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 n
tribute to his friend and camping
companion, John Burroughs, Henry Ford built
this Jensen designed wildlife grotto,
using stones from the famous naturalist's
upstate New York birthplace. Ford and
Burroughs laid the capstone here on June
8, 1916.
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"The Summit of the
Years",
by C. S. Pietro |
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A statue of Burroughs entitled "The Summit of the Years," by C. S. Pietro, was positioned in the niche of the grotto. Today, in the Powerhouse Garage, a reproduction of this statue can be found, the original being in the collections of the Henry Ford.
Thomas A. Edison,
wrote the following at the completion of the Burroughs Grotto:
"Mr. Ford has asked me to write something to be placed in the cornerstone of his new bird fountain, which cornerstone is to be
laid by that lover of nature, John Burroughs.
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I am greatly pleased to do so, because, while mankind appears to have been gradually drifting into an artificial life of merciless commercialism there are still a few who have not been caught in the meshes of this frenzy and who are still human; and enjoy the wonderful panorama of the mountain, the valley, and the plain with their wonderful content of the living things and among these versions I am proud to know my two friends, John Burroughs and Henry Ford."
Thomas
A. Edison - June 6, 1916 |
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When
John Burroughs died in 1921, Mr. Ford kept
a vigil lantern lit for ten years here.
One
unique feature of the Burroughs Grotto was
the steam-heated birdbath Henry Ford
installed for the wild birds on the
estate. The Fords planned much of Fair
Lane as a bird sanctuary even before the
residence was built. Hundreds of
birdhouses and feeding stations were
installed on the grounds. In 1913, six
hundred songbirds were brought from
England and released. Unfortunately, few
were ever seen again.
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As Mr. Ford once wrote, "Birds do not
vote," and he directed his human energy, and those of his many dealers toward their protection. As a board member of the Michigan Audubon Society, Mr.
Ford pushed for approval of the Weeks-McLean Act, a Federal bird conservation measure. In 1918, he channeled the persuasive powers of Canadian and American friends towards the passage of the 1918 Migratory Bird Treaty with Canada.
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Clara and Henry Ford,
Clara Barrus, and John Burroughs
lay the corner stone of the Burroughs Grotto - Fair Lane, June
16, 1916. |
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Site Map Click Here
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