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Bloomfield Blossoms: p. 128-129

Smith, Kay, 1925-

Bloomfield Township Public Library

Cranbrook (Bloomfield Hills, Mich.) -- History

Booth, Geoge G. (George Gough), b. 1864

Bloomfield Hills (Michigan) -- History

GB01a066

part of 'Bloomfield Blossoms' by Kay Smith

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MORE OF CRANBROOK: THE MEETING HOUSE The image of Cranbrook rightfully dominates Bloomfield Hills. Not only is it the center of cultural and educational life in the area, it's the symbol of Bloomfield around the world. The work of artists from 50 countries has gone into its harmonious beauty. It really began as a place of worship. George and Ellen Scripps Booth bought the 300-acre estate in 1904 and in the summer of 1905 Mr. Booth had a large tent erected on the hill on the north side of Lone Pine Road, opposite where Christ Church stands today. Services were held in various houses and buildings around the estate until in 1918 Mr. Booth's great desire to have the church message reach "the non-church-going people of this district" culminated in the building of the Meeting House. The building served many purposes. Often the same people who attended a movie there Saturday evening were back Sunday morning for church service, conducted many times by Mr. Booth himself or his father Henry Wood Booth. The house today is part of Brookside School. The Cranbrook community includes three divisions: The Cran- brook Academy of Art, with its museum; Cranbrook Institute of Science with its nature center; and the Cranbrook schools-Kingswood, Cranbrook and Brookside. Christ Church, Cranbrook, is affiliated.