Established 171 years ago, Orion Township has a rich history that spans many generations.
Now residents and history buffs alike have the opportunity to see some of that history for themselves, as lifelong resident Jim Ingram, along with co-author Lori Grove, recently released Images of America: Lake Orion, a book that offers a rare first-hand look at all that Orion Township was, and has become.
‘It’s a good comprehensive picture of Lake Orion history,? Ingram said. ‘I was just delighted with how it turned out.?
The book, published by Arcadia, is now available for $19.99.
‘I would hope it would communicate the history of the area to people that have moved into the subs in the last 15 to 20 years, and even those moving in now,? he said.
The book uses pictures and brief descriptions to highlight the transitions of several areas of the township, from the late 19th Century into the 1960s.
Ingram said this was likely the first published book giving a detailed history of Orion Township.
‘There was a history written in the 1970s, but it was never really published,? he said.
Copies of that history, written by Paul Scott, are still available today at the Orion Township Library.
‘This (book) is more of a pictorial,? Ingram said of Images of America: Lake Orion, which includes over 200 vintage images of the township.
The book is divided into seven chapters, which Ingram said were more like subject areas, ranging from summer cottages and Park Island, to the downtown area of the village.
Ingram is a fifth-generation resident of Orion Township, whose history column ‘Time Tracs? is featured in The Review.
‘I had written a lot about the resort part, because that’s the ‘sexy? part of the history,? he said.
For Ingram, researching some of the other historical aspects of the township, such as the farms and mills, was quite interesting.
‘The evolution of the business district was one of the more intense transitions,? he said. ?(The book) shows how it evolved from the 1880s, right up into the ?40s and ?50s.?
The idea for the book came from Grove, who currently lives in Chicago, but spent her childhood summers at a cottage in Lake Orion.
Grove contacted Ingram over a year ago, and the two picked out a photo for the cover together shortly thereafter.
They first met when Grove did a slide presentation in the area years ago.
‘She had dealt with Arcadia before,? Ingram said of the book’s publishing company, which is mainly interested in pictorials.
Ingram guessed that roughly 75 percent of the photos in the book are from his personal collection.
Ingram also wrote a majority of the descriptions that accompany the book’s pictures, which were then edited by Grove and the publishers.
He said Grove, who did a similar book with Arcadia about Maxwell Street in Chicago, was responsible for much of the Orion book’s layout.
The book also includes donated drawings by Sharyn Davis, of the township’s first mills.
Images of America: Lake Orion, by Arcadia Publishing, is available at area bookstores, independent retailers, online bookstores, or through Arcadia Publishing at www.arcadiapublishing.com, or by calling (888) 313-2665.