An unveiling of the Henry and Clara Ford bronze statues was held June 13.
By M.J. GALBRAITH
Metro mode Media
DEARBORN — For all the recent attention Ford Motor Co. has drawn toward itself in announcing its near-Herculean task of renovating the decades-long derelict Michigan Central Station in Detroit’s Corktown neighborhood, it might be easy to overlook the fact that progress continues to be made at Ford’s Wagner Place development in downtown west Dearborn.
And, according to officials, the redevelopment of its main Dearborn campus remains scheduled as planned.
Over at Fair Lane, the decades-long Dearborn home of Ford’s founding family, Henry and Clara Ford, a charming development has taken place. Henry and Clara’s great-granddaughter Lynn Ford Alandt and her husband, Paul, have gifted a life-size bronze statue of the famous couple to the estate.
“After sculptures of my grandparents, Edsel and Eleanor, were installed at their historic home, Paul and I knew that Fair Lane should have Clara and Henry represented in their gardens as well,” Ford Aland says. “It’s been incredible to see the reaction of visitors at Ford House, so we’re excited for people to enjoy the Fair Lane additions.”
The life-size statues of Henry and Clara Ford were installed in the Early Rose Garden, with Henry’s Power House behind them and Clara’s gardens to the front. An unveiling was held June 13.
StudioEIS of Brooklyn, N.Y., was hired to design and create the bronze statues, the same company responsible for the Edsel and Eleanor Ford statues installed at their historic home in Grosse Pointe Shores.
Visitors to the Fair Lane estate can view the statues during tours of the gardens and grounds, which is free and open to the public.
A mobile guide — via the Henry Ford Estate app — was recently released. It includes maps, self-guided walks, historical points of interest, and upcoming events.
Fair Lane is at 1 Fair Lane Drive.
(This story was reprinted from Metromode Media. It also is available at: www.secondwavemedia.com/metromode/devnews/FordStatues.aspx.)