in 1908, john dodge and matilda purchased the land for meadow brook farms near rochester, michigan. at meadow brook, their eldest child, frances, developed a love of horses that led her to acquire castleton farm in lexington, kentucky, and turn it into one of the leading horse breeding operations in the united states. dodge's daughter isabel established brookmeade stable. it became a major participant in thoroughbred horse racing and owned several champions, including the u.s. racing hall of fame horses cavalcade and sword dancer. five years after dodge's death in 1920, matilda married alfred wilson and they built the meadow brook hall at the rochester estate.