Rochester’s History of Fighting Viral Disease

Parkedale’s Role in Defeating Polio As we wait for medical science to develop vaccines and treatments to fight COVID-19, it is interesting to turn back the pages of history to the story of another disease that was vanquished by vaccine—and to remember Rochester’s connection to the historic achievement. Poliomyelitis (commonly called polio) is a contagious viral disease with a wide range of symptoms, including paralysis in some cases. The disease swept over the United States in several … [Read more...]

How Crittenton Hospital Came to Rochester

Crittenton Hospital in Rochester Hills Celebrates its 50th Birthday on August 15 It took ten years to be born. In April 1957, a group of local business and professional people formed a committee to discuss bringing a new hospital to the area. At the time, Rochester had only a small osteopathic facility called Avon Center Hospital, located near the corner of Rochester & Avon roads. Avon Center opened in 1954 with 20 beds – and later expanded to 40 – but lacked many of the services that the … [Read more...]

Rochester Media Acknowledges World War I Social Media Day by Honoring the Horse Named Tess

A century ago - on April 6, 1917 - the United States entered World War I. Today, in towns across the nation, memorials stand in honor of local men who served in the conflict. American Legion posts, like the Homer Wing post in Rochester, bear the names of some of those who gave their lives. But there is one Rochester hero of World War I who has no granite monument to commemorate service during the war. Her name was Tess. The Parke-Davis Company, a prominent Detroit pharmaceutical firm, … [Read more...]

The Battle for Avon Township, Rochester and Rochester Hills, A Tale of Two Cities

As we celebrate the founding of Rochester during 2017, we must also note that Rochester Hills shares the same anniversary. Both Rochester and Avon Township - today’s Rochester Hills - received their first non-native settlers in 1817. Some of the founding Graham family members built their home in what is now the City of Rochester. The rest of them moved out to the area that is now the intersection of Avon & Livernois Roads, becoming the first white settlers of what would become Avon … [Read more...]

This Month in Rochester History

It was a half century ago this month that Rochester residents first learned about the development planned for the former Great Oaks Stock Farm on the west side of the village. Slavik Builders of Oak Park unveiled their concept for the 400-acre development that included 600 homes, 900 apartments and a 9-hole golf course, plus a shopping center to be built later. It was announced that the homes in the new subdivision would be priced starting at $30,000. By Deborah Larson, originally posted at … [Read more...]

Rochester Hills Museum to Host March Lecture Series

The Rochester Hills Museum at Van Hoosen Farm will be hosting a series of Friday night programs to help educate and inspire our residents and guests and to beat the winter blues. Barn Red On Friday, March 4 at 7:00 pm, enjoy the independent movie – Barn Red.  This movie was filmed on Michigan’s Old Mission Peninsula and stars Ernest Borgnine as a simple farmer who refuses to sell his family’s farm to a developer.  After meeting a former migrant worker who worked on the farm as a child, … [Read more...]