Royal Oak

The Detroit Zoo, Michigan’s premier family attraction, is home to 125 acres of expansive habitats that house more than 2,600 animals in the heart of Metro Detroit. Known as being the first U.S. zoo to feature barless habitats, the Detroit Zoo is an internationally recognized leader in animal welfare, conservation and sustainability. 

In 1921, Italian immigrant Mariano Meconi founded The Border City Winery in Ontario, Canada. After prohibition’s repeal, Mariano moved to Detroit with the business and renamed it the Meconi Wine Company. In 1936 the name was changed again – this time to the Italian Wine Co. This name change coincided with a move to our current location in Paw Paw, MI, which sits in Michigan’s premier grape-growing region; The Lake Michigan Shore Appellation. Finally in 1941, Mariano changed the name to St. Julian after the patron saint of his hometown and it has stood the test of time.

Founded in 1939, the Royal Oak Historical Society is a private, non-governmental organization of volunteers. We collect, display and preserve information and objects of Royal Oak’s past for current and future generations. Throughout the year we present various special exhibits and provide a venue for other groups and individuals to display their collections. The society was organized in 1939 by nine women and one man, according to information compiled by local historian Owen Perkins, for his book, “Royal Oak, Michigan, The Early Years,” published in 1971.