Hundreds of employees worked on the estate during the family’s residency, from when the Fords moved into the home in 1928 until Eleanor’s passing in 1976.

Now the lives and labors of that staff are being explored in a new exhibition, “Making It Work,” opening on June 1, 2023, in the Gaukler Pointe Gallery inside the Visitor Center at Ford House. The previous exhibition, “Driven by Design,” has been reinstalled in the now-open historic Garage at the Gate Lodge and includes two additional vehicles: a 1934 Brewster Town Car and a 1952 Lincoln Town Car Limousine, which was custom engineered to allow Eleanor to enter without stooping.

“Making It Work” invites visitors to meet and learn about several historic staff who had a significant impact on the family and the estate. “Some worked here for decades and lived on the estate,” says Ford House Director of Communications & Engagement Tommy Karr. “The head of security was here until the 1970s, with more than 50 years of service,” says Ford House Director of Material Culture Lisa E. Worley.

Interviews with staff members were recorded in years past, and those, combined with artifacts, news clippings, photos, and more, were carefully curated to present a unified story of the staff experience. Seven former employees, including a butler, chauffeur, and housekeeper, will have their stories shared through oral histories in the exhibit’s video presentation.

“This is the rare chance to look behind the family, to see and understand the efforts that went into supporting a huge country house estate like this,” says Karr.

“Making It Work” will be on exhibit for two years and is free to all guests. Visitors can go more in-depth with the staff by taking the 55-minute “Making It Work” tour, in which guests will travel to the Main Residence to explore the dedicated staff spaces of the home. And the Director of Material Culture, Lisa E. Worley, will give a talk on June 8, discussing the staff and what it took to run the estate and support the Ford family.

Tickets to the “Making It Work” tour and/or the “Making It Work” lecture talk can be purchased online at fordhouse.org/events or by calling 313-884-4222.

Images

For the high-resolution concept designs of the “Making It Work” exhibition, visit https://www.fordhouse.org/makingitworkmedia/

About Ford House

Edsel & Eleanor Ford House is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization and National Historic Landmark dedicated to preserving and sharing the legacy of the Ford Family. Ford House is located at 1100 Lake Shore Rd. in Grosse Pointe Shores. The historic lakeside estate was the family home of Edsel Ford – Henry and Clara Ford’s only son – where he lived with his wife Eleanor and their children beginning in 1928. Since 1978, Ford House has welcomed hundreds of thousands of visitors to share Eleanor Ford’s vision of preserving the estate for future generations through interpretive tours, family activities, lectures, exhibits, gardens, and grounds events. It inspires, educates, and engages visitors through the exploration of its unique connections to art, design, history, and the environment while celebrating family traditions and community relationships. For more information, visit www.fordhouse.org or call (313) 884- 4222, and connect with Ford House on Facebook and Instagram.

In May, visitors are welcome to participate in Bird Walks, May 2 through 7, while children can engage in the outdoor Explorers program, May 13, learning about the birds that make Ford House home.

In celebration of Mother’s Day, The Continental at Ford House is hosting a Mother’s Day Brunch on May 14, with seatings at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. This special brunch is in the Lake Shore Room, with breathtaking views of Ford Cove and Lake St. Clair. The Mother’s Day Brunch features a Bubble Bar, Chef-made omelets, pancakes, and much more. Each mother will be gifted a lovely spring bloom keepsake.

With May being National Preservation Month, Ford House offers several lectures, tours, and workshops that celebrate the incredibly detailed work done by preservationists. On May 6, guests can take The Basics of Ornamental Plasterwork Workshop, learning how our master craftspeople restore ornamental plaster. Guests may also enjoy History and Preservation: Wood Flooring in Historic Buildings on May 11, Historic Wood Window Restoration for Homeowners Workshop on May 13, and An Introduction to Historic Masonry on May 18. Ford House members can enjoy an exclusive behind-the-scenes look into the preservation of Ford House on May 22 with a first-hand, guided tour by Director of Preservation Rebecca Torsell.

Paint Out takes place on Saturday, May 20, and painters, regardless of experience, are invited to create art from 8 a.m. through 3 p.m. on the Ford House grounds. The day will conclude with the Fresh Paint Party, a reception where visitors can meet the local artists, see the juror’s awards, and enjoy complimentary hors d’oeuvres and a drink.

On June 1, Ford House opens its newest exhibition, Making It Work, chronicling the lives and labors of the staff that made Ford House a home. Guests will learn about the various staff, their families, and how their work on the estate impacted their lives. This exhibition is located in the Gaukler Gallery inside the Visitor Center and is open to the public without admission. In support of the new exhibition, Director of Material Culture Lisa E. Worley will give a talk on June 8 about the staff and explore what it took for a large staff to run the estate and support the Ford family. Throughout June, guests can take the Making It Work tour, exploring the home’s dedicated staff spaces that were previously unavailable to the public.

