A Historic Milestone

In 2021, we celebrated the remarkable history of Meadow Brook Hall as a museum and cultural institution, which it became in 1971, as well as fifty years of volunteers at this National Historic Landmark. In 2022, we celebrate another historic milestone: 50 years of volunteering by Gwen Kirby at the Hall.

At our Summer Volunteer Appreciation event last year, in addition to celebrating with fellowship, music, and fanfare, we acknowledged Gwen’s years of service. The plaque, which will feature the name of those who’ve given 45 years of service or more to the Hall, is located in the Friendship Garden west of the Rock Garden. I drove Gwen there last fall to show her the plaque’s place by a lovely Maple tree, near Matilda’s beloved 100 seedlings on Evergreen Hill planted in 1930, two years after Gwen’s birth. I am excited to see this tree grow along with Meadow Brook in the coming days.

Although she can’t quite remember how she first got involved all those years ago, she told me, “When I started volunteering out there… I heard about an old house, and thought that I would like that. I got started thinking that maybe I could make that old structure a part of my life.”

Thank you, Gwen for 50 years of service to Meadow Brook Hall!