Botsford Inn Restoration completed
I caught this the other day and swung in to take some pictures. This 19th Century Tavern has been nicely restored by Botsford Hospital. Gone is the ugly motel-like addition and a decade of abandonment. I have no idea what it is being used for, does anyone know?
Attachment 2924
Attachment 2925
Attachment 2926
Botsford inn -- Restored Exterior
The Inn’s exterior was restored as part of the Botsford Hospital Cancer Center project. Now on to raising money to restore the interior. Our goal is to return the Inn as closely as possible to its appearance in 1925 when Henry Ford restored it. When it’s completed, first floor areas will be used for cancer patient and family support and educational activities, and The Botsford Foundation will occupy the second story. We've built a commemorative brick plaza in front of the Inn. For information about the brick plaza or to share a story about your connection with the Botsford Inn, go to: http://www.botsford.org/foundation/Botsford_Inn.html. The walls around the healing garden next to the Botsford Inn are built of stones from Clara Ford's rose garden walls.
Demolition By Neglect thwarted
Since I lived nearby, I often walked around Botsford Inn after its closing. There did not appear to be any attempts for a few years to preserve or restore this part of history.
Family and friends worked there during the ownership of the Anhut family, then Creon's ownership, then again for Mr Anhut after foreclosure. It seemed as if there was still a great deal of antiques remaining after the closing.
Mr. Anhut was on the board of Botsford Hospital [[might still be?) and sold the Inn to Botsford. Reportedly the Inn was going to be used for resident's [[Dr's) housing or such, but it remained empty and rarely maintained until.... Botsford wanted to use the land for something else, the cancer treatment center.
Botsford had little choice but to preserve some of the Inn.
Public opinion could not be swayed to believe the entire complex had no historical value due to the additions over the years.
Alas, if only Botsford could get ownership of that apartment complex, they could have expanded even more, and the community would not miss that complex!