‘And my heart is glad as I wind aroun?
The friendly road to Clarkston town.?
These melodic words are some of Laura Glasel’s favorite. The Independence Township native not only grew up hearing and enjoying this wonderful poetry, but also living the very life depicted.
‘On the Road to Clarkston Town? is a beautifully written poem by Detroit resident Orrin Alden DeMass. The work can be found in his collection Dream Summer Songs (1931).
For Glasel, ‘On the Road to Clarkston Town? is a family treasure that brings back plenty of childhood memories.
‘My parents (Harvey and Rae Link) moved out here to Walters Lake in 1938,? explained Glasel. ‘His sister lived across the street from my parents. There weren’t many people out there and you got to know everybody then.?
‘We got to know (DeMass) through his family. My parents new him better than I did.?
As far as Glasel can remember, DeMass owned a summer home on Walters Lake. Otherwise, he was a Detroit resident who worked as a trustee for the Sunny Beach Land Company.
‘I remember as a younger person we were kind of in awe of him,? reminisced Glasel. ‘He had that big car.?
‘On the Road to Clarkston Town? came into Glasel’s possession when she inherited several volumns of DeMass? work as family heirlooms. In addition to Dream Summer Songs, she also has Vagabond Verses, Sunshine and Shadows (1926), and a single poem ‘A Letter from Home.?
‘This one poem has particular meaning to me because Clarkston Rd. was our life line to everywhere,? said Glasel. ‘Whenever you went anywhere, you started out on Clarkston Rd.?
‘It’s still a beautful road. Busier and more crowded now, but still beautiful.?
When looking over the poem, Glasel said she has difficulties finding that one line which tells the whole story. She finds that poem must stand as a whole, or not at all.
‘When I read this poem I imagine the peace and tranquility of how Clarkston Rd. use to be,? said Glasel.
‘We would sometimes take two hours to walk home from school playing on that road,? she said with a smile. ‘You would fiddle around so much. There was so much to do there. I can’t believe when I look at it how we spent so much time on it,? she added.
‘I still love that poem, and that road.?