Rochester Avon Historical Society Wins State History Award

The Rochester Avon Historical Society was the big winner when the Historical Society of Michigan presented its 2011 State History Awards at the 137th Annual Meeting and State History Conference held in September in Traverse City. 

The State History Awards are the highest recognition presented by the state's official historical society. Seventeen awards were presented this year in a variety of categories.

In the category of Distinguished Volunteer Service, the Society recognized Rochester's Rod Wilson. As president of the Rochester Avon Historical Society, Wilson has spearheaded numerous restoration and education efforts in the greater Rochester community.  He was honored for his leadership in notable preservation activities, including the restoration of Rochester's World War II Honor Roll, the effort to preserve the 1845 Lysander Woodward House, the repainting of the 1880 Griggs Brothers/Rochester Elevator Company grain elevator, and the restoration and re-hanging of the 1938 Marvin Beerbohm WPA mural in the Rochester Community Schools administration building.

Wilson was also recognized for the countless hours he has devoted to developing and leading educational programs. He created the Downtown Rochester Historic Walking Tour, participated in a multi-agency task force to develop interpretive signs for historic sites along Paint Creek Trail, and established a research committee within the Rochester Avon Historical Society to compile documentation on local buildings and sites.  The committee's efforts succeeded in having the Griggs Brothers Elevator placed on the National Register of Historic Places, and work is underway on other potential National Register nominations.  Wilson also works with the Sons of the American Revolution and the Michigan Historic Preservation Network.

 The Historical Society of Michigan also conferred upon the Rochester Avon Historical Society its 2011 Local Society award, in recognition of the Rochester area society's many successful efforts in restoration, historic building preservation, oral history, walking tours, and regular public meetings. 

More information about the programs of the Rochester Avon Historical Society may be found on the society's web site at www.rochesteravonhistoricalsociety.org.