Dexter in Washtenaw County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Frederick Pelham: Bridge Engineer
Photographed By Joel Seewald, August 24, 2019
1. Frederick Pelham: Bridge Engineer Marker
Frederick Pelham was born on November 7, 1864. He attended school in Detroit. In 1887, he became the first African American to receive an Engineering Degree from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, and was hired as a civil engineer for the Michigan Central Railroad Company. Frederick is known for the design and construction of 20 railroad bridges.
In 1887, Martha Warner was killed crossing the train tracks. The citizens of Dexter petitioned the Michigan Central Railroad to make the road crossing safer. Frederick Pelham was assigned the job. In 1890, he designed the skew stone arch bridge over the road as well as the nearby stone arch bridge over Mill Creek.
Frederick Pelham died of acute pneumonia on February 6, 1895 at the age of 30.
This sign was researched by Wilie Elementary School 4th-grade student (2017-2018).
Resources:
"The Dexter Underpass", Grace Shackman, Ann Arbor Observer, Spring 2007
"The Michigan Manual of Freedmen's Progress", John M. Green, 1915
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Bridges & Viaducts • Education • Railroads & Streetcars. A significant historical date for this entry is February 6, 1895.
Location. 42° 20.319′ N, 83° 53.425′ W. Marker is in Dexter
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. History of Mill Creek Dam (within shouting distance of this marker); Alice Frances House•Library (about 700 feet away, measured in a direct line); Dexter Area Civil War Memorial (approx. 0.2 miles away); Forest Lawn Cemetery (approx. 0.2 miles away); Dexter Depot / Track Pans (approx. 0.4 miles away); St. Joseph Catholic Church (approx. 0.4 miles away); Labyrinth (approx. 1.7 miles away); Hudson Mills (approx. 3.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Dexter.
Also see . . . Fred B. Pelham: building bridges. University of Michigan Engineering website entry (Submitted on November 10, 2019, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan.)
University of Michigan student portraits, Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan
2. Frederick Pelham: Bridge Engineer Marker - upper left image
Frederick Pelham's 1887 graduation photo.
Courtesy Dexter Historical Society
3. Frederick Pelham: Bridge Engineer Marker - middle left image
Railroad crossing where Martha Warner died in 1887. Present site of the skew arch bridge.
Photographed By "The Michigan Manual of Freedmen's Progress", John M. Green, 1915
4. Frederick Pelham: Bridge Engineer Marker - lower left image
Skew arch bridge under construction (Pelham right of center) ca. 1890
5. Frederick Pelham: Bridge Engineer Marker - lower middle image
Courtesy Dexter Historical Society
6. Frederick Pelham: Bridge Engineer Marker - lower right image
Mill Creek stone arch bridge ca. 1890.
Photographed By Joel Seewald, August 24, 2019
7. Frederick Pelham: Bridge Engineer Marker
The skew stone arch bridge is far in the background.
Photographed By Joel Seewald, August 24, 2019
8. Frederick Pelham: Bridge Engineer Marker
Photographed By J.T. Lambrou, March 25, 2021
9. Skew stone arch bridge
Photo of the skew stone arch bridge where Martha Warner was killed.
Credits. This page was last revised on August 10, 2022. It was originally submitted on November 10, 2019, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan. This page has been viewed 743 times since then and 94 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. submitted on November 10, 2019, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan. 9. submitted on March 25, 2021, by J.T. Lambrou of New Boston, Michigan.
