When it came time for Barbara Thomson to move out of her historic home on 135 N. Main Street and into assistant living, her son Rick Thomson thought donating the house to the Clarkston Community Historical Society would be a perfect way to support the community.
‘She (mom) felt strongly that she wanted to do something that would benefit the village,? said Rick.
Jennifer Arkwright of the CCHS was excited.
‘It was an honor to receive such a generous donation,? she said. ‘We will be sure to recognize Barb and Ted Thomson by creating an endowment in their name to respect the donation.?
The 2,580-square-foot Victorian Queen Anne style house was built in 1905. It’s the only house Rick really remembers. He was 5 years old when his parents Ted and Barb decided to move to Clarkston in the early 1950s.
‘My parents chose this because it was such a quaint little town and reminded them of where they came from,? said Rick. ‘My dad was from a little larger community, but mom was from a smaller community not unlike Clarkston.?
Both were from New York, he noted.
Ted served as an Air Force pilot during World War II, stationed in Africa. He retired from Ford Motor Company in 1974. He died in June of 1987, but left behind a legacy in Clarkston.
‘He had been very active in the community as far as any projects in the community that were going on,? said Rick. ‘Particularly the beautification and keeping Clarkston as close to the way as it originally was.?
Ted was village president sometime back in the 1950s, he noted.
Clarkston Mayor Sharron Catallo said Ted was a mentor to her when she first ran for office.
‘He certainly, I know, had an influence on me in some of the ways he made decisions,? She said. ‘The components of Ted that he put in the thought process, I think, have stayed with me.?
Catallo said Ted had a ‘presence? and influence on the community.
‘He did a lot for the community quietly with the purpose of just making it a better community for everyone,? she said. ‘Barb has always quietly continued the things that Ted did.?
He also served on the Zoning Board of Appeals. Art Pappas, former city manager, clerk, and treasurer, said Ted was a ‘good policeman? when it came to zoning laws.
‘If he saw something in the city that wasn’t according to hoyle he would follow through on it,? said Pappas.
One of the things Ted was known for was donating money to plant Maple trees.
‘At one time there were all these beautiful elms, but they all got the Dutch elm disease and had to be taken down,? said Rick ‘He wanted that tent effect, so they went with maples, which were a much more hardy tree.?
He said his dad’s loves were Clarkston, hunting and fishing, and dogs.
Barb went to college in Boston for art, but never taught. She was a housewife but did lots of volunteer work, said Rick.
‘She would drive blind people from Pontiac to different needs that they had, either to take them shopping or to classes,? he said. ‘My mom’s niece is blind as well, so she felt one way she could give back to the community was to help drive people who were blind in this area.?
Barb also served on the planning commission as well as being active in the Garden Club, Dance Club, and historical society. Rick said she donated to the historical society many items from the early 1900s, which she had brought back from both of his grandparents? houses on the east coast.
She also kept active at Saint Mary’s in the Hills church, which she still attends.
‘Her three big loves were the church, Clarkston, and dogs, especially Golden Retrievers,? said Rick.
Barb was a major contributor both to the gazebo and the bridge in Depot Park.
‘They lived in the city for more than 50 years,? said Pappas. ‘They were both very generous to the city both in service and financially.?
If you want to see the house, call the Clarkston Community Historical Society at 248-922-0270.
All proceeds from the sale of the home will be used to fund the society’s Clarkston Heritage Museum, as well as school history programs, public speakers, and other community activites.