Friday, March 6, 2015
Royal Oak learned of Troy’s petition for incorporation after it was filed. Following approval of the petition, an election was scheduled for June 7, 1955. The voters of Troy Township had to formally support incorporation as a home rule city and select nine residents to serve on a Commission that would write a charter.
Vickers, Inc. challenged the validity of the petitions for incorporation in Oakland County Circuit Court, maintaining that the Township lacked the population required for incorporation by the State. Troy officials estimated the total area of incorporation was 27.5 square miles requiring a minimum population of 13,750. The initial state-held census survey reported 13, 217 residents.
Mr. Barnard stated, “Since the census is not officially completed, the committee on incorporation feels we must go ahead with the vote.” Verification of the pre-election census continued through Election Day, Tuesday, June 7, 1955. Circuit Judge H. Russell Holland refused to stop the election Monday June 6, telling Vickers, Inc. that it was too late to issue an injunction. However, the judge did not dismiss the suit. He would rule after the election.
Norman Barnard and the Citizens for Incorporation Committee made sure residents knew they could vote. Men with bullhorns cruised the township roads and urged citizens to cast their ballots. The final ballot tally was 2,111 yes and 254 no votes. The citizens overwhelmingly favored incorporation as a Home Rule City.
To commemorate the City of Troy’s 60th Anniversary in 2015, we will publish a different story each day that highlights a person, discovery, or event that occurred locally, regionally, nationally, or even globally between 1955 and 2015 and that helped shape our lives and our community. We will try to post stories on important anniversary dates, but we also realize that dates are less critical than content and context. We will include the facts related to controversial stories, allowing our readers to form their own opinions. We invite you to read and comment on the stories. Your suggestions for topics are also welcome and can be posted on our Facebook page, www.facebook.com/TroyHistoricVillage. You can also email stories or ideas to the 365 Story Editor at ed@thvmail.org.
