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destroyed by fire in 2003 and has been
carefully and lovingly rebuilt by dona-
tions from individuals and businesses
during the past decades. It hasn't been
an easy task, according to former
Foundation Executive Director Shari
Peterswho retired earlier this year, but
it was completed with a lot of determi-
nation and the help of toomany people
to name. Peters oversaw the rebuilding
of the farm and took the plight of the
farm to the corporations and business-
es who donated cash and services
totaling more than $1.4 million to
rebuild the farm.
“It wasn't easy, but it was more than
worth it,” Peters said. She added that
the entire community owes a debt of
gratitude to the companies that sent
donations, services and employees to
helpwith the effort.
Peters said that when theNorthville
Community Foundation agreed to take
over the operation andmanagement of
the farm from the state in 2003, it was a
popular attraction in the state park,
with barns, outbuildings, farm equip-
ment andmany beloved animals.
The state had closed the farm to vis-
itors in 2002 and offered management
to the Community Foundation as a
means of reopening the attraction. Just
one month after agreeing to take on
the farm, as negotiations with the state
were under way, a devastating fire
destroyed the barns, the outbuildings
all but a few animals and all the farm
equipment.
“It was a heart wrenching loss for
the entire area,” Peters recalled.
There was no insurance funding
from the state to help pay for rebuild-
ing but the board of directors of the
Foundation were firm in their resolve
to rebuild the farm that had been a
treasured part of the community for
decades .
In November of 2003, the farm offi-
cially became the responsibility of the
Foundation where immediate rebuild-
ing efforts were being planned. The
goal, according Peters, was to open the
farm for school children and families
throughout southeast Michigan to visit
and learn.
“After the fire and during negotia-
tions peoplewanted to do something to
Farm
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