Rochester Hills Museum Community Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at the Founder’s Day Celebration

Rochester Hills Museum to Host Annual Founder’s Day Event March 11

The Rochester Hills Museum at Van Hoosen Farm will be inducting three new members into the Community Hall of Fame at the Founder’s Day Celebration on Sunday, March 11 at 2:00 p.m.

The annual Founder’s Day program, sponsored by the Rochester Historical Commission, recognizes the founding of Rochester on March 17, 1817 by James Graham. This year’s event features renowned ragtime pianist, Bob Milne. Bob grew up in Rochester and graduated from Rochester High School. During his amazing career, he has performed for both George H. W. and George W. Bush, Secretaries of State Kissinger and Schultz as well as many other dignitaries of the United States and leaders in business. His genius has been the study of neuroscience at Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. Admission is free but advance registration is required. Guests may register at www.rochesterhills.org/musprograms or by phone: 248-656-4663. The Hall of Fame selection committee chose candidates who have had a positive and long-term impact on the community, served as a role model for higher achievement, provided inspiration, and elevated others in the community and in their profession.

The 2018 selected members include:

Dr. Max Mallon (1906-1998)

After serving as a Captain in the U.S. Army Dental Corps, he taught science in Rochester Community Schools, served on the Rochester Community Schools School Board for ten years, and administered the fluoride program for elementary students in the 1970s. He was a member of many Rochester organizations including the Kiwanis Club, City Beautiful Commission, and Oakland County Historical Commission. He was selected as Citizen of the Year in 1982.

He created an arboretum at Rochester High School, donated and planted many trees throughout the greater Rochester area including Oakland University. He wrote One Hundred Years of Rochester Schools, 1865-1965 and led the restoration and preservation of the Stoney Creek Schoolhouse.

Eva Woodward Parker (1855-1933)

A “great lady of rare culture” is how Eva Woodward Parker was remembered in her obituary in the Rochester Era, February, 1933. Born in Avon Township, she attended the University of Michigan and taught primary school in Avon Township until her marriage to Arthur Parker in 1883.

Her love of education and commitment to the community continues to this very day as she directed that her estate be donated to Avon Township to establish a permanent library. In 1949, funds from her estate helped to build Rochester’s first public library at the northeast corner of Fifth and Pine Streets, the Woodward Memorial Library.

The Rochester Hills Public Library grew out of that first library and an endowment fund in Eva Woodward Parker’s name still exists.​

Roy Rewold (1929-2013)

Roy Rewold was Rochester born and bred. He began his career in construction in 1945 and worked his way up at Frank Rewold and Son beginning as a laborer and reaching CEO and Chairman of the Board. His work with Frank Rewold and Son is evident in over 70 community projects including Meadow Brook Farms, Sunset Terrace, Leader Dogs for the Blind, Rochester College, Western Knitting Mills, Stoney Creek High School, Onyx Ice Arena, the Older Person’s Commission, and the Royal Park Hotel.

He served as a volunteer firefighter rising to Assistant Chief and was elected the youngest Village President after being elected to the Rochester City Council at the age of 29. He was the first Mayor for the City of Rochester and Citizen of the Year in 1965. Service was very important as he demonstrated by the number of boards on which he served; First American Bank, the Silverdome, the Lions Club, the Elks Club, the Rochester Regional Chamber of Commerce, the Oakland University Presidents Club, the Oakland County Parks Commission, the Oakland County Drain Commission, the Oakland County Board of Commissioners, and the Crittenton Hospital Foundation.

He is remembered as saying that his proudest achievements were his family and friends.

The Rochester Hills Museum at Van Hoosen Farm is a local history Museum listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The Museum has two farmhouses, several barns and a schoolhouse, and is surrounded by 16 acres of gardens and grounds bordered by Stoney Creek. It is located at 1005 Van Hoosen Road, off Tienken Road between Rochester and Dequindre Roads. It is open for public drop-in hours every Friday and Saturday from 12 -3 p.m. beginning March 4. Group tours and private event rentals are available year round. For more information on the Museum visit the website at www.rochesterhills.org/museum or call 248-656-4663.