On the morning of Saturday, May 16 at the William E. Scripps Estate, a historic marker, which commemorates the site’s listing on the National Register of Historical Places, was dedicated.
The William E. Scripps Estate is the first National Register listed site to receive a historical marker in Orion Township.
Lesile Pielack coordinates activities for the Friends of the William E. Scripps Estate and helps with the upkeep of the mansion. She is accredited for nominating the William E. Scripps Estate to be included in the National Register of Historical Places.
She said this process, which took two years, was ‘very arduous.? The site was finally included on the list in 2007.
It took until the winter of 2008 for the text of the historical marker to be approved by the state, and then to be made.
The marker is located by the west gate of the Scripps Estate on 1840 W. Scripps Road.
Orion Historical Society co-sponsored the event and helped fund the marker.
Andrea Ordakowski represented the Orion Historical Society and the Friends of the William E. Scripps Estate at the dedication on Saturday.
The marker was formally presented by Jack Dempsey of the Michigan Historical Commission. He was joined by Oakland County Commissioner Mike Gingell, Orion Township Supervisor Matt Gibb and Dennis King, President and CEO of Harley Ellis Devereaux Architects and Engineers.
Gibb said, ‘If only these walls could talk, how proud they’d be.? He said it’s important to teach children about Lake Orion’s history. He hopes more people recognize the importance of this historic building because the Scripps family is the reason we have an Orion.
Daniel Kidd, President and CEO of Guest House Inc., officially accepted and unveiled the marker at the dedication.
The Scripps Estate is owned by Guest House, a non-profit organization that operates as a residential treatment center for Catholic clergy suffering from addictions.
After the unveiling, guests were invited to attend a reception. They were also welcomed to take a tour of the beautiful Norman Revival mansion, which was designed by architect Clarence E. Day and completed in 1927.
The listing on the National Register is purely honorary and does not provide funding. The funding and upkeep of the mansion is purely volunteer.
The goal of the Friends of the William E. Scripps Estate is to fundraise to preserve this historically significant estate for the enjoyment of generations for years to come.
Pielack said that this dedication is a symbol of the importance of what William E. Scripps did for the people during the Depression.
She has talked to people who worked for Scripps at Wildwood Farms during the Depression. They had no idea there was a Depression because of the consistency of work Scripps provided for the employees on his farm.
‘People loved him. He was a social progressive,? Pielack said.
She said that the dedication also ‘commemorates the cultural heritage of the house? as well as ‘the very fine craftsmanship of the metals inside and outside of the house.?
Scripps was an aviator and founded WWJ, the first commercial radio station in the country. He was also heir to the Detroit News and was a patron of the arts.
There are a handful of beautiful works of art that Scripps had acquired in his lifetime still hanging on the walls of the mansion. But most of his paintings were donated to the Detroit Institute of Arts.
Private tours of the estate are available by appointment. Cost of a tour is $25 for adults and $15 for senior citizens and children ages 6-11.
Call 248-391-4445 to schedule a tour.