The home of Henry and Clara Ford built in 1914 is undergoing a complete restoration to reflect the way it looked when first occupied by the man credited with putting America on wheels.
Members of the DAC Car Club were given a private tour of the home by DAC Car Club member, Bob Bury, who serves as president of the Fair Lane Estate restoration project. Bob warmly welcomed DAC members and spent two hours giving a tour of the home, powerhouse (designed by Thomas Edison) and of, course, the garage of Henry and Clara.
Bob’s vast knowledge of the intricacies of the home, built by one of America’s first billionaires before there was an income tax, was informative and insightful on how relatively modest the home was but chock full of innovations like electricity, whole house vacuum, vehicle turntable in the garage and electric car charger for Clara’s Detroit Electric car! For DAC bowlers, yes Mr. Ford had a single bowling alley in the basement built about the same time as the current DAC Building on Madison Avenue.
The beautiful home along the Rouge River exudes history and we thank Bob and DAC Car Club Board Member R.J. King for making this tour happen. Bob advises it will likely be another two years of restoration before the home is open to the general public. We also want to thank Edsel B. Ford II, who assisted in allowing the DAC Car Club to tour the home of his great-grandparents.
