Rochester Christian University was recently awarded the Earl. E. Borden Historic Preservation Award by the City of Rochester Hills Historic Districts Commission for the restoration of the farmstead located on RCU’s campus. As the recipient of this award, RCU has shown its commitment to preserving and restoring the historic barn and silo, which date back to the early 1900s. When restored to its original design it will memorialize the deep history Rochester played within the farming industry.
“We are deeply invested in this campus and the community, and we are honored to receive this recognition from the City of Rochester Hills,” said Jaymes Vettraino, director of the Center for Social Engagement and assistant professor of Business at Rochester Christian University. “Restoring this piece of Rochester Hills’ history will merge the past and present, bonding together this campus as a working farm to becoming an institution of higher learning.”
Dedicated member of the Rochester community, Beverly Rewold, has been instrumental in making this restoration a reality, accepting a lead role in preserving the barn. For more than a century the Rewold family has played an integral part in the growth of the Rochester community, and continues to be vital to preserving its rich history.
Rochester Christian University hired JDS Historical to restore the barn. Dean Sutton has been restoring barns for more than 35 years, and in addition to being named one of Michigan’s Barn of the Year Award Winners for 2018, he has worked on well-known barns and structures, including the Edsel Ford Barn, Maybury Farm in Northville and the Irish Hills Towers.
The Earl. E. Borden Historic Preservation Award was created in 1989 by the Rochester Hills Historic Districts Commission. It honors both Mr. Borden and award recipients who have demonstrated their love of historic heritage by restoring, preserving and/or maintaining properties according to the principles outlined in the U.S. Department of the Interior’s standards for preservation and the City of Rochester Hills Historic Preservation Ordinance.
