M a r k D i l l e y

Miller said he is glad that Gordon Hall, a Greek Revival mansion built in the 1840s, will be preserved, rather than demolished to make room for a housing or commercial development on 67 acres of choice land.

So far, he has made 28 walking sticks of oak from his own farm, with curved handles adorned with the Gordon Hall walnut pieces. He donated eight of them to the Dexter Area Historical Society, which has successfully bid to buy the property from U-M for $1.5 million. The local historical group is raising the money to close the deal early next year.