The Cranbrook House and Gardens Auxiliary started in 1971 when Henry Scripps Booth (1897-1988), youngest son of Cranbrook founders George Gough and Ellen Scripps Booth, along with a small group of concerned individuals, organized the Gardens Auxiliary with intentions to preserve, maintain and share the forty acre estate with the public. In 1974, a House Auxiliary was begun to assist in preserving and maintaining the Booth’s historic manor home. The two volunteer groups joined in 1977 to become Cranbrook House and Gardens Auxiliary with each section retaining its own board of directors. Thirty years later, on January 31, 2007, the two sections merged into one Board with goals unchanged.

 

The Auxiliary is the only support group at Cranbrook whose focus is the conservation, restoration and preservation of the founders’ home and gardens. The Auxiliary also provides an awareness of the life, times and major contributions of the Booth Family. 

 

In June 1995, the Cranbrook House and Gardens Auxiliary formalized its members’ commitment to Cranbrook by establishing an Endowment Fund. The purpose of this endowment fund is to provide a perpetual means of funding the conservation, restoration and improvement of Cranbrook House and Gardens.  From an initial contribution of $50,000 - revenue coming from the sale of the cookbook, Cranbrook Reflections – the endowment fund has steadily grown.

 

The Auxiliary encourages its members to become actively involved in the volunteering. You can help by choosing to participate in a wide range of activities including: 

 

 

Docent training for new House Volunteers in 2012 is held every Tuesday (except May 15) at Cranbrook House from April 3 to May 29 from 6:30-9:30 p.m.  New Volunteers must attend each training session.  Call 248 645.3149 to register.

Docent recertification for 2012 is Thursday, June 2 and Saturday June 9 from 10am-Noon each day. Call 248 645.3149 to register.