Ford House takes control of Ford Estate

The future of the Henry Ford Estate in Dearborn is secured now that the University of Michigan-Dearborn has worked out an agreement to transfer control of the historic structure in Dearborn to the Edsel and Eleanor Ford House.

Ownership will transfer over the next 15 months, until July of next year. In the meantime a group of advisors, including historic restoration architectural firm Chambers, Murphy, Burge, will confer on the best strategy for preserving the historic site.

"All of the plans will be coming together over the next year, including the plans for the capital campaign to pay for it," says Ann Fitzpatrick, vice president of communications for the Edsel and Eleanor Ford House.

The estate will close in July of 2011 to allow for restoration work on its buildings and grounds to begin. It will reopen in phases to celebrate milestones in Ford Family history: Henry Ford's 150th birthday in 2013, the Ford Estate's 100th anniversary in 2015, and Clara Ford's 150th birthday in 2017.

"It's a great resource now," says Ken Kettenbeil, director of communications for the University of Michigan-Dearborn. "It will be an even better resource when it reopens in 2013."

Source: Ann Fitzpatrick, vice president of communications for the Edsel and Eleanor Ford House, and Ken Kettenbeil, director of communications for the University of Michigan-Dearborn
Writer: Jon Zemke

Ford House takes control of Ford Estate

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