Waterford School District history

The first school classes held in Oakland County were in Oliver Williams' sheep barn in 1821 where seven students attended class.

A schoolhouse was later built in 1822.

The first cemetery was deeded by Archibald Phillips to Governor Cass for burial purposes in 1826.

The first post office in Waterford Township was established in 1834-35 on the north shore of Elizabeth Lake.

In 1837-38, Merrick and Bruce purchased it and built the first established store next to the original home of Alpheus Williams.

The first school was established in the Village in 1848, on Andersonville Road across from Steffen Street (now a driveway). It was also used by the Methodist for church services.

In 1854, Horace Huntoon and John Griffen built a store on the Southwest corner of Andersonville Road and Dixie Highway.

The first Village post office was established in 1865 when John Owen ran the General Store (later to become Jacober�s Store).

The group met in the historic church, built in 1869, on Andersonville Road.

In 1871-72 a two story brick building was built where the present school of Waterford Village is now located.

In 1877, Edwin A. Atlee sold one and one half acres of land bounded by High Street and Butchers Row to Robert J.T. White, Owen Thomas, and D.H. VanDevanter, school trustee for the Jefferson District, for the sum of $350.

The cost of this building and the identity of the first teachers do not appear in the records; however, the records do reveal that, for the session of 1886-87, the faculty was comprised of Alma Karstetter, Ella Steer, and Jeanette Lewis, with a high enrollment of 82 and a low of 66.

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 building was destroyed by fire in February 1909.

In 1927 Henry Ford purchased the store from August Jacober for $700.

Just as it occurred to form the park and recreation district in 1965, a concerned group of citizens once again came together to make a difference.

After two unsuccessful attempts to fund the project, a construction bond was passed by the voters for an “open-air” pool in April 1974.

The Waterford Township Historical and Preservation Society, was formed in 1975.

In 1985, under the leadership of Parks and Facilities Supervisor Jim McMaster, the first significant fitness area renovation took place, with expansion of the weight room and the addition of approximately $70,000 of fitness equipment.

On October 24, 2014, the District opened a new fitness center on the lower level with new PreCor machines and cardio trainers, while converting the upstairs area to a group exercise classroom.