Hollyopoly Game for Sale to Benefit Holly Depot Restoration
(Crystal A. Proxmire, orig. Oct. 24, 2023, republished Dec. 22)
Holly, MI – Just in time for holiday giving – or chilly autumn nights at home with family or friends – Downtown Holly’s Hollyopoly board game is now available.
Sales of the game help fund the
Holly Depot restoration project. Currently the depot sits on a wedge of land between railroad tracks. Modern regulations recognize the safety issues with a building so close to the tracks, so it can’t be utilized where it’s at. The Village of Holly and the Holly Downtown Development Authority and other volunteers have been raising money to move the historic building closer to the business area so that it can be used as a visitor center. “In total we have enough money to move the depot to its new location, we are just waiting on a couple outside entities to do some work so that we have the room to move the depot,” said DDA Director Nick Klempp. “But then we will still need money in order to restore and make the space usable again as well as make a little parklet around the depot.”
Hollyopoly is a localized version of the famous Monopoly Game, which goes well with the community’s railroads and the goal of the game’s sales. Instead of Pennsylvania Avenue and Park Place, Hollyopoly squares are named for local businesses like Winglemire Furniture, Dwyer Funeral Home, Holly Lanes, and Kerton Lumber. The Holly Vault collection has their logo on the money – a perfect fit for a business based out of an historic bank building. The cover is a photo by Lincat Photography, who also has a yellow square. Community organizations are also part of the game, including the local VFW and American Legion. Oakland County Times even has a square.
People can currently purchase the game at The Village of Holly Offices and Holly Cafe with cash, check or card or from Altered Designs, Battle Alley Coffee, Crowne Pointe Center, and The Stone Loft with cash or a check. The cost is $30.
Klempp said Hollyopoly games are going fast. “We are about halfway through them right now and all the money that we sell them for goes to the Depot because of the great sponsors that we had in the production of the game.”
Those who want to support the Depot restoration can also consider purchasing a decorative engraved brick that are for sale for $100 and $50 depending on the size- one with the depot engraved on it and the smaller ones say Holly and have the mitten with a star in our spot and then a railway crossing on the other. Those are available at Village of Holly offices.
