Usually, employees of the Oxford Township Parks and Recreation spend their days creating events and enrichment activities for the local community.
Recently, though, their job title was expanded a bit to local history gumshoes.
A couple weeks ago, Parks and Rec. Director Ron Davis returned to his office at 20 W. Burdick St. to find a township-hired contractor carrying items out of the old township office basement to a dump truck waiting outside.
Immediately, Davis called his staff down to sort through the miscellaneous items left behind after the township’s move to their new home on Dunlap Rd. last December.
‘It was all going to be pitched, and I just couldn’t believe that no one took the time to go through this stuff,? Davis said.
Oxford Township Treasurer, Joe Ferrari, said the township ‘took the old record books? before the contractor ‘cleaned up all of the stuff we didn’t have to retain.?
There were dusty boxes and boxes labeled with handwritten dates that were filled with papers containing township budgets, bills and receipts.
After sorting through the many boxes, the Parks and Rec. crew found some interesting historical items, like a paper that listed the park fund balance in 1916 at a mere $103.28, or paperwork showing that the township would charge residents $1 to shoot a family dog if they couldn’t afford it during the Depression era.
Teacher payrolls, census and enrollment information was found, which Davis turned over to the Board of Education. Demographics of the community and library budgets were found and given to the Oxford Public Library.
Also found was a receipt for four gallons of gas for 66 cents at Central Tire Repair in 1936 and a hand-drawn map of Stony Lake Park’s lighting system.
Parks and Rec employee Judy Royster said the most interesting thing she found in the paperwork were old meeting minutes that showed how Oxford was named from the many oxen that were raised in the area.
Unique bills were found where the township had to reimburse local farmers for their sheep killed by other resident’s dogs.
‘This stuff is so cool just to see how far we’ve come,? Parks and Rec. employee Becky Paquin said. ‘Everything is nostalgic.?
Probably the most exciting piece of history they found that day was a letter from former First Lady, Mamie Eisenhower, thanking the Women’s Republican Club for sending a get well card to President Dwight D. Eisenhower after a heart attack.
It reads: ‘The President and I are deeply grateful for your expression of good wishes and prayerful concern in his illness. I assure you your message has been helpful to him.?
‘There’s some really unique history stuff about the whole community,? Davis said. ‘And (the letter) was just the icing on the cake.?
The Eisenhower letter will soon be on display at the new township offices showcase.
Davis even got a call from a West Bloomfield resident who said he had a blanket graced with the Presidential seal on it that Eisenhower wore during a trip to Michigan that his father-in-law had. The man told Davis he would be happy to donate it to the showcase.
Some of the items found may be meaningless items to some, but to the Parks and Rec. crew it was just what they were looking for.
Davis said he’s been trying to complete a Parks and Rec. ‘timeline? so the community can see how the parks have changed throughout history.
‘It’s amazing how the park has played an integral part of our community,? he said.
Once Davis gets more information and photos compiled, he will put together a presentation for the Oxford Parks and Recreation Commission and township board, as well as other entities who’ve taken interest in his project.
For now, he’s going to keep pluckin? away at getting more of the history pieces to fit the puzzle.
‘It’s kind of wearin? me out,? he joked. ‘Once I started, I can’t put it down.?
Davis would like anyone who has photos or pieces of history surrounding the use of the township parks to call him at (248) 628-1720.