Kilgour Scottish Centre Dedication and Open House

TROY, Mich., Sept. 24 /PRNewswire/ -- A ribbon-cutting ceremony on Friday, October 8, followed by a community-wide open house on Sunday, October 10, will formally dedicate the new home of the St. Andrew's Society of Detroit at the Kilgour Scottish Centre in Troy, Michigan. The new facility is the former Mountain Jack's restaurant at the intersections of Rochester Road and Stephenson Highway, just south of the Rochester Road exit of I-75.  

Local and county business and government representatives have been invited to join executives of the St. Andrew's Society for the ribbon-cutting and dedication on Friday, October 8, at 1 PM in front of the Kilgour Centre, located at 2360 Rochester Court, Troy, MI. It will be a colorful piped ceremony with members attired in Highland dress wearing kilts representing the many clans of Scotland. Guests are then free to tour the completely renovated facility.  

At the open house on Sunday, October 10, between 2 PM and 4 PM, the entire community has been invited to see the beautiful remake of what many consider a landmark building in Oakland County.  Light refreshments and tours of the building will be offered.  The St. Andrew's Pipe Band and local Scottish Highland dancers will provide entertainment. The event is free to the public.

The Kilgour Scottish Centre is the result of a generous gift from the Estate of Jane Alt Kilgour of Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. The bequest in memory of Jane's husband, Thomas, allowed the Society to acquire an educational and cultural center dedicated to promoting the Scottish experience in America with an emphasis on culture, history and arts.  The Centre will host St. Andrew's Society monthly meetings plus special annual events such as the Society's annual Robert Burns dinner, Tartan Day celebration, and St. Andrew's Dinner. The Kilgour Centre will also be available to the community as a premier banquet and meeting facility. The new building replaces the Society's previous home, the St. Andrew's Hall on East Congress Street in downtown Detroit, which was sold in 1996 and became a trend-setting concert venue. The beautiful new Kilgour Scottish Centre is centrally located to better serve a membership across southeast Michigan in a building that members can be proud to own for many years to come. The large oak double doors from the old hall in downtown Detroit as well as the original stained-glass transom above the doors were built into the new hall.

The Kilgour Family

Thomas and Jane Kilgour, longtime residents of Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, shared an interest in Scotland and the Society.  Thomas was a member of the St. Andrew's Society and a descendant of Scottish ancestors. Their shared interest in the St. Andrew's Society resulted in the generous bequest that has made this center and its dedication possible.

The Building Transformation

Renovation of the building began shortly after its purchase in September, 2009. Lead architect for the Kilgour Centre renovation was Michael Gordon, principal with Moiseev/Gordon Associates and a member of the Society who was also architect for the building in its previous incarnation as a restaurant.  The building reconstruction was awarded to Mosher, Dolan, Cataldo & Kelly of Birmingham, MI. and completed earlier this year.  

The charm of the building's original four stone fireplaces and high beamed ceilings was retained as the main banquet room was enlarged.  Additional lounge and meeting rooms were added along with an updated kitchen to serve catered and special events.

The St. Andrew's Society of Detroit

The St. Andrew's Society of Detroit is one of Michigan's oldest benevolent organizations, founded in 1849 to help emigrating Scots assimilate into their American homeland and to assist them financially.  Today the society is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit charity dedicated to education and benevolence.  Its major fundraiser is its annual Highland Games, North America's oldest continuous such event, held the first weekend of August, currently at Greenmead Historic Park in Livonia, MI.  The Highland Games raise money for various local, national and Scottish charities and fund a significant scholarship program dedicated to students who pursue Scottish studies, including the arts of bagpiping, Highland dancing, drumming and playing the Celtic harp and Scottish fiddle.  Each month the organization takes on a special cause, such as collecting items for the Toys for Tots program, donations for the Children's Hospital of Michigan's Clothes Closet, warm clothing for the homeless coalition of South Oakland County, and personal items that are packed and shipped to American troops assigned overseas.

Kilgour Centre Facility Management

Rhonda Ross-Richter is the manager of the Kilgour Scottish Centre and will facilitate all requests for hall banquet and meeting rentals. Ross-Richter became manager of the Kilgour Centre on September 1, 2010. Inquires regarding hall rentals can be directed to her at 248-526-1849

Advance Photos available

The Kilgour Scottish Centre, 2360 Rochester Court, Troy, MI (photo Bob Giles)

Entrance hall with original St. Andrew's Hall doors and transom (photo Bob Giles)

Society Websites: www.detroitscots.com and www.highlandgames.com

SOURCE St. Andrew's Society of Detroit