Latest Meadow Brook News

Meadow Brook Hall

An Enduring Legacy: 95 Years of Meadow Brook Hall

Meadow Brook Hall has long been a symbol of vision, resilience, and cultural significance. Originally built as the grand private estate of Matilda Dodge and Alfred Wilson, the Hall has evolved over nearly a century to become a vital part ... Read more

Children in costume for Meadow Brook Halloween celebrations - then and now.

Then and Now: Halloween Haunts at The Hall

Meadow Brook has always hosted fantastic Halloween celebrations – from the Dodge family parties in the 1920s to today’s series of spectacular fall events. Dating back almost 2,000 years to its origins in Ireland, Halloween has undergone remarkable transformations through ... Read more

A Legacy of Celebration: The Meadow Brook Ball

One of Oakland University’s most cherished traditions, the Meadow Brook Ball, has been a highlight on the campus social calendar since the early 1960s. Originally called the “Scholarship Ball,” the event’s inaugural celebration took place in 1961 as a formal ... Read more

The Dodge and Wilsons embarked on a world tour in 1934.

Estate Stories: Frances Dodge Takes the World By Storm

Known as “Detroit’s #1 Glamor Girl” for her sparkling personality, penchant for adventures, and impeccable style, Frances Dodge embarked on a world tour in 1934. She treated her mother Matilda and stepfather Alfred Wilson to a six month long journey ... Read more

Halloween Card from Meadow Brook 1929

Estate Stories: A Meadow Brook Halloween

Happy Halloween from Meadow Brook Hall!  Dating back almost 2,000 years to Ireland, Halloween celebrations have changed quite a lot through the decades. This year we’re looking back on the history of Halloween and the past celebrations of this frightful ... Read more

Matilda ringing the "borrowed" birthday bell

Matilda’s “Borrowed” MSU Birthday Bell

On the 81st birthday of Matilda Dodge Wilson, the founder of Oakland University, the students of OU planned a special – and mischievous – surprise. At the stroke of midnight on October 19, 1964 Matilda was presented with a “borrowed” ... Read more

Alfred Wilson plays with his dogs at Meadow Brook Hall in the 1950s.

The Playful Dogs of Meadow Brook

It’s International Dog Day and we’re celebrating some of the beloved pets from the Dodge and Wilson family with stories of the dogs of Meadow Brook.  Throughout the history of Meadow Brook Hall and farms, dogs were always running around ... Read more

Meadow Brook Hall's rose garden in bloom.

Estate Stories: The Historic Rose Garden

Meadow Brook’s historic Rose Garden is in full bloom! This oval-shaped, unique garden was a favorite of Matilda Dodge Wilson, and one of the many planned gardens Meadow Brook originally designed. In 1925 while the inside of the historic mansion ... Read more

Matilda and Alfred Wilson at their wedding in 1925.

Happy 98th wedding anniversary to the Wilsons!

On June 29, 1925, Matilda and Alfred Wilson were married at the grand Dodge Mansion in Grosse Pointe. Alfred Wilson told the Detroit News, “I am very happy today, of course. It is one of the supreme days in any ... Read more