When The Clarkston News ran a story several weeks ago about a historic poem about Clarkston, people began remembering ? and wondering.
‘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.
Some of the references need explanation to those who weren’t around in 1932, however.
‘The colonel’s house on the Pine Knob Hill? refers to the mansion built by Col. Sidney Waldon in the 1920s, according to Toni Smith of the Clarkston Community Historical Society. The family’s name, of course, graces road signs throughout Independence and Orion townships, and the ‘hill? is now used for skiing and snowboarding.
The historical society archives has much information on Col. Waldon and his legacy, Smith said.
Smith shares questions about other quotations in the poem, as do even some long-time residents with family histories of their own.
For example, what and where was ‘Lake Field? (from the poem’s line, ‘Where Lake Field farms lay spreading fair?)?
Chuck Robertson (whose grandfather was a prominent settler in the 1880s), is among those who would like to know.
‘I wondered about that too [after reading it],? Robertson said. ‘It was a beautiful poem.?
While the current Sashabaw Road is familiar to all, and while some will remember the separate region known as Sashabaw Plains, the poem contains an unclear reference to ‘the Sashabaw ‘neath alders cool,? which ‘winds its way to the slumbering pool.? Neither Smith nor Robertson could interpret that passage of the poem.
The Clarkston News invites anyone with knowledge of the community’s past to help clarify these and other references of the historic poem. Call the newspaper at (248) 625-3370 with any helpful information.