Orion Area History

News
Local artist, Sara Frank, of Iguanaworks, Inc. is selected to create a limited edition decorative tile inspired by an historic downtown building. Details to follow!

Local Resources
Lake Orion Historic District Map
DDA/Historic District Boundary
Historic Walking Tour Guide

Tax Incentives
For more information on tax     
incentives for historic buildings visit the SHPO web site at
www.michigan.gov/shpo and the incentives web page

Orion/Oakland Historic Sites & Michigan Historical Markers
William E. Scripps Estate
United Methodist Church
Carpenter-Rudd Mill
Howarth School
Paint Creek Millrace
Predmore House

For additional information on Lake Orion history, visit the Orion Historical Society web site.
Orion Historical Society

August 2006 - The Village of Lake Orion Downtown Development Authority proudly announced the approval of Lake Orion's first National Register Historic District. 

National Register Historic District in the Village of Lake Orion
We are very grateful to Bryan Lijewski, Architectural Coordinator, and the State Preservation Office for assisting with information on state & federal tax credits for historic district property owners.

In particular, the SHPO assisted one property owner in changing the status of a 'noncontributing' to a 'contributing' resource within the district . This enabled the property owner to enjoy valuable tax credits.

The same property owner received free architectural design assistance from Main Street Oakland County, and was awarded a local facade improvement grant from the DDA.

For more information on how the DDA can assist you with your project, contact Director Lois Golden at 248-693-9742 or director@downtownlakeorion.org.

Historic Register
For more information on historic designation and the National Register process, please visit the National Parks Service web site at http://www.cr.nps.gov/nr/listing.htm

Listing on the National Register of Historic Places can raise property value and add a new level of pride in one's community.  Both commercial and residential property owners can benefit from State tax credits based on a property renovations or improvements made according to criteria established by the Department of the Interior.  In addition, renovation of commercial historic properties are eligible for federal tax credits, if criteria is met.

Work on the district began with a group of Orion Historical Society volunteers eight years ago.  The project proved to be bigger than the available volunteer resources.  Funding was found to hire the architectural survey firm Mannik & Smith Group, Inc. to do the work which included identifying the district boundary, inventorying the properties within the proposed district, and completing the extensive application to the state for National Register designation.   The project was a collaborative effort, the majority of which was funded by the Downtown Development Authority and Orion Township, with some additional money coming from the Orion Historical Society.

Last spring, a special review board of the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) heard a formal presentation in Lansing  by Maura Johnson of Mannik & Smith Group.  Several members were there representing the community.  The National Register Coordinator, Bob Christensen, of the SHPO recommended designation to the National Park Service of the Department of the Interior which officially approves National Register designation.

History Tour book is available
at the DDA & Village Offices.

Online Historic Walking Tour
Coming Soon!

Studies of life in the Village during the early days of Lake Orion reveal a bustling neighborhood, that was self supporting and full of entrepreneurial spirit. The Village was a resort destination, and that made life even more interesting and unique. There was also a thriving business community that handled the daily needs of the citizens. It was a time when going Downtown was a necessary part of daily life. Everything was there, from the post office to the grocery store to entertainment to the tailor to the doctor.

The History Tour is meant to be taken at your leisure, all at once, or bit by bit, on a bike, on foot, or in whatever mode of transportation you choose. Please be respectful of the homeowners’ privacy and remain on the sidewalk while you view and read about each of the homes.

A recommended way of taking the tour is to begin at the former location of the Downtown Lake Orion Office, 22 W. Flint Street, and end at the Village Hall, 37 E. Flint.