Southfield in Oakland County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Southfield Centre

Photographed by Joel Seewald, November 11, 2017

1. Southfield Centre Marker

Inscription. The Territorial Road (present-day 10-1/2 Mile Road) east of the Rouge River was Southfield Township's economic hub during the mid-nineteenth century. In 1831 Archibald Green, one of the township's earliest settlers, opened a blacksmith shop. In 1837 Ezekiel Sabin, built a gristmill along the river, inspiring entrepreneurs to establish businesses in Southfield Centre. Cornelius Lawrence opened a tavern, which became the Southfield Hotel, and Crawford's Corners Postmaster John Trowbridge moved his store and the post office here. In 1918 Henry Ford purchased the Sabin Mill site. The automobile magnate planned to join the factory and the farm by building hydropowered plants that would employ farmers during the winter. Southfield Centre's forty residents hoped that the plant would lead to economic growth. Ford never built the plant.

Erected 1993 by Bureau of Michigan History, Michigan Department of State. (Marker Number L1893.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Michigan Historical Commission

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series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1831.

Location. 42° 28.75′ N, 83° 17.032′ W. Marker is in Southfield, Michigan, in Oakland County. It is on Civic Center Drive east of Telegraph Road (U.S. 24), on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 24300 Civic Center Drive, Southfield MI 48033, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southeast Michigan

and in Greater Detroit.

It is also in the American Midwest

and on the Great Lakes.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Southfield Town Hall (approx. ¼ mile away); Southfield Township Site (approx. ¼ mile away); Southfield Township Volunteer Fire Department (approx. ¼ mile away); Southfield Center (approx. ¼ mile away); Southfield Methodist Episcopal Church (approx. 0.3 miles away); Southfield Cemetery (approx. half a mile away); Historical Marker (approx. half

Photographed by Joel Seewald, June 24, 2022

2. Southfield Centre Marker

This view is looking west toward Telegraph Road.

a mile away); Congregation Shaarey Zedek (approx. 0.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Southfield.

Credits. This page was last revised on August 8, 2022. It was originally submitted on November 12, 2017, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan. This page has been viewed 409 times since then and 16 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on November 12, 2017, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan. 2. submitted on August 8, 2022, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan.