Traveling Through Time
Coordinating the Michigan Historical Marker Program is an honor. People occasionally ask me to identify my favorite marker, which is like naming a best friend–pretty difficult and likely to offend someone. I do like some markers more than others for different reasons: the topic, the way the marker is written, and the research/writing process for that particular subject. Here are a few that fit under the “favorite heading” and I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.
Ossian Sweet Home, Detroit, MI
OSSIAN SWEET HOUSE
2905 Garland Avenue, Detroit
Erected in 2004
I often name the Ossian Sweet House marker as a favorite because it discusses a groundbreaking murder trial. Renowned defense attorney Clarence Darrow defended Dr. Ossian Sweet, an African American who was charged with the murder of a white man when a threatening mob gathered on Sweet’s lawn soon after he and his family moved into an all-white neighborhood. Darrow argued that people, regardless of their race, have a right to protect their homes. I read Darrow’s closing argument while preparing the text. It is amazing and available online.
Link to: Darrow’s summation
LANSING CITY MARKET
333 North Cedar Street, inside the west entrance
Erected in 1988
The Michigan Historical Marker at Lansing’s city market contains what is perhaps the all-time best first line I ever wrote: “Dancing and fiddling heralded the opening of the Lansing City Market on August 25, 1938.” I really like this marker because even twenty-one years later, I recall the articles I read in the 1938 Lansing State Journal about the event. It seems the whole city turned out for the opening, which ushered in a new era for Lansing area farmers. The idea of the citizenry joyously dancing and fiddling in celebration of a new farmers market really appeals to me. (Sadly, the market is slated for demolition and the marker will eventually be removed.)
Runaway 45 by Del Shannon monument
DEL SHANNON/RUNAWAY
45 Capital Avenue SW, SE corner of Hamblin Street, Battle Creek
Erected in 1990
This marker was pure fun. I rarely write about pop culture so writing that the Hi-Lo Club “rocked” and that 1960s recording artist Del Shannon’s single Runaway hit “the top of the pop charts,” really gave me a kick. Plus, the installation of the marker in the middle of a granite representation of the 45 rpm recording of Runaway is the most creative marker installation yet.
I could write about many more markers. Just now I recalled the Christmas Tree Ship marker in Thompson and the Detroit Arsenal Tank Plant in Warren! I hope those of you who read official markers around the state have many favorites as well. For you to be unable to pick just one would be a great compliment to the Michigan Historical Marker program, which has been telling the stories of Michigan for more than fifty years.
The book “Traveling Through Time, A Guide to Michigan’s Historical Markers” is available for purchase
David Marvin 
Brian C Young 
One of the best known agencies from the Great Depression was the WPA, or Works Progress Administration (”Work Projects Administration” after 1939). The reach of the WPA projects is legendary–from bridges to stream improvements to roads to arts, crafts and writing projects. The WPA even thought about holiday planning.
My wife and I try to stop at every historical marker we find on our adventures around the state. I am proud that when I worked for former Representative Larry Julian I had the opportunity to help craft legislation (Public Act 488 of 2002), a law that instituted penalties for stealing or destroying a historical marker. Having read about Dr. Sweet and his family’s trial, I am happy to know there is a marker at his former home and that the home still exists. I shall add that to our list of markers to visit.