What is Preservation Bloomfield anyway?
What is Preservation Bloomfield, anyway?
It’s an unprecedented coming together of leaders of the Charter Township of Bloomfield, the City of Bloomfield Hills, the Bloomfield Hills School District and the Bloomfield Historical Society to form a Michigan non-profit corporation.
The Mission of Preservation Bloomfield is, quite simply, to preserve our heritage and build community.
We have a rich heritage in Bloomfield.
• We were one of only two townships in all of Oakland County when it was formed.
• Early exploration of Bloomfield was undertaken by a party of distinguished Michiganders that included: Territorial Governor Lewis Cass; our Representative to the still-young U.S. Congress Austin Eli Wing; The Reverend Mr. John Monteith, founder of the University of Michigan.
• Our first Post Office was in the home of Dr. Ezra Parke and was probably visited by young Alexis de Tocqueville. Dr. Parke’s grandson went on to found Parke Davis.
• We were a highly successful agricultural community and often exported foodstuffs to markets in the East and Chicago, even internationally.
• In the early 20th Century we began the transition from agriculture to the stately manor homes of wealthy residents of Detroit and Grosse Pointe. One of these further developed into the Cranbrook Educational Community.
• We’ve been home to Presidential candidates (the Romneys – father and son), comedians (Robin Williams), the Queen of Soul and Isaiah Thomas – among many other notables.
Preservation Bloomfield is currently involved in preserving and restoring
• the historic 1859 Stone Schoolhouse at Wing Lake,
• the 1830’s Craig Log Cabin
• the 1830’s Benjamin-Barton House
… each of which will contribute to the education of elementary students and others throughout the community as well as serve as community resources for small groups.
Please let us know if you have any questions about Bloomfield’s history or if you’d care to contribute to it by sending us e-mail at:
info@preservationbloomfield.org
Thank you.
Why Preserve the Barton House?
One of the two leading Preservation Architects in the State, Ron Campbell AIA, tells why saving the Benjamin-Barton House is important to us all.
The other leading Preservation Architect in the State, Gene Hopkins FAIA, is working hard with Preservation Bloomfield to save and restore it for the community.
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