photo of the lodge building after some restoration work had been done, and Hilary Davis is standing in front with a proud smile at the Packard Proving Grounds Historic SiteHilary Davis

Serendipity - Part 11

Now I am a volunteer at the PPG, giving tours, working on restorations, serving on committees, writing articles.  The site is in good hands and its future is bright.
black and white image of the north east curve of the test track taken in 1998 at the Packard Proving Grounds Historic SiteHilary Davis

Serendipity - Part 10

Soon the enormous task of bringing the site and buildings back to their former glory was underway.
black and white PowerHouse building in disrepair taken in 1998 at the Packard Proving Grounds Historic SiteHilary Davis

Serendipity - Part 9

It was easier and more profitable to sell land scraped clean of obsolete and decrepit buildings.
black and white image of the entrance gate at the Packard Proving Grounds Historic Site in 1998Hilary Davis

Serendipity - Part 8

We went to the township government officials to see if they could acquire the property in order to make it a local historic attraction.
black and white woods area where the rough roads paths were once located at the Packard Proving Grounds Historic SiteHilary Davi

Serendipity - Part 7

At the end of the week, Ron wrote a comprehensive and glowing report on the PPG underscoring the historic importance of the whole site, not just the airplane hangar.
black and white image of the Carriage Garage building in terrible disrepair at the Packard Proving Grounds Historic SiteHilary Davis

Serendipity - Part 6

The Section 106 review puts a halt to demolition while a site is being investigated. 
black and white photo taken in 1998 of the aviation hangar located in the center of the test track at the Packard Proving Grounds Historic SiteHilary Davis

Serendipity - Part 5

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The PPG property had been transferred to the Land Development division of Ford, which gave me a sense of foreboding.
black and white image of a roadway tunnel on the PPG testing propertyHilary Davis

Serendipity - Part 4

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We drove the test track many times over the next few years, dodging protruding rebar to avoid flattening a tire.
black and white photo of the Repair Garage Building in disrepair taken in 1998Hilary Davis

Serendipity - Part 3

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This was to be the first in a long line of big and little disappointments during the early days of discovering the PPG.
Gate Lodge Garage in disrepair photo from 1998Hilary Davis

Serendipity, Part 2

He described the buildings to me, but when he got to the description of the lodge, I knew I had my mystery building.