the runner all the while the “cranks” yelling “huzzah”!
The game activities start at 10:00 am as the Livingston A's Model A Ford cars arrive. The Haven Hill Barn Stormers and the Gate House Family Nine ball clubs will be on the field to start the game soon after the National Anthem. Come out and enjoy the game with your family. Bring summer amenities for summer weather. Food and beverages will be available.
The Haven Hill Festival is an alcohol-free, family-oriented event in its' 7th year at Highland State Recreation Area organized by the volunteer group “Friends of Highland Recreation Area”. The celebration has grown yearly, and will continue to be enjoyed by local residents as well as the surrounding communities, now and into the future.
The Haven Hill section of Highland State Recreation Area is located in Highland/White Lake, Michigan, and entered via the main gate at 5200 Highland Road (M-59) between Duck Lake and Bogie Lake roads. The Festival is provided to the public at no charge, and entry into the state park is now via the Recreation Passport on your license plate.
More Info? Visit www.havenhillfestival.org
The Friends of Highland Recreation Area are a 501(c)3 charitable organization. Visit www.fohravolunteers.org for even more information.
The beautiful Cedar Creek hiking, biking, and equestrian trail is a wonderful addition to the Haven Hill section of Highland State Recreation Area in White Lake, Michigan.
Read More
The 2015 Haven Hill Festival will be coming to Goose Meadow on Saturday, August 29, 2015. Be on the lookout for more and more info about this great event at Highland State Recreation Area! Click on the logo for more information.
What a great day of fundraising it was! Thanks to everyone who came by and participated and purchased items at our first ever "Antiques and Collectibles Sale" at the Edsel Ford Barn. The Sale was held last Saturday, May 9 and was a great success.
The Edsel Ford Barn yard will be the site of the 2015 Antiques and Collectibles Sale this coming Saturday, May 9. Check out this article in the Oakland Press: HERE
Members of the Friends of Highland Recreation Area (FOHRA), a volunteer organization working towards the rejuvenation of the land and structures at the former Haven Hill Estate, continue to make progress in their efforts to revitalize the historic estate in Highland Township.
Read MoreDate: April 29, 2015
Location: Howell Opera House 123 W. Grand River, Howell MI
Time: Doors open at 7:00 PM Program Starts 7:30 PM
Admission is Free - Public Welcome
In the 1920’s Henry Ford visited and spoke at the Howell Opera House. Related and
virtually unknown is the fascinating story of his only son Edsel and his wife Eleanor who,
in 1923, embarked on the creation of a 2,300 acre working farm state on present day
M-59 just east of Livingston County. They named their farm estate Haven Hill. For some
20-23 years Edsel, Eleanor, and their four children - Henry II, Benson, Josephine, &
William Clay (past owner of Detroit Lions), enjoyed Haven Hill as a refuge and retreat.
Edsel tragically died in 1943 at the young age of 49 years and the estate was passed
on, by his wife Eleanor, to the Michigan Department of Conservation (today Mich. Dept.
of Natural Resources).
On Wednesday April 29, at 7 pm, the Haven Hill story will fittingly be told at the Howell
Opera House with a presentation by the Friends of Highland Recreation Area (FOHRA).
Come learn of the estate architecture and unique landscape setting plus hear of the
estates many world famous guests and visitors such as Charles and Anne Morrow
Lindbergh, Thomas Edison, Admiral Byrd who first flew over the North and South Poles,
and the Duke of Windsor from England's Royal Family just to name a few.
The evening will include a very entertaining video presentation of the history of Haven
Hill and an update on accomplishments to date and future plans. Also on display, for
one night only, will be select nature photographs of the area plus a fine art portrait
series paying tribute to the people of Haven Hill.
Date: April 29, 2015
Location: Howell Opera House 123 W. Grand River, Howell MI
Time: Doors open at 7:00 PM Program Starts 7:30 PM
Admission is Free - Public Welcome
For more information & contacts:
Dick Russell - Friends of Highland Recreation Area
Phone: Cell: 248-563-7428 Email: FireExplr2@aol.com
Sharon Fisher - Howell Opera House
Phone: 517-294-7562 Email: sharon@howelloperahouse.com
For more information please see attached flyer and visit:
http://fohravolunteers.org
http://friendsofhighlandrec.wordpress.com
http://thepeopleofhavenhill.com
Friends of Highland Recreation Area
PO Box 800, Highland, Michigan, 48357
fohravolunteer@gmail.com | Map and Directions | Privacy Policy
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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