Forty years ago this August, Gleaner Life took a bold step with its headquarters. It relocated operations from Michigan’s northern Detroit suburb of Birmingham south to agricultural Adrian, opened its new Home Office, and ushered in a fresh era. Forty years later, it’s easy to overlook the significance of Aug. 13-14, 1981, in Society history. Operations continued. Members’ needs were met. The move, however, involved not just the thousand-plus boxes nor 87 years of business records, nor the bulky computers and miles of electrical cords, nor the dozens of new employees. It marked the Society’s long-sought return from the big city, with new emphasis on fraternal activities in the modern era. The big move was well-planned. It had been set in motion more than two years before when Frank Dick was hired as Senior Vice President and Secretary to succeed retiring President George Ransford. Once President Ransford negotiated the sale of the existing building in Birmingham, President Dick was appointed and soon helped identify and purchase land for the new Home Office in Adrian. Groundbreaking occurred Aug. 4, 1980, and within a year final construction neared its end. “Our board on construction was very wise,” President Dick said later of the building, which was drawn up with an early-American design. “They said, ‘Build it right.’ We used top-grade brick. … We put quality into the building and the landscaping. It may cost a little more, but they did it right.” Bill Warner, the fraternal vice president at the time, recalled how President Dick paid attention to detail. “Frank went down south with the architect to make sure it was as authentic as it could be,” Warner said. “The masons put in a mortar joint that Frank didn’t like. I told them they’d need to put in a ‘raked joint.’ The foreman said, ‘No we’re not.’ I told him that he might need to change when Frank heard about it. Frank came out and told him, ‘You’ll use raked joints or we’ll find someone else who will.’” 6
\ Summer 2021 \ Forum Magazine
www.gleanerlife.org
