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Mr. William E. Neff

Object ID: 2013-001-031

Date: 1967-1976

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Principal. I began the 1963-64 school year as principal of Hawthorne Elementary School and informed by Supt. Dana Whitmer in mid-November that I would be transferred to Whitfield at the conclusion of the Thanksgiving break due to the illness of Principal Vida Walker. The coming years saw the staff change through the retirement of many veteran teachers. Programs originated by Principal Walker and staff remained in place with new programs and procedures gradually implemented. I became aware of the need for major renovation in the main/oldest building and after a prolonged attempt to convince the school district invited the Pontiac Press in to view the problems. A lengthy news article and photos brought solution to the problems.    A new roof, new flooring to 7 classrooms, office and teacher lounge, new tile and paint was completed over Christmas break. Major changes occurred as a result of court ordered integration of schools to reflect Pontiac’s racial makeup. Whitfield was paired with Franklin Elementary and changed from a K-6 “Neighborhood School” to a K-4-5-6 configuration. Franklin changed to a K-1-2-3 format and students in both schools exchanged students for a three-year period. A second change involved the transfer of teaching staff from both Whitfield and Franklin to accommodate the change in grade configuration. A third change was the consolidation of Whitfield/Irving principalships. I now served as principal for two schools for a two-year period. The school district created a “Head Teacher” position in each school to assist with administration/problems. Mr. Donald MacQuarrie and Mr. John Colbert served in that role. In my thirteen years at Whitfield the students, staff and parents provided me with an excellent work relationship and from those groups came many life long friendships. I left Whitfield for Clarkston Schools for an Assistant Superintendents position, a larger salary, and the opportunity to work where our children attended school. William E. Neff  

Sylvan Lake Inn

Object ID: 2013-001-030

Date: 1893

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In 1893 Merrill B. Mills, Mansfield Shelly, George Barbour, and J. Blair Simpson decided to establish a resort at Sylvan Lake. Merrill B. Mills built a summer hotel on a hilly point separating the two parts of the lake. He did his best to encourage land sales by offering a free weekend at his hotel for those who brought a lot in the subdivision. There was a golf course, a riding stable, furnished with saddle horses, a bathing beach, a bowling alley and even a billiard parlor. The center of the resort, a hotel, was erected on the present site of the Community Center for $25,000. The grounds were lighted by electricity in connection with the interurban railway. In Addition to the hotel, owners planned a community containing 1300 building lots, six public parks, a school house, a depot and church sites. In 1903 the Sylvan Lake Inn burned down. For many years, the family of Merrill Mills gave the Detroit Free Press a restricted deed to the property formerly occupied by Mills’ summer hotel. Around 1906, Mills donated this property to The Detroit Free Press for use as the Fresh Air Camp.

Detroit Free Press Fresh Air Camp

Object ID: 2013-001-029

Date: 1920

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The Detroit Free Press Fresh Air Camp operated during the 1920’s to 1950’s. The Merrill Mills family gave the Free Press a restricted deed to the property formerly occupied by Mills’ summer Sylvan Lake Inn. The newspaper developed the property as a summer campground for underprivileged children brought out from the city for two weeks of recreation. The project was supported in part by city schoolchildren who sent in nickels to build the camp. Camp activities included baseball games on the front lawn, swimming, boating, and singing. At flag ceremonies each morning and evening the camp children recited the Pledge of Allegiance. During the weeknights the children would take turns entertaining the villagers with songs and skits. Mr. Howard Wideman stated in 1993 that city officials purchased the Detroit Free Press Fresh Air Camp for $1, with the agreement to operate it for three years as a summer camp for underprivileged children at Mr. Wideman’s urging. Detroit Free Press deeded the Fresh Air Camp property to Sylvan Lake in 1962.