The area that eventually became Diamond Park was part of a larger land purchase by Maurice Brown from the US Government on July 15, 1870. During the remaining years of that century, the woods were filled with the sounds of saws, axes, and crashing trees during the day. The lumberjacks and friends spent the evenings at the dance hall on the lake that was just south of what is now South Park.

 

The land changed ownership several times and eventually was purchased by Homer Olds in 1906. He hired Colburn Tuller to survey the land and filed the plat of Diamond Park in 1908. The dedication on the plat reads “Know all men by those present that I, Homer Olds, unmarried, have caused the land embraced in the annexed plat to be surveyed, laid, cut and platted as Diamond Park and that the streets and alleys as shown on said plat are dedicated to the use of the public.”

 

Only a few people lived in the area year-round. They replanted trees, cared for property, stored ice from the frozen lake, and grew produce for summer visitors. At least four sets of resort cottages were built in the park. As the years went by, more people bought the property and built their own cottages.

 

Summer residents and visitors came from near and far. Several musicians from the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra made the two-day journey on gravel and sand roads in order to teach at the National Orchestra Camp, now called the Interlochen Arts Camp. They built and rented cottages in the park and on occasion, entertained their friends with a concert.

 

Several property owners decided to organize an association during the summer of 1945, specifically to help defray the costs of maintaining roads. The first association meeting was held in August of 1946. By-laws were drawn up, officers were elected and they acquired land that was donated by the Griffin family. This common area was named Griffin Park. The land for South Park was donated by the Sherman family in 1952.

 

The association would also improve and maintain roads, survey and establish property lines, bring telephone service to the area, and other tasks that would improve the quality of life in the park.

 

Today, Diamond Park has 85 homes with 35 of those housing year-round residents. During the summer months, nearly every home and cottage is filled with summer residents and visitors.

 

Members who have paid road use fees and association dues are granted voting rights. Voting members and their guests have privileged access to all property owned and maintained by DPPOA including Griffin Park, South Park, the marina, and the swim dock.