History of Waterford

To understand the history of Waterford Village, we must go back to when land was being sold to settlers. Michigan was part of the Northwest Territory owned by the British. By the treaty of peace in 1783 between the United States and Great Britain, this area became a part of the United States, but British Troops were not actually evacuated until July 12, 1796. When they left, Captain Moses Porter took possession of Fort Detroit. General Arthur St. Clair was appointed the first governor. In January 1805, Congress passed an act for the organization of the Territory of Michigan. In 1813, Colonel Lewis Cass was appointed third governor and he formed the boundaries of Oakland County in 1819. Waterford became a township in 1834 and in 1837 Michigan became a state.

After the war of 1812, veterans were being given parcels of land to settle. In 1815, Surveyor-General Edward Tiffin had the area of Michigan outside Detroit surveyed for granting land to the veterans. The report was so discouraging as to the condition of the land and the surrounding areas, the veterans were given land in Illinois and Ohio instead. This report was one of the main reasons for the delay in settlement of Michigan.

During the time Michigan was part of the Northwest Territory, there were two main Indian Nations, the Algonquins who were tribes of the Hurons, Ottawas, Ojibwas, Pottawatomies, Miamis, Sauk, Sashabaws and others; and the Iroquois. The Algonquins, farmers and trappers, helped the new settlers as they moved westward. The Iroquois were warlike and were finally defeated to just a few by the other Nation with the help of the soldiers. By the time the settlers ventured into Waterford Village, there were few Indians living in the area.

By the end of 1818, a land office was set up in Detroit and parcels of land were sold. In 1831, Alexis de Tocqueville from France made a trip into the interior of the Territory and came back with a description of beautiful land, abundant game, excellent fishing, pristine lakes and virgin forests.

In the later part of 1818 Major and Mrs. Oliver Williams, formerly of Massachusetts, Mr. And Mrs. Alpheus Williams, formerly of Massachusetts, Calvin Baker, Jacob Eilett and Colonel Beaufait made a journey to Oakland County on horseback. After three or four days, the party returned with examples of specimens of flowers, trees, and shrubs. Oliver Williams and Alpheus Williams, his brother-in-law, entered the first land purchase for $2.00 an acre. Archibald Phillips and Alpheus Williams purchased 161.40 acres in what became the village of Waterford.

In 1819, Mr. And Mrs. Alpheus Williams with their four daughters and two sons, Captain Archibald Phillips and Major and Mrs. Oliver Williams and their 8 children set out to settle Oakland County. 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 to where the Clinton River crossed the Saginaw Trail. Now that Indian trail is called Dixie Highway. Here the first house of the Village of Waterford was built by Alpheus Williams on the north bank of the river. Archibald Phillips built his home across from the south corner where Andersonville Road meets Dixie Highway. Williams and Phillips also built the first dam where the Clinton River crossed over the Saginaw Trail and erected the first saw mill.

Dr. George Williams, no relation to the Williams', was the first physician in the Village of Waterford but he traveled throughout the area. The first resident physician was Dr. Charles Robinson.

The first school classes held in Oakland County were in Oliver Williams' sheep barn in 1821 where 7 students attended class. A schoolhouse was later built in 1822. The marker on Dixie Highway indicates the location of the school. The first school to be established in the Village was in 1848, on Andersonville Road across from Steffen Street. That is now a driveway. It was also used by the Methodist for church services. In 1871-72 a two story brick building was built where the present school of Waterford Village is now located. It burned and was rebuilt in 1901.

The first cemetery was deeded by Archibald Phillips to Governor Cass for burial purposes in 1826. The first burial was the remains of the son of Alpheus Williams, Oliver Williams, who died at the age of 17 in 1820. His daughter was the second in 1826. Alpheus Williams died July 9, 1828 at age 62 and his wife, Abigail, died September 5, 1826 at age 58. Both Alpheus and Abigail were buried there. That cemetery is still in existence at the end of Clipper Court. Archibald Phillips died in December 1847. We do not know where he is buried.

The first post office in Waterford Township was established in 1834-35 on the north shore of Elizabeth Lake. The post office didn't come to the Village until 1865 when John Owen ran the Jacober Store.

The first store in the Village was the home of Alpheus Williams where he kept of few shelves of staples. After the death of Alpheus Williams, the land exchanged hands many times. In 1837-38, Merrick and Bruce purchased it and built the first established store. That store was located next to the original home of Alpheus Williams.

In 1854, Horace Huntoon and John Griffen built a store on the Southwest corner of Andersonville Road and Dixie Highway. We know it as August Jacober's store. This store still stands in Greenfield Village where it was set up after Henry Ford purchased it from the Jacobers in 1927 for $700.

The church building, erected in 1869, is still standing at 5860 Andersonville Road near Dixie Highway. It was renovated in 1976077. It is owned by Waterford Township.

The historic district of Waterford Township includes Dixie Highway, a block north and south of Andersonville Road, then Andersonville Road between Dixie Highway and Airport Road, south on Airport Road to the railroad tracks.