Farmington Hills in Oakland County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

The Worker's Camp

Photographed by Joel Seewald, November 21, 2020

1. The Worker's Camp Marker

Inscription. An 80 acre parcel on this site was purchased by the Czechoslovak Workers Farm Co-operative Association in 1924. They opened a summer education and recreation camp for blue collar workers and their families here in 1928. The camp was purchased by the Worker's Educational Association in 1930, and they later sold it to the Camp Sumrest Association in 1936. It was sold to a private individual in 1942. The camp featured cottages, a children's dormitory, a dining hall, a dance hall and a swimming pond. The 1932 camp operations lease was founded upon the landmark principle of "on discrimination based on sex, race, or color." It was popular with a wide variety of workers from the Detroit area.

Erected by Farmington Hills Historic District Commission.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Education • Parks & Recreational Areas. A significant historical year for this entry is 1924.

Location. 42° 29.853′ N, 83° 24.571′ W. Marker is in Farmington Hills, Michigan, in Oakland County. It is at the intersection of West Twelve Mile Road and Investment Drive, on the right when traveling east on West Twelve Mile Road. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 36500 Corporate Drive, Farmington MI 48331, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southeast Michigan

and in Greater Detroit.

It is also in the American Midwest

and on the Great Lakes.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance

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of this marker: Hamilton Jones House (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Harger House (about 600 feet away); The Pettibone House (about 700 feet away); West Farmington Cemetery (approx. 0.4 miles away); Boorn-Halsted House (approx. half a mile away); The Old Mill (approx. 0.7 miles away); Sleepy Hollow (approx. 0.7 miles away); Michael Marlett - Charles Wixom House (approx. 0.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Farmington Hills.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Charles Wixom House (was approx. 0.8 miles away but has been reported to have been replaced with another marker now near it).

Also see . . . "Communism" Comes to Farmington: The Workers Camp. Farmington Hills Historical Commission Monograph #5. (Submitted on November 25, 2020, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan.)

Photographed by Joel Seewald, November 21, 2020

2. The Worker's Camp Marker

View looking toward the east along West Twelve Mile Road.

Credits. This page was last revised on December 29, 2020. It was originally submitted on November 25, 2020, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan. This page has been viewed 862 times since then and 34 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 25, 2020, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan.