It may surprise you to learn that Botsford Commons, an assisted living facility located off Tuck Road between Grand River and 8 Mile, once served as a hospital for children who had contracted polio. After a story about the history of the facility appeared in the Gazette, adults who had once stayed there started calling. Now Kim Gimmarro and the staff at Botsford Commons have organized a reunion, scheduled Saturday, Sept. 13, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on the campus.
According to a flyer advertising events at Botsford Commons (an Albert Kahn designed campus), the former Children’s Free Hospital (also known as the Michigan Hospital School) was once a “jewel in the treatment of polio and other childhood diseases and debilities.” Former patients, nurses, physicians, volunteers - anyone involved in the hospital - are all invited to attend the reunion. The hope is to capture stories on video and preserve them for generations to come.
This is an incredible undertaking and reveals a part of Farmington history few people even know exists. If you or anyone you know has a piece of this story, call Kim at 248-426-6951. For more information, visit the new Web page devoted to this project.
–Joni Hubred-Golden
Michigan Woman Blogger
1 Comment
July 26, 2008 at 11:26 pm
Joni…thanks for the plug! We have already heard from our first post-Founders’ festival reservation…a woman that was a patient there in 1935 - 1936. We can hardly wait to welcome home the former patients for the reunion!! The excitement just keeps building — and that’s just for those of us hosting the event! I hope it’s the same for those coming! Our current residents of the facility which was once the hospital’s larger building had fun learning which room they were living in. One learned she now occupies the former dentist office! This is truly a living history project, and that’s part of what makes it so special! There’s a story to tell . . . and the people that can tell it are coming September 13th!
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