To celebrate Eleanor Ford’s birthday, Ford House invites guests to Eleanor’s Birthday Tea and Tour on June 4, with service at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. At each tea service, the Peacock Room, one of Detroit’s most popular women’s apparel and accessories stores, will host a pop-up shop in The Cove, outside of the Lake Shore Room in the Visitor Center.

On Father’s Day, June 18, hundreds of car enthusiasts will flock to the Ford House grounds for EyesOn Design at Ford House. Unlike other car shows, judging is predominately conducted by automotive designers using professional design criteria, not based on restoration or authenticity. The event attracts some of the world’s leading designers, collectors, and fans for an unpretentious and unmatched day. EyesOn Design at Ford House has raised millions to support the Detroit Institute of Ophthalmology (DIO). The DIO, a Henry Ford Health Department of Ophthalmology division, support the visually impaired and organizes groundbreaking eye research conferences.

Ford House rounds out its June with the first of its Concerts on the Lake on June 30 with The Docksiders. Fresh from their Las Vegas residency, The Docksiders are composed of music industry veterans – led by 3-time Grammy nominee Kevin Sucher. Their unique tribute act of your favorite “soft rock” songs of the 70s and 80s – now defined as Yacht Rock – has entertained thousands of people for years, and the revival of this genre and audiences are only getting bigger. Show-stopping hit song after hit song, costume changes, and production are only topped by their world-class performance.

For a complete list of events and experiences, including more classes, dining, tours, and shopping, visit www.fordhouse.org or call 313-884-4222. Ticket prices vary by event and sell out quickly. Members get pre-sale access to most events and programs. Becoming a Ford House member is quick and easy and can be done on the organization’s website.

About Ford House

Edsel & Eleanor Ford House is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization and National Historic Landmark dedicated to preserving and sharing the legacy of the Ford Family. Ford House is located at 1100 Lake Shore Rd. in Grosse Pointe Shores. The historic lakeside estate was the family home of Edsel Ford – Henry and Clara Ford’s only son – where he lived with his wife Eleanor and their children beginning in 1928. Since 1978, Ford House has welcomed hundreds of thousands of visitors to share in Eleanor Ford’s vision of preserving the estate for future generations to enjoy through interpretive tours, family activities, lectures, exhibits, gardens, and grounds events. It inspires, educates, and engages visitors by exploring its unique connections to art, design, history, and the environment while celebrating family traditions and community relationships. For more information, visit www.fordhouse.org or call (313) 884- 4222, and connect with the Ford House on Facebook and Instagram.

Last fall, kindergarten teacher Nicole Beaudry noticed that some of her students were extremely interested in Matchbox cars.

“They were really into the colors and styles of the cars and were comparing the designs to find the ‘coolest’ one,” Beaudry explained. “They also began propelling them off the furniture to see how they moved, so there was an interest in aerodynamics as well.”

Guided by the passion and inquisitiveness of her students, Beaudry created the car design project. She worked with University Liggett School Trustee and parent Jody Ingle as she planned the project, and Ingle’s background in industrial design was extremely helpful in ensuring the project connected the students to real world experiences.

Over the course of two-and-a-half-months, students conceptualized, drew and designed their own car. The project was constantly evolving as Beaudry gauged the students’ interest and their abilities to be successful with the activities.

“I make sure that projects contain avenues for all children and all learners and include as many hands-on activities as possible. I also work to bring art and science experiments into every project, including this one,” she said.

Work on the car design project began with a discussion of shapes, symmetry and proportions, and students examined real-world vehicles that were inspired by nature. They selected an animal or natural environment that would serve as the inspiration for their own vehicle design.

Beaudry built on the inquisitiveness of her students and provided scaffolding throughout the project, incorporating surveys and discussions about end users during the design phase.

Students were able to see many real-world examples of the design process through trips to the Ford S Studio and the Ford Piquette Plant, and Beaudry brought in experts to help students finalize their vehicles.  Bringing experts into the classroom is a key component of project work; it exposes children to people with real world experience and helps make the project more concrete and relevant.

As the students advanced through the design process, an instructor from College for Creative Studies came to the classroom, sitting with each student to discuss their vision. He drew realistic renderings of the students’ vehicles, and the students were able to draw in some of their own lines.

The final step was turning their renderings into clay models. Sculptors from Ford came to the class to show the students how to add and subtract clay to arrive at the shape they wanted, and how smoothing and creating lines would reflect the vehicle’s features.

Throughout the project, Beaudry documented the process so that students could see their progress and refer to the work they’ve done. By the end of the project, the kindergarten classroom was filled with examples of the students’ creativity and innovation.

As a rule, it was important to Beaudry that the students’ age did not limit what they were able to try.

“Children are capable of learning so much and doing so much more than some people tend to give them credit for,” she said. “The glow forge and 3-D printer were both key parts of this project and no one said ‘kindergarteners are too young.’ The support and belief that ULS teachers know their learners is tremendous and something I really value from our administration.”