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.