Alert readers of The Clarkston News have provided answers to questions posed by an historic poem about the Clarkston area.
‘On the Road to Clarkston Town,? written by Detroit poet Orrin Alden DeMass in 1932, chronicles travels along Clarkston Road. It depicts not only the nature of the travel along the ‘rustic road,? but also lists several memorable features of country living.
After two feature stories about the poem, there were still some unanswered questions. Several long-time residents, or descendants thereof, have some answers.
‘Lake Field farms? (one caller suggested it should be Lakefield Farms) refers to a working dairy farm located off Clarkston Road east of Eston Road toward the border of Independence and Orion townships. The property includes the neighborhood now known as Heather Lake Estates.
‘Lake Field Farm was a big part of my family’s life,? said Nancy Peter, noting lots of activity in the 1930s. ‘My father often drove the milk truck to Detroit for them and sold their milk. My aunt was a cook for the men who boarded and worked on the farm, and her husband was in charge of the dairy farm.
Local resident Laura Glasel says she still has a milk bottle cap from the days the dairy operated.
‘I don’t remember if my mother actually got milk from there or not, but she probably did,? Glasel said.
The reference to ‘the Sashabaw ‘neath alders cool,? which ‘winds its way to the slumbering pool? has a couple possible explanations.
Former resident Timothy Buell believes the line refers to Sashabaw Creek which, although it does not come near Clarkston Road, does quite a bit of ‘winding? between Lake Oakland in Independence Township and Mill Lake in Orion Township.
‘When I grew up there in the 70s it wasn’t very big, but I thought I remembered that it has been a much bigger creek back before all the development came along,? Buell wrote in an email to The Clarkston News.
Another long-time resident who asked to remain anonymous suggested that ‘the Sashabaw? actually refers to Sashabaw Road. North of the intersection with Clarkston Road, Sashabaw does a bit of ‘winding? around Whipple Lake, he said.