FH Volunteers and Docents

The Freer House is grateful to these dedicated volunteers who make our events and programs possible! If you are interested in becoming a Freer House volunteer or docent, please contact William Colburn at wscolburn@hotmail.com or (313) 664-2511

We asked our wonderful volunteers and docents to describe what motivates them to offer their valuable time and talents to the Freer House.

Why I Volunteer for the Freer House . . .

Sandi Combs

Occupation: Artist, Photographer, and Instructor, Marygrove College
Lives In: Detroit

"It is a distinct honor to have served as a volunteer for 3+ years. Greeting guests and photo shoots are my favorite tasks. I've been visiting the Freer House for 15+ years, yet each time, I discover something new.

I am so intrigued by Mr. Freer's, astonishing visions, unparalleled perception, and superlative appreciation of fine art, combined with his unrivaled dedication to and documentation of such a unique, exquisite collection. Upon viewing the interior or exterior of the home, we experience opulence, serenity and tranquility, simultaneously.

Mr. Freer has provided us with a vast legacy to explore. Each lecture features an extraordinary speaker who leads us on an exciting adventure, which guides us to understand his purpose and complexities, offering us an abundance of newfound knowledge."

Darren Brim

Occupation: Fiduciary and Claims Specialist, Social Security Administration
Lives In: Grosse Pointe Park, MI
"I have a passion for Detroit ' s architectural heritage. I've always been attracted to the city's beautiful buildings. But so much of the built landscape has rapidly disappeared. Which is why I am very fortunate to be involved with the Freer house. It's history and significance are an integral part of the Detroit story. The best part of this architectural adventure is there is always more to discover."

Ryan Cunningham

Occupation: Legal Specialist, Encore Capital Group
"I think what's most fascinating about the Freer House is what it's not. It sits unassumingly adjacent to a grand, Chateauesque-style mansion, a prime example of the Gilded Age ostentation. Mr. Freer's choice of simple elegance and a deference to art, produces a different vision from wha we imagine the Victorian man to be. It's this unravelling of history that keeps me coming back to the Freer House. It is the dedicated staff and fellow volunteers who never cease to inspire me."

Michael D. Coleman

Occupation: Director of Student Life, College for Creative Studies
Lives In: Lincoln Park, MI
"I was first introduced to the Freer House by the late historian, Dr. Dorothy Kostuch, and instantly feel in love, not only with the house, but also with the fascinating and complex story of Charles Lang Freer.

Being a docent at the Freer House is wonderful as it is more than simply telling the story of a man who built a magnificent house in Detroit and who collected art. While the house is a piece of local history, Mr. Freer's story is a global one which stretches from upstate New York, to Detroit, to Europe, to Asia and finally to Washington, D.C.

I also enjoy the fact that volunteers are updated on and many times involved with the new discoveries about the house and the life of Mr. Freer and that we are also encouraged to do our own research and contribute to the ever expanding story. There is something seductive about the history of this house and this man. As different layers are revealed, they only allude to the fact that there are many, many more waiting to be discovered."

Chuck Demske

Occupation: The Henry Ford Museum staff
Lives In: Dearborn, MI
"I am so pleased to share the story of this most fascinating past citizen of the dynamic city of Detroit. I feel Freer's home has been a hidden jewel in the city. I'm so glad to be able to point out all of its innovative features with all who visit."

Amelia Ann Gail

Occupation: Former Owner, Gail Office Supply Company
Lives In: Detroit, MI
"Everything about the Freer House is fascinating and wonderful. I learn something new with every visit. I love all the people involved and especially enjoy meeting the guests who come and show such delight at seeing this Detroit landmark for the first time."

Hiroko Lancour, M.F.A.

Occupation: Artist
Lives In: Royal Oak, MI
"In the spring of 2004, there was an exhibition, "American Attitude: Whistler & His Followers," at the Detroit Institute of Arts. While writing a review of the show for a local website, I first learned about the Detroit industrialist and art collector Charles L. Freer and his house on Ferry Street. The moment I stepped into the Freer House, I was fascinated by the architecture and its rich history. My subsequent visit to the Freer Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. has deepened my appreciation of Mr. Freer as an art collector and his legacy.

I am particularly interested in Mr. Freer's connections with Detroit and Japan. I enjoy researching, discovering new information, and sharing it with the Freer House staff and volunteers. It is a pleasure to be a Freer House volunteer because I can make myself useful with my bilingual skills in Japanese and English. It is also a privilege to be a Freer House volunteer because it allows me to assist in cultural exchange activities that promote a better understanding of the U.S. and Japan."

Kathleen Marcaccio

Occupation: Retired (Editor/Data Analyst/Metadata Manager, Gale|Cengage)
Lives In: Royal Oak, MI

"In 2003, I began volunteering as a Preservation Detroit tour guide, leading tours in the Cultural Center in which the Freer House is located. I knew the basics about the Freer House and its architecture as well as the relationship between Mr. Freer and Colonel Frank Hecker and their business, so when the opportunity arose to attend an event at the Freer House and tour the building, I couldn't pass it up! I went back for a second event, and then became a volunteer because I wanted to learn more about one of our city's hidden gems. The story of the Freer House is like a wheel, with each spoke a unique aspect of Charles Lang Freer and his interests: Detroit's transportation industry, the local art scene, James McNeill Whistler, American art, Freer's travels around the world, his love of Asian art, the Smithsonian Institution, and more. The wheel keeps turning, thanks to the staff and volunteers at the Freer House, with new stories from its past unfolding and being shared!! It's a real pleasure to be a part of it!"

Molly Ann Addison

Occupation: Occupational Therapist, MOTR/L
Lives In: Detroit, MI

"I worked as a student assistant at the Freer House and got to know and appreciate the staff and the beauty of the house and its history. I like to imagine the day to day goings-on of Freer and his guests from that era as I walk under the same roof they did. I also enjoy the many interesting people that visited and continue to visit the house and attend events."

Rebecca Binno Savage

Occupation: Architectural Historian, City of Detroit Historic Designation Advisory Board
Lives In: Hamtramck, MI

"The compelling history of the Freer house, Charles L. Freer, the art collection and the architecture is a significant part of Detroit's history. Yet it's a hidden history at the Freer House, and it is exciting to share with people. I am fortunate to have learned about the Freer House from some of the nation's experts, and I am always learning more, from different perspectives."

Walter J. Szymborski

Occupation: Customer Service Representative I ISMG Servicing - Team I Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan

"I've always been drawn to and fascinated with the history of Detroit, it's architecture and it's leaders of industry and culture. Volunteering at the Freer House lets me connect with that history and allows me to make it a part of my world. If I can help others embrace and celebrate Detroit's past, then I can help them realize Detroit's bright future!"