Bay City in Bay County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Sage Public Library

Photographed By Kathy Garman, July 25, 2020

1. Sage Public Library Marker

Inscription. Henry W. Sage (1814-1897) founded the village of Wenona (later West Bay City) in 1863. A merchant and philanthropist, he was also a founder of the Sage, McGraw and Company sawmill. In 1881 he donated property, building funds and $10,000 for books to West Bay City for this, its first public library. The structure was built in 1882/83 at a cost of nearly $50,000. Charles Babcock of Cornell University designed the French Chateauesque style building, and the local architectural firm of Pratt & Koeppe superintended the construction. The library was dedicated on January 16, 1884, in a ceremony presided over by Cornell’s Moses Coit Tyler. Michigan Supreme Court judges, congressmen and state officials attended. Offering continuous public library service since 1884, the library was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.

Erected 1984 by Michigan History Division, Department of State. (Marker Number L0639A.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Arts, Letters, Music • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Michigan Historical Commission series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1881.

Location. 43° 36.112′ N, 83° 54.278′ W. Marker

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is in Bay City, Michigan, in Bay County. Marker is on East Midland Street south of South Wenona Street, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 100 East Midland Street, Bay City MI 48706, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Sion Church (approx. 0.4 miles away); Midland Street Commercial District (approx. 0.4 miles away); Bay County Vietnam Veterans Memorial (approx. 0.4 miles away); "Ten Hours or No Sawdust" (approx. ¾ mile away); Of Legend And Legacy (approx. 0.8 miles away); Keit's Florist (approx. 0.9 miles away); Train Traffic Control Shack Informational Kiosk (approx. one mile away); Cross Country Connections (approx. one mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Bay City.

Sage Public Library Grounds image. Click for full size.

Photographed By John Garman, July 25, 2020

2. Sage Public Library Grounds

This is a view of the grounds east of the library and looking west along East Midland Street. The Library is in the background, and the historical marker is in the lower right hand corner (barely visible).

Sage Public Library image. Click for full size.

Photographed By John Garman, July 25, 2020

3. Sage Public Library

As seen from the corner of South Wenona Street and East Midland Street.

Sage Public Library Fountain and Front Entrance image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Kathy Garman, July 25, 2020

4. Sage Public Library Fountain and Front Entrance

Credits. This page was last revised on December 23, 2020. It was originally submitted on December 23, 2020, by John Garman of Rochester Hills. This page has been viewed 169 times since then and 30 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on December 23, 2020, by John Garman of Rochester Hills. • Mark Hilton was the editor who published this page.