Written by Bette Twyman in WGS E-Newsletter, Volume 17, Issue Number 2
Evolving community names and boundaries resulted in our ancestors living in multiple communities while residing at the same location. For example, until it became a state in 1790, Kentucky was known as Virginia County. In 1796, Michigan consisted of only Wayne County which was split off into the various Michigan Counties, i.e. Oakland County in 1820, and additional counties after 1837 Statehood. Although far less common, such an evolution of place names has taken place in modern times.
My father, Donald Beutler, has lived in two different communities at his home north of M-59 and Cass Lake Road between 1958 – present without moving an inch! Waterford Township, being served by the Pontiac Post Office, was originally designated as Pontiac. Property taxes, however, were paid at the Waterford Township Hall, originally located on the northwest corner of Highland and Crescent Lake Roads. This is the present site of the CVS Pharmacy.
To the best of my recollection, with the 1964 implementation of the ZIP code system, this address became “Pontiac 48054”. Around 1983, due to enhancements of the ZIP code, it became Waterford 48328; a ‘plus-four’ extension was added to ZIP codes nationwide around the year 2000.
Evolving community names and boundaries resulted in our ancestors living in multiple communities while residing at the same location. For example, until it became a state in 1790, Kentucky was known as Virginia County. In 1796, Michigan consisted of only Wayne County which was split off into the various Michigan Counties, i.e. Oakland County in 1820, and additional counties after 1837 Statehood. Although far less common, such an evolution of place names has taken place in modern times.
My father, Donald Beutler, has lived in two different communities at his home north of M-59 and Cass Lake Road between 1958 – present without moving an inch!
Waterford Township, being served by the Pontiac Post Office, was originally designated as Pontiac. Property taxes, however, were paid at the Waterford Township Hall, originally located on the northwest corner of Highland and Crescent Lake Roads. This is the present site of the CVS Pharmacy.
To the best of my recollection, with the 1964 implementation of the ZIP code system, this address became “Pontiac 48054”. Around 1983, due to enhancements of the ZIP code, it became Waterford 48328; a ‘plus-four’ extension was added to ZIP codes nationwide around the year 2000.
Bette Twyman is a member of WGS and the Oakland County Genealogical Society
Lifetime resident of Waterford and Michigan First Family lineage through Joseph Long
Member of DAR, Colonial Dames 17th Century, Daughters of 1812