After some trials and tribulations, an 1857 map of Oakland County is now hanging in the meeting room at Independence Township Library.
The map was purchased at a garage sale and given to the library by a woman who did not even give her name. However, the 5’ by 7’ map was both dirty and torn.
“We debated what to do with it and decided we should have it professionally restored,” Independence Township Library Director Mollie Lynch said. “But there are not many companies that do this type of thing.”
After placing a few phone calls, Lynch decided on a company in Massachusetts. After a few headaches on how to transport the map back, Lynch used a UHAUL to bring it back after her family camping trip in Massachusetts.
“We decided to hang it in the meeting room for security purposes,” Lynch said.
With a little research, Lynch found out the map took two years to make and was made available to the public in December, 1857. Approximately 400 maps were sold at $6 each.
“Our historical society also had one of these maps but it does not have Clarkston on it. We assumed theirs must be older,” Lynch said.