From The Clarkston News archives

25 years ago – 1999
Headed for homeroom: Students unloaded from the buses at the temporary location for Independence Elementary School on Monday morning. Principal Chris Turner greeted fourth graders Dominque Kunz and Jessica Green as they approached the school.
Mikel and Dr. James O’Neill to lead Labor Day Parade: When Dr. and Mrs. James O’Neill led in the annual Labor Day Parade as Grand Marshals, it might be the first time had a glimpse of Mikel O’Neill. Former Clarkston Rotary Club president Jeff Lichty said Dr. and Mrs. O’Neill were asked to be Grand Marshals because of their contributions to the community and the fact they have been a part of the community for so long. Because of Dr. O’Neill’s work as a pediatrician, Lichty said Dr. O’Neill has touched almost every family in the community at some point or another and in order to do what he’s done, he had to have Mikel’s support.
Volunteers honored at Friends Ice Cream Social: Friends of Independence Library held their annual Ice Cream Social to honor library volunteers on the lawn of the Independence Township library. Best Friends awards went to the Clarkston Farm and Garden Club, Ed Kuhn, and Shirley and John Lynch. Twelve adult volunteers were recognized and given Friends T-shirts, 41 teen volunteers were also recognized as well as the summer youth reading volunteers.

50 years ago – 1974
Architect finds old church worth preserving: Clarkston Village Council Trustee Ruth Basinger, acting on the advice of architect Edward Francis of Franklin, Mich., planned to consult with structural engineering firms to determine the cost of a structural study on the Old Methodist Church at Buffalo and Church streets in Clarkston. Francis had reviewed the church and was enthusiastic about its restoration. The council was looking into the possible restoration of the church for use as village offices for community activities.
Changes greet 1,600 CHS students: Some 1,600 students would report to classes on Tuesday at Clarkston High School, the largest number in the 15-year history of the building and about 50 more than were enrolled in the 1973-1974 school year. Principal William Dennis said the 63 teaching positions of the previous year were maintained however a new counselor was hired to assist students.
The mill stream: The Koslowicz family of Main Street in Clarkston visited the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville, Ala. The center is the world’s largest space exhibit and featured spaceships used by astronauts and a simulated moon crater that the Kozlowiczes walked on. They also took a bus tour to NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center where they saw the Skylab Space Station.

75 years ago – 1949
School board members elect officers: On Monday evening the school board of the newly organized school district met and elected Paul Henry as president; F. LaVerne Spooner, secretary; Keith L. Leak, treasurer; Ronald Weber and Walton Robbins, trustees. The business meeting lasted until 1:30 in the morning in an attempt to iron out all details necessary to opening school the first week in Sept..
Local 4-H Club wins many awards: The Clarkston 4-H Club was proud of the fact many awards at the Oakland County 4-H Fair were won by its members which included George Mann, Janice Deverage, Don Mitten, George Brisson, Nadine Brisson, Alan Walton and Vaun Walton. Mann, G. Brisson and V. Walton would be attending the state fair in East Lansing.
Clarkston locals: Vivian O’Roark and Mrs. Elsie Smith of Clarkston, Mr. and Mrs. Myron Leighton of Metamora and Ernest Rathburn of Drayton Plains called at the summer cottage of the R. C. Beatties at Torch Lake on Monday. There were on their way to the upper peninsula and expected to be vacationing for a week.

  A Look Back, Peek in the Past