Bay City in Bay County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Sage Public Library
By Kathy Garman, July 25, 2020
1. Sage Public Library Marker
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
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).
Location. 43° 36.112′ N, 83° 54.278′ W. Marker 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 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Sion Church (approx. 0.4 miles away); Midland Street Commercial District (approx. 0.4 miles away); "Ten Hours or No Sawdust" (approx. ¾ mile away); Keit's Florist (approx. 0.9 miles away); Cross Country Connections (approx. one mile away); Abraham Lincoln (approx. one mile away); Center Avenue (approx. 1.1 miles away); George H. & Elva Shearer House (approx. 1.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Bay City.
By John Garman, July 25, 2020
3. Sage Public Library
As seen from the corner of South Wenona Street and East Midland Street.
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 42 times since then and 10 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.
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