Litchfield in Hillsdale County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Wayside Memorial Park

Photographed By Craig Doda, December 25, 2019

1. Wayside Memorial Park Marker

Side 1

Inscription. In 1945-46 the Litchfield Garden Club created this park on land donated by the Litchfield Dairy Association. The club's Memorial Committee, composed of Jessie Bowersox, Martha Beauchampet and Pauline Kropschot, used landscaping and green space to beautify the space, which had been used as a trash dump. The focal point was a stone memorial honoring ten local men who died in World War II. The Committee designated the adjacet one-mile section of M-99 as Memorial Mile.

On September 8, 1946, the Litchfield Garden Club dedicated this park and its World War Il memorial. Norman Isott designed the memorial, which Yunker Memorials, Inc. produced using crab orchard stone. The approximately seven hundred people attending the ceremony included family members of the men honored on the memorial. That same year, the National Council of the Federated Garden Clubs of North America gave the Litchfield Garden Club an Outstanding Achievement Award for the project.

Erected 2016 by Michigan Historical Commission - Michigan Historical Center. (Marker Number L2282.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Parks & Recreational Areas • War, World II

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. In addition, it is included in the Michigan Historical Commission series list. A significant historical date for this entry is September 8, 1946.

Location. 42° 2.031′ N, 84° 44.117′ W. Marker is in Litchfield, Michigan, in Hillsdale County. Marker is on Homer Road (Michigan Route 99) 0.4 miles north of Cronk Road, on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Litchfield MI 49252, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 6 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Litchfield World War II Memorial (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Robert Benjamin (approx. 1.3 miles away); Rose Hartwick Thorpe (approx. 1.4 miles away); Congregational