Many repairs were able to be made to the historic Scripps Mansion, on the campus of Guest House on Joslyn Road in Orion Township, thanks to last year’s Art, Autos & Architecture event.
Guest House President and CEO Daniel Kidd, along with Guest House Vice President of Development and Public Relations Patricia Zawadzki, are hoping this year’s event, scheduled for July 23-25, will be just as highly attended, and help yield even more positive results.
‘Thanks to the money raised by last year’s event, we were able to uncover the grotto area in front of the mansion, and we hope to have funds from this year to restore the waterfall there,? said Kidd, adding that the waterfall was able to be seen from Scripps Road when it was operational.
‘We had students from Orion and Oxford who came in last year, and again this summer, to work to help restore some things (like the grotto),? he added.
The students also helped clear the path and gardens on the hill behind the mansion. This area will not be open to the public during this year’s event, but Kidd hopes it will be next year.
Money from last year’s Arts, Autos & Architecture did help complete $40,000 in preliminary repairs on a $500,000 Aeolin organ, which will be played by John Lauter at the pre-event on July 23rd. Lauter is the organist for the Fox Theatre and Redford Theatre.
There will also be a champagne reception and ‘Gatsby? style dinner party for the subscription pre-event, beginning at 6 p.m.
‘The organ is the original from the old Scripps House in Detroit,? said Kidd. ‘A special room was built around it in the house.?
‘A lot of this is just about restoring the property to what it used to be,? said Zawadzki. ‘Getting it back to its natural beauty.?
Kidd added that the waterfall hasn’t been seen by anyone in 35 years.
‘We’re also doing inside work, and we were able to replace the balusters behind the house,? he said. ‘It was done with the original stone from the same quarry used for the house.?
Another major repair that funds from the event last July made possible was the repair of stained glass windows in the dining room.
‘There are four of them in glass doors there,? Kidd said. ‘It was $21,000 to fix them…We’ve also been able to clear the driveway down to the other gate at Scripps Road.?
‘You can just imagine how the carriages came up that driveway to drop people off,? said Zawadzki.
Kidd said members of the Scripps family came to tour the home and were amazed at the progress.
‘I think they are happy to see it is being taken care of,? he said.
Zawadzki said area master gardeners have also been a tremendous asset for the restoration process.
‘We’ve had a lot of help from them in getting the gardens ready,? she said.
Money from the event last year has also allowed the floor in the dining room to be restored to its original wood.
‘We’re trying to be good stewards,? Zawadzki said.
?(Last year’s event) gave us a good jump start,? Kidd added. ‘We want people to see the progress.?
This year’s Arts, Autos and Architecture event will primarily take place just behind the mansion, as opposed to last year’s, which took place on rolling grounds in front of the house.
The Orion Historical Society will be on hand again to provide tours of the mansion. They have been responsible for helping to uncover most of the home’s history.
‘It’s over 30,000 square feet…the biggest house in Orion,? said Kidd. ‘If anyone wants to see that house, this is the time to do it.?
The home serves as a home for the nuns of Guest House, and is full right now with 16 residents. Tours of the home will differ from last year’s event, so people who went last year can see different things this year.
Besides classic autos on display, work of quality artisans up for sale, and food provided by Costco, this year’s Art, Autos & Architecture includes added entertainment.
Rhythmics Band (swing/big band) will perform July 23, as will Lauter from 8-8:30 p.m. July 24, Golden Griffons (folk/dulcimer group) peforms 11 a.m.-4 p.m., and the German Youth Band (winds) performs 1-2 p.m.
WesWorld Promotions will have three groups rotating locations throughout the day on Saturday. On July 25, Brazil & Beyond (contemporary/no vocals) will perform 1-4 p.m.
The Scripps Mansion is located on Joslyn Road at the corner of Scripps Road on 102 acres of property belonging to Guest House. The mansion was designated in 2003 as ‘the second most significant country house built in the first quarter of the 20th century in Michigan,? according to James W. Tottis, Curator of American Art for the Detroit Institute of Arts.
Arts, Autos & Architecture at the Scripps Mansion is 10 a.m.-6 p.m., July 24; and 10 a.m.-4 p.m., July 25. The cost is $5 per person or $10 per family of four. Tours of the mansion are $10, and parking is free.
This year the event is partnering with Canterbury Village, and a shuttle will take people to the event at Scripps and to Canterbury Village, further down Joslyn Road, during the event weekend.
Canterbury Village will donate 10 percent of the proceeds from sales at Always Christmas that weekend to help restore the Scripps Mansion.
For more information on the event, call 391-4445.