Giving

TLC

An alumna’s dedication to preserving history at Meadow Brook Hall

Knole Cottage on the grounds of the Meadow Brook Estate
Inside bathroom under renovation in Knole Cottage on the grounds of the Meadow Brook Estate
Inside a room under construction in Knole Cottage on the grounds of the Meadow Brook Estate
Inside the living room under construction in Knole Cottage on the grounds of the Meadow Brook Estate at Oakland University

Home Improvement

icon of a calendarNovember 15, 2017

icon of a pencilBy Robert Guttersohn

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Before Gretchen Adler, CAS ’76, became an Oakland University student, she fell in love with the University’s rich cultural history at Meadow Brook Hall.

“I think it’s important to know what came before us and how we lived,” says Adler, who was a volunteer at the Oakland County Pioneer and Historical Society when she returned to school for a degree in European history at OU.

This year, Adler and her husband Ed, longtime supporters of Meadow Brook, made a significant contribution toward the restoration of Knole Cottage, a three-quarter-sized playhouse that was built in 1926 for Matilda Dodge Wilson’s eldest daughter, Frances. The cottage is literally a small house, with a living and dining room, two bedrooms, kitchen and bath — all of which were fully functioning.

The gift will support much-needed preservation and restoration of the building, and conservation of collection items within, that will help Meadow Brook staff interpret the cottage for the public in a near-original state.

“The work, which should be completed in early 2018, touches everything from exterior timbers and wood trim to interior walls and flooring and even dozens of invaluable artifacts,” says Geoff Upward, executive director of the Meadow Brook Estate. “We could not be more grateful for the Adlers’ assistance.”

“We are pleased that this project will help tell our founding story,” Adler says, “and enhance learning experiences for students and visitor communities alike.”

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