Waterford Village, Michigan facts for kids
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Waterford Village
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Village of Waterford's first church, built in 1869
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 Location in Michigan
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| Location | Oakland County, Oakland County, Michigan  United States |
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| Built | 1818 |
| NRHP reference No. | 79001167 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | August 10, 1979 |
Waterford Village is an historic community in Waterford Township, Michigan. First settled in 1819, the village is located in the northernmost part of the township along Dixie Highway, on the southeast shore of Van Norman Lake.
Contents
History
In 1818, Alpheus Williams and his brother-in-law, Captain Archibald Phillips, entered the first land purchase for $2.00 an acre. Archibald Phillips and Alpheus Williams purchased 161.4 acres in what would become Waterford Village, Michigan.
In 1818, Mr. and Mrs. Alpheus Williams, their four daughters and two sons, along with Captain Archibald Phillips and Major and Mrs. Oliver Williams, with their eight children, set out to settle Oakland County.
In 1818, the Oliver Williams family established the first farm settlement in the county on the banks of Silver Lake.
Archibald Phillips and Alpheus Williams continued on northward about nine miles to where the Clinton River crossed the old Saginaw Trail. This area would become Waterford Village. Here the first house of the village was built by Alpheus Williams on the north bank of the river across from the south corner where Grand River Street met the Saginaw Trail. Williams and Phillips also built the first dam where the Clinton River crossed over the Saginaw Trail and erected the first saw mill there.
In 1844, Dr. George W. Williams (b.1793-d.1845) built the first gristmill in Waterford on what later became Mill Street. George was no relation to Alpheus or Oliver.
Early pioneers owning land tracts in the village in 1872 include:
- Franklin Bradley (b.1845-d.1916)
- Frederick Bradley (b.1808-d.1873)
- Richard Brownson (b.1804-d.1891)
- Orson E. Clark (d.1891)
- Frank W. Fifield (b.1821-d.1893)
- James M. Ganong (b.1828-d.1906)
- Nelson R. Ganong (b.1833-d.1892)
- Waterman P. Grow (b. 1824-d.1897)
- Elias K. Gustin (b.1844-d.1920)
- Leonard Hopkins (b.1799-d.1885)
- Lewis J. Keeler (d.1882)
- William Ladson (b.1843-d.1912)
- Daniel R. Lord (b.1814-d.1883)
- John G. Owen (b.1824-d.1901)
- Manuel R. Phillips (b.1833-d.1912)
- Phebe Stevens (d.1872)
- Lorenzo Streeter (b.1838-d.1921)
- Alfred W. Windiate (b.1845-d.1875)
- John Windiate (b.1808-d.1880)
- James Young (b.1809-d.1892)
Business owners in the village in 1972 include:
- William Bradt (b.1827-d.1888), proprietor of Waterford Exchange Hotel
- Richard Brownson, merchant, post master, dealer in drugs, patent medicines and groceries
- N.E. Clark, merchant, produce dealer
- R.H. Cooper, miller
- Frank W. Fifield & Son, merchant and dealer in general merchandise
- Graham Brothers, merchants and dealers in drugs, medicines, paints, oils, groceries
- W.H. Graham, physician and surgeon
- Gustin & Johns, Elias K. Gustin (b.1844-d.1920) and John C. Johns (b.1849-d.1906), proprietors, manufacturers of carriages and lumber wagons, sleighs, carriage and wagon ironing and horse shoeing
- Hixson, Lord & Co, Marshall Hixson (b.1842-d.1915) and Daniel R. Lord, proprietors, manufacturers of doors, sashes and blinds
- R.L. King (d.1913), farmer and manufacturer
- Norman Lee (b.1830-d.1897), shoemaker
- Daniel R. Lord & Co., foundry, manufacturers of plows and cultivators.
- Manuel R. Phillips, builder
- Lorenzo Streeter, manufacturer carriages, wagons and sleighs, carriage repairing, painting and ornamental glass staining
- L.A. Trudell, blacksmith
- A.B. Watson, builder
- Albert Wiser (b.1852-d.1830), livery
- Osmund Wigg, merchant and dealer in dry goods, groceries, boots and shoes
Historic district
Waterford Village was designated a Michigan State Historic Site on June 18, 1976 and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on August 10, 1979.
Geographically, the historic district includes Dixie Highway, a block north and south of Andersonville Road, then Andersonville Road between Dixie Highway and Airport Road, then south on Airport Road to the railroad tracks.
Included in the historic district are also the original houses and buildings on Dubay Street, Pontiff Street (originally Pond Street), and Steffens Street.
Main streets
- The Saginaw Trail ran north from Detroit, through Pontiac and Waterford, on up through Flint and to Saginaw . In 1829, construction began on a road north from Detroit along the Saginaw Trail. That road became Saginaw Street and later Dixie Highway.
- Grand River Street began at Saginaw Trail in Waterford Village and headed west for four miles to the town of Andersonville, Michigan. The street was initially called Grand River Street, but then was changed to Maple Street before becoming Andersonville Road.
- Depot Street ran from Grand River Street south to the Waterford train depot. The street was renamed Airport Road after the Pontiac Municipal Airport opened in 1928.
General store
The first store in the village was the home of Alpheus Williams where he kept of few shelves of staples. After his death, the land exchanged hands many times. In 1837, Merrick and Bruce purchased it and built the first established store next to the original home of Alpheus Williams on the north bank of the Clinton River on Dixie Highway. The store remained in operation for many years.
Circa 1857, Horace Huntoon (b.1837-d.1897) and a young handyman named John A. Griffen (b.1841-d.1917) built a general store in Waterford Village on the southwest corner of Andersonville Road and Dixie Highway (now 8799 Dixie Highway).
The general store had nine different proprietors between 1857 and 1927:
- 1857 to 1860, proprietor Horace Huntoon (b.1831-d.1897)
- 1860 to 1863, proprietor Phineas Huntoon (b.1827-d.1903)
- 1863 to 1865, proprietor John G. Owen (b.1824-d.1901)
- 1865 to c.1870, proprietor unknown.
- c.1870 to 1882, proprietor Osmond Wigg (b.1840-d.1920)
- 1882 to 1888, proprietor James R. Jones (b.1858-d.1933)
- 1888 to 1917, proprietors unknown.
- 1917 to 1927, proprietor August V. Jacober (b.1882-d.1966), the last proprietor of the store.
The general store housed everything needed for the village and surrounding community. From dry goods and tools to certain foods, patent medicines, household utensils, fancy jewelry, material for clothing, shoes, hats, cracker barrels, and even hard candy and a small selection of toys.
James R. Jones had the first telephone in the village installed in his store.
The Waterford General Store also had attractions for the local residents and the summer vacationers as well. The second floor of the store had a roller skating rink for a time and also was used as a theater for a period. James R. Jones and his wife Isabelle actually lived above the store for a while.
The general store was the heart of the community. The store served as a meeting place for friends, who swapped stories and debated politics
The storekeeper knew the latest news and often served as the Justice of the peace, and the village Postmaster. In 1865, John G. Owen became the first postmaster in Waterford Village. When zip codes were introduced in 1963, Waterford's zip code became 48095.
The store was idle for a few years in the early 1900s, but the second floor was used as a justice court, and a dance hall.
In 1927, Henry Ford purchased the store from August V. Jacober for $700. The store was moved and currently stands in Greenfield Village in Dearborn, Michigan. August Jacober built another store in the same location in Waterford Village and ran it until 1957.
Church
In 1869, a Baptist church became the first church built in Waterford Village. It later became a Methodist church.
The church is still standing at 5860 Andersonville Road near Dixie Highway. It was renovated in 1976 after being purchased by Waterford Township.
School
In 1901, the first school was established in Waterford Village on Steffens Street and Andersonville Road. In 1910, the wooden school burned down but was rebuilt.
In 1927, a two story brick building was built at 4241 Steffens Street. The elementary school was renamed Waterford Village School.
In 2014, Waterford Village School, the oldest in Waterford Township, was closed. The Waterford School District has since turned the school into four preschool classrooms.
Tavern
In 1922, the Old Mill Tavern was built by Louis Dorman (b.1895-d.1976) in Waterford Village. It was located at 5828 Dixie Highway where the road crosses of the Clinton River. It was the most popular restaurant in Waterford Village for over a half century.
The tavern was destroyed by fire in 1982 and was never rebuilt.
Notable people
- Bob Seger, singer, songwriter, musician and member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, lived on Airport Road in the village.
- Jem Targal, member of the rock band Third Power, lived on Airport Road at Andersonville Road in the village.
Images for kids
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Today's Lah-De-Dahs baseball team
