"Timberlake" was the dream of Sam Miller as a retirement community. Mr. Miller was co-founder of the Merrick-Miller auto agency and later operated the Sam Miller Dodge Agency in Columbus. When he retired after more than 30 years as an auto dealer, he turned to developing Timberlake. The Miller home was located off Lambert Road on the banks of Hellbranch Creek. Sam had bought the farm in 1940. The area was part of the Virginia Military Land Grant, according to court records. A year earlier, Lambert Road had been built by the W. P. A. It was named for Ed Lambert, who lived on the road.

The area was rolling pasture land dotted with large oak trees and farm land. A smaller branch of the creek flowed along the edge of the woods. This was dug out and enlarged and a dam was constructed to form the "Sam Miller Farm Pond", later known as "Timberlake". It was under construction at the time of the flood in 1959, and it was feared the new dam might collapse. When finished the lake covered about 12 acres with a depth to about 50 feet. It was fed by a smaller lake and dam (behind Teal Court) that was an earlier farm pond. A third lake and the surrounding farm land was owned by the Lemual Smith family. This lake, now called "The Farm Pond", was know as the "Pay Lake" because it was a private, stocked fishing lake. When it was constructed, about 1940, an island had been made in hopes of attracting "Wood Ducks" to the area. But none came. The island has long since settled into the pond. When Mr. Smith died in 1965, his son Cecil sold the farm to Sam Miller. Cecil and his sister, Dorris Decker, lived in Timberlake, just across the road from the home they grew up in. (A school stood at the corner of Lambert Road and Rt. 62, where the Ohio station is located. When it was torn down, the area children attended the school in Harrisburg.)

In 1954 Lakeland Enterprises, with Sam Miller as president, was incorporated to develop the community of Timberlake. The original sub-division occupied the scenic shoreline of "Timberlake". Thirty-seven lots were platted along Cardinal Drive and the north side of Pheasant Lane to Teal Court. The first home was occupied by the Ted Stetham family. They moved into their home that Mr. Stetham had constructed on July 1st, 1965. Some other early residents were the families of Lowell Hamrick, Bob Burson, Jim Simcoe, Vern Peterson, Art Geddes, John Headington, Lou Weber, Waldo Hughes, J. Palsgrove, Hunter and Martin Stahl.

Although not an engineer, Sam Miller did much of the work himself in constructing the lake and dam, and the water and sewer systems. He was proud of his work. In the summer of 1956, Mr. Miller was killed in a construction accident. He was operating a bulldozer, excavating a sewer ditch on Pheasant Drive, when one of the treads on the tractor came loose. He was thrown into the ditch and the tractor rolled over on top of him. His teenage grandson was working with him when the accident occurred. Mr. Miller's wife and son, John, assumed control of the development.

By 1969, twenty-two more lots were added in Timberlake, phase 2 and 2-A. These were on the south side of Pheasant Drive, on Teal Court, and on Lambert Road. Lots now totaled 59.

Between 1969 and 1972, phase three was added. Twenty-four more lots were platted on Lambert Road, Meadowlark Court, and Bluebird Drive. They now totaled eighty-three.

The first Timberlake Owner's Association meeting was held at the Sales office (the former Smith home) on August 11th, 1971. A general meeting was then held at the basketball court on September 22nd.

In December, 1972, John Miller announced that he and his mother had sold the underdeveloped areas of Timberlake to Surrogate, Inc., a partnership of Robert Cochran, Ted Millican and Dave Smucker.

In 1973, zoning was changed from Rural to Suburban Residential for the 127 acre sub-division, and phase IV in the development of Timberlake Circle was begun. Sixty-eight lots were platted on Timberlake Circle and Sandpiper Drive and the east end of Pheasant Drive. The total lots was now 151. The fourth lake, on Sandpiper Drive, was constructed.

In 1978, the water tower was erected and phase V was begun. The fifth lake was constructed and Timberlake Circle was extended to the woods. Thirty-seven lots were platted, making a total of 188.

Except for Timberlake Circle, all streets are named for birds: Cardinal, Pheasant, Bluebird, Sandpiper, Mallard, Heron, Teal, Meadowlark, Thrush, Oriole, Thrasher, Ospry, Redwing, Killdeer, Chickadee, Kinglet, and Grosbeak.

We have seen a lot of changes in Timberlake in our "first twenty years". Ownership of development has changed. It isn't just a retirement community as Sam Miller had planned-----but a blend of young and old. We have over 150 homes, with new houses under construction. Early sales listings touted it as the "Best of Both Worlds" with "Fresh Country Living" and closeness to the city. It is still all that - a lovely community in a lovely setting of lakes and woods. 

There is additional information provided, such as board members at the time of research. All records are being held in a TOA file by Tom Johnson.

Chronological List of Timberlake Data

Researched by Mary Marsh

1959 - Sam Miller Farm Pond and dam under construction.

1964 - "Lakeland Enterprises" is incorporated with Samuel Miller, president, to develop "Timberlake" as a retirement community.

1965 - On July 1st, Ted Stetham moves into first residence.

1966 - Summer, Street lights installed.

1966 - Sam Miller is killed in construction accident. His wife and son, John, assume the development.

1971 - August 11th, first Timberlake Owners Association Meeting.

1972 - December, John Miller announced he and his mother had sold undeveloped areas of Timberlake in partnership of Robert Cochran, Ted Millican, and David Smucker (Surrogate, Inc.)

1972 - Christmas Eve. first Lumina.

1973 - January, zoning changed from Rural to Suburban Residential.

1973 - "Sandpiper Lake" and Section IV being developed.

1976 - July 1st, Pleasant Township Fire Department in service.

1977 - April, "Timberlake Times" first published.

1978 - Water Tower erected.

1978 - Section V and 5th lake being developed.

1978 - Fall, first Community Garage Sale.

1979 - March 6th, T.L.O.A. dissolved as an organization of profit and reincorporated as a "non-profit" corporation.

1979 - September, fire plugs installed.

1980 - September, Timberlake Chapter of Sertoma chartered.

1981 - April, Timberlake Chapter of LaSertoma chartered.

1983 - August, Dave Smucker relinquishes seat on Board. State Savings assumes ownership of undeveloped Timberlake land and water and sewer plants.

1983 - September, T.L.O.A assumes ownership of two lakes and green areas from Dave Smucker.

1984 - Fall, Leak in dam partially drains lake.

1985 - January, sub-zero weather causes damage to water tower.