Eighty years ago, newspaper magnate William E. Scripps decided to build a bit of a ‘summer house? for himself and his family in Lake Orion.
The end result, a 67-room Norman style mansion, will join other important houses of its stature on the prestigious National Register of Historic Places this weekend.
The Scripps Mansion will be showcased during this year’s ‘Scripps Days: Art, Autos & Architecture? weekend, Sept. 21-23. The event marks only the fourth time in 80 years that the historic mansion will open for public tours.
‘We’re excited by the enthusiasm and support we continue to receive where we didn’t expect it,? Leslie Pielack said of the event sponsorships. ‘That is making this event bigger and better than any of the previous ones.?
‘Sunset at the Estate,? an exclusive Friday night event, kicks off the ‘Scripps Days? weekend.
Tickets are $100 per person, and will include valet parking, a strolling dinner prepared by Michigan chefs, live jazz by Tom Allport and an exclusive opportunity to roam the mansion and browse the featured art exhibits at length. For tickets, call (248)391-4445.
Weekend admission to the grounds is $5 per person (children free) and includes the demonstration art on the grounds, classic cars ‘by the decade? and live jazz by several artists, as well as a performance on the house’s Aeolian organ each night.
Self-guided garden tours are also part of general admission.
Guided tours of the house are an additional $15.00 per person (children under 12 free).
All proceeds of the weekend event will go to the Friends of the William E. Scripps Estate for the ongoing preservation and restoration of the mansion and gardens.
The newly formed organization was created to ‘accomplish the task of raising funds and preserving the heritage of this important site,? according to their mission statement.
The ‘Friends? group will work with both Guest House and the Orion Historical Society to achieve their goal and ‘restore this architectural and cultural gem.?
A Dedication Ceremony of the estate’s new historic status will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday and is open to all festival attendees.
Parking for the weekend event is at Canterbury Village on the west side of Joslyn and Scripps Roads, with shuttle service to the estate on the east side of Joslyn. Special transportation arrangements will be made for purchasers of fine art.
The Scripps Mansion ‘Arts, Autos and Architecture? has been a well-attended event since 2003.’Since that time, OHS has organized and conducted tours for over 5,000 visitors through the mansion.
After a major construction undertaking last year, when a new residential center was constructed to replace the treatment facilities at the mansion, the tours resume this year with the new name ‘Scripps Heritage Days.?
In its heyday, the William E. Scripps estate extended over 3,800 acres in Orion Township and was known all over the world. Today, a number of remnants of the original estate survive in other forms as part of the township’s rich heritage.
As heir to the Detroit News, Scripps founded Wildwood Farm in 1916. Many of the original farm buildings now make up Canterbury Village, and much of the farm’s land and lakes are now parks (such as Civic Center Park, Orion Oaks Park and part of the Bald Mountain State Recreation Area).
Ten years after establishing the farm, Scripps and his wife, Nina Downey Scripps, who lived in Detroit, began construction of a country retreat, with the help of Nina’s brother Clarence E. Day.
Guest House, Inc. became the owner of the house and about 100 acres of the grounds a few years after Scripps? death in 1952. The non-profit organization served as a treatment facility for priests with substance abuse issues (and does the same today for nuns).
With a modern treatment center opening on the grounds this year, the mansion and its historic gardens, designed by renowned American estate designer Bryant Fleming in 1928, will be more accessible to the public for programs and tours.
‘It’s a win-win situation,? Pielack noted. ‘At the times when Guest House is not using the facility, the public will have more opportunities to visit.?
In addition to the Scripps Days Planning Committee, Pielack gives special thanks to Larry Mullins of Environmental wood Solutions, Citizen’s Bank and Southfield architects Harley, Ellis, Devereaux, the current incarnation of Clarence Day’s firm.