Ford Summit Held in Richmond Hill
Staff Report From Savannah CEO
Friday, June 1st, 2018
The Richmond Hill Historical Society, the City of Richmond Hill and the Richmond Hill Convention and Visitors Bureau hosted the second “Ford Summit” earlier this month in Richmond Hill.
The goal of the Summit, established by Edsel B. Ford II in 2017, is to connect Ford-related entities across the country including Michigan, New York, Georgia and Florida.
Attendees included:
Russ Carpenter: Mayor of Richmond Hill
Georgene Brazer, Paige Glazer, Sarah Volker: Richmond Hill Historical Society
Christy Sherman: Director, Richmond Hill Convention & Visitors Bureau
Mark & Anne Campbell: Henry Ford Heritage Association
Nicolette Lodico, Therese Mai: Ford Foundation
Rachel Wimpee: Rockefeller Archive Center
Mark Heppner, Sheila Ruen: Historic Ford Estates
Mike Flanders: Edison & Ford Winter Estates
Steve Shotwell: Ford Piquette Avenue Plant
Megan Dunn: Henry Ford Health System
Meetings were held at Richmond Hill Plantation, Henry and Clara Ford’s winter home, where partnership opportunities were discussed. In addition, the Summit included networking events and a trolley tour of Richmond Hill. Delegates viewed Henry Ford historic sites in Richmond Hill including the Courthouse Annex, Community House, Martha-Mary Chapel, employee housing, Bakery, Commissary, Fire Station and Kindergarten (now the Richmond Hill History Museum). Also on the tour were Fort McAllister State Historic Park, and three antebellum plantations which were once owned and restored by Ford.