Jan. 3, 2007

Michigan's State Historic Preservation Office today announced that the Michigan Historical Commission has approved the Detroit River and Big Rock Point on Little Traverse Bay - natural resources long associated with Native American history and significant due to events in Michigan's recent past - as subjects to be commemorated by Michigan Historical Markers.  The commission approved the markers at its December 2006 meeting.

"The Detroit River, home to Michigan's early Native Americans and used for transportation and power generation, was threatened by pollutants such as oil and phosphorus," stated Department of History, Arts and Libraries Director William Anderson.  "The subsequent cleanup of the river and its ultimate recovery is one of Michigan's great environmental success stories."

The discovery of industrial mercury in the river in 1970 helped encourage passage of the federal Clean Water Act.  The marker is a joint project of the Michigan Environmental Council and the Michigan Historical Center, with funding from the Americana Foundation.  The marker will be placed at the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge, 5437 W. Jefferson, in Trenton.  The marker is the first in a series that will address Michigan's conservation and environmental history.

Up on Little Traverse Bay, the boulder at Big Rock Point (from which that point of land gets its name) was used as a landmark by Native Americans as a gathering place, at least as early as the mid-19^th century.  The Big Rock Point Nuclear Power Plant, located nearby, was built in 1962 as the world's first high-power, boiling-water reactor.  The plant was named a Nuclear Historic Landmark in 1991.  Consumers Energy closed the plant in 1997.  The company sponsored a marker that will address both the plant and the boulder and which will be placed at Adams Park in Charlevoix County's Hayes Township.

The Michigan Historical Commission also approved markers for the following sites.

State Reward Road No. 1 was the first road improved with state funds.  The reward system encouraged local governments to improve rutted and muddy roads by laying gravel or paving them.  Elkland Township received a $500 reward in 1905 for improving one mile of what is now M-81. (Cass City Road between M-81 and Schwegler Road, Elkland Township, Tuscola County)

John C. Liken was one of Sebewaing's most prominent citizens.  The owner of several wood product mills, a downtown commercial block, and the town's first telephone line, he promoted the development of the town.  Liken built houses for all four of his children.  His grandson John C. Martini, who was equally important to the community, occupied the only one remaining historically intact at this time. (644 E. Main St., Sebewaing, Huron County)

Camp Blair existed in Jackson from 1864 to 1866 as a rendezvous point for troops during the Civil War.  The camp, which included a hospital, barracks, storehouses and offices, occupied 11 acres of land.  The camp was demolished after troops mustered out of service and the location was lost.  In 2006 members of the Sons of Union Veterans identified the location. (North side of Wildwood Avenue, south of the railroad tracks between N. Thompson and Hibbard avenues)

When it was built in 1956-57, Michigan's First Tri-Level Intersection, the juncture of 8 Mile Road and Woodward Avenue, provided an innovative solution to the problem of the state's most congested intersection. (Bennett Street, first block north of Eight Mile Road (M-102), east side of Woodward, in Ferndale)

Hamtramck will receive two historical markers: one about the Dodge Brothers and the Dodge Main Plant and the other for St. Florian Church and the St. Florian Historic District. The glorious St. Florian Church was built in 1928 to serve Hamtramck's Polish Catholics.  The church dominates the historic neighborhood of modest houses, platted in 1909 in anticipation of a population boom spurred by the construction of Dodge Main in 1910.  (Dodge Brothers, Veterans Memorial Park, Joseph Campau Street, Hamtramck; St. Florian Church, Florian Street between Brombach and Latham streets, Hamtramck)

Since the Michigan Historical Marker Program began in 1955, the Michigan Historical Commission has placed over 1,500 markers throughout the state.  The markers are paid for with donations from sponsors who submit application packages to the State Historic Preservation Office. The Michigan Historical Commission determines the placement and wording of official state markers, which are the property of the State of Michigan.

Traveling Through Time: A Guide to Michigan's Historical Markers (University of Michigan Press, 2005) is available through a variety of booksellers.

The State Historic Preservation Office (www.michigan.gov/shpo) is a division of the Michigan Historical Center, part of the Department of History, Arts and Libraries.  Dedicated to enriching quality of life and strengthening the economy by providing access to information, preserving and promoting Michigan's heritage and fostering cultural creativity, the department also includes the Library of Michigan, Mackinac Island State Park Commission, the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs and the Michigan Film Office.  Learn more at www.michigan.gov/hal.

Read more press releases from the Department of History, Arts and Libraries (HAL).