White Lake Township in Oakland County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Hathaway-Hess Farm

Photographed by J.T. Lambrou, May 13, 2021

1. Hathaway-Hess Farm Marker

Inscription. The Hathaway-Hess Farm originated as the homestead of Jonathan Owen Hathaway, who migrated from New York to Oakland County with his parents in 1830. In 1861, Hathaway and his wife, Marcy C. Dewey, acquired an 80-acre parcel of land in Waterford Township. In 1902 Hathaway’s granddaughter Myrtle Hathaway married William Hess, an early investor in the Fisher Body Company. Following William’s retirement in the 1930s, the Hesses devoted their lives to the family farm. Here they operated a successful dairy known as the Lone Cedar Farm, and raised champion sheep and Jersey and Hereford cattle. Myrtle Hess died in 1985. She bequeathed the family farm to Waterford Township and stipulated that the land be used as a park. In 1989 Waterford Township dedicated the Hess-Hathaway Park.

Erected 1990 by Bureau of History, Michigan Department of State. (Marker Number L1682.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Parks & Recreational Areas • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Michigan Historical Commission series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1861.

Location. 42° 37.667′ N, 83° 26.54′ W. Marker is in White Lake Township, Michigan, in Oakland County

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. It is at the intersection of South Williams Lake Road and Bennington Boulevard, on the right when traveling north on South Williams Lake Road. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 825 S Williams Lake Rd, Waterford MI 48327, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southeast Michigan

and in Greater Detroit.

It is also in the American Midwest

and on the Great Lakes.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: St. Patrick Church (approx. one mile away); Four Towns Methodist Church (approx. 1.7 miles away); Kelley-Fisk Farm (approx. 2.4 miles away); Westacres (approx. 2.6 miles away); Sharing the Ride (approx. 2.6 miles away); Westacres Community (approx. 2.6 miles away); Walter Flanders / Flanders Garage (approx. 2.9 miles away); Commerce Village Burying Ground (approx. 3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in White Lake Township.

Photographed by J.T. Lambrou, May 13, 2021

2. Hathaway-Hess Farm Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on August 8, 2024. It was originally submitted on July 13, 2021, by J.T. Lambrou of New Boston, Michigan. This page has been viewed 1,259 times since then and 73 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 13, 2021, by J.T. Lambrou of New Boston, Michigan. • Mark Hilton was the editor who published this page.