Springwells Park

Nearly 350 Dearborn men and women died for their country while serving in the military. Join author, historian and Dearborn native Lisa Lark as she shares details about some of these heroes. She'll tell their stories against the backdrop of the homes and neighborhoods they left behind. Monday, Nov. 3, 7 p.m. at the Dearborn Historical Museum.
Dearborn Historical Museum POSITIVELY Dearborn Ford Homes Historic District Highland Neighborhood Association in Dearborn, MI Springwells Park

This Colonial home on Windham Lane in the Springwells Subdivision was built in1943.

The Springwells Subdivision was at one time part of a ribbon farm. Gustav Zanger bought it in 1914 and planned to transfer ownership to the Detroit Zoo. When officials decided to develop the zoo in Royal Oak, he sold the property in 1927 to Henry Ford who then transferred ownership to the Ford Foundation.

The subdivision consists of five subdivisions. The first subdivision was platted in 1939. Sixty percent of the properties were developed by the beginning of World War II. Immediately after the war, another thirty percent were developed. Ten percent of the houses were constructed between 1960 and 1988. The houses were designed in the Colonial Revival style.

The subdivision was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2015.

This Windham Lane home was owned by Harry Miller. Miller had a florist shop at 14300 Michigan Avenue. The 1959 Dearborn directory touted it as being “One of America’s Most Modern Flower Shops—Air Conditioned.” Harry was a third-generation florist. His grandfather and dad had greenhouses and a flower shop in Pennsylvania. His dad opened the Dearborn business in 1938. In later years, Harry also opened a store in Farmington Hills.

His business had some 12,000 square feet and 40 employees.

Harry was heavily engaged in the florists’ profession. He was the president of the Michigan State Florist Association, the Allied Florists Association of Metropolitan Detroit and the Society of American Florists. He was in the Society of American Florists Hall of Fame.

He was the president of the Dearborn Rotary Club and the Chamber of Commerce. He was the chair of the Dearborn Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA), the Dearborn Boys Club and the Dearborn Tourists and Convention Bureau.

Harry founded the Dearborn Centurions and was president from 1963-65. He was a member of the Pioneers Club, the Dearborn Founders, the Moslem Temple, the Dearborn Country Club, the Fairlane Club, the Detroit Athletic Club, and the Loyal Order of the Moose.

Mayor Orville L. Hubbard appointed him to the Board of Hospital Managers in 1948.

The Golden Legion awarded him the Outstanding Community Service Award. He chaired the committee for the Henry Ford statue at the Centennial Library.

The man showed no limits!

Research by: Glenn O’Kray

Springwells Park