Nine New Michigan Historical Markers for Wyandotte
Laura Ashlee may have the best job in Michigan state government. For that blank" >matter, she, and all of her colleagues at the target="_blank" >glossary/state-historic-preservation-office/" class="glossaryLink" data-cmtooltip="905384ac8f73645218b8ca2c5a2e85e1" target="_blank" >State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) do deeply meaningful and rewarding work. The SHPO helps to connect Michigan communities to their heritage, and to use that heritage to strengthen communities, preserve historic buildings, and to stimulate economic development.
Ashlee herself is responsible for the popular State Historical Marker program. You may have never heard of the program before – but have probably seen its results. These handsome green markers pepper the landscape of our state, marking the sites of events significant to our history; and are an excellent way for a community to show that it is knowledgeable of and celebrates its heritage.
Wyandotte has two such markers: one south of Biddle Park, near the site of the Eureka Iron & Steel Works, and a second at the Wyandotte Chemicals headquarters on Biddle Ave. (today BASF). Two smaller state markers are visible on the Mehlhose houses on Oak St., but these smaller plaques have been phased out in favor of the larger markers in recent years.
There are nine properties in Wyandotte eligible for a marker today because they are listed on the State and/or register/" class="glossaryLink" data-cmtooltip="0a8fb7015864531461c0a210ec36471a" target="_blank" >National Register. Listing on the National Register of Historic Places is purely honorary and brings with it no restrictions on what may or may not be done with “listed” properties, but it does bring with it benefits including tax credits to assist in their rehabilitation and eligibility for State Historical Markers.
All three of Wyandotte’s National Register properties are eligible for markers but have yet received them. These include the George P. MacNichol House (Biddle 2610), the Marx House (Biddle 2630), and the Ford-Bacon House (Vinewood 45).
At one time the State of Michigan had a State Register program as well, that was similar to the National Register, but that program has since been eliminated in favor of listing properties on the National Register and replacing the State Register with the award of State Historical Markers. So all National Register properties in Michigan and Wyandotte are automatically eligible for State Historical Markers, and while we have no State Register any longer, if buildings not included on the National Register want to have a State Historical Marker, they may apply for this.
Properties formerly listed on the State Register that may be immediately eligible for Michigan Historical Markers in Wyandotte include the William Armstrong House (Biddle 2234), the site of the Ford Village Municipal Building (Biddle 994), the William and Amelia Kuehn Glinke House (Cherry 434), the Louis Mehlhose House (Oak 355), the Gustave C. Mehlhose House (Oak 367), and the Amo-Juchartz House (Plum 434).
Now, if nine properties in Wyandotte are eligible for markers, and all that needs to be done to receive one is to submit an application, what is preventing action in Wyandotte? Having a professional with expertise in preservation and the resources needed to cover both the application fee are one limitation. Markers cost between $1,810 and $3,150 depending on size and configuration.
Responsibility for the cost of the marker falls upon localities. In Wyandotte this may very well include the City, the DDA, the WBA, the Beautification Commission, the Historical and Cultural Commission, the Wyandotte Historical Society, and other civic-spirited organizations and individuals. In one Michigan community, schoolchildren raised the funds that were necessary. In another it was a series of bake sales.
The experience of other cities in the State shows the best way to stimulate a marker program is to start with one. So I challenge my readers to pull deep and ask – where will the next State Historical Marker be in Wyandotte and how will it be paid for?
My special thanks to the Wyandotte Beautification Commission for sharing with me information about the good work that they are doing in Wyandotte today. In future articles I will try to highlight this. For it is only by working together that we might create a community of which we all might feel proud!
As published in the Downriver Review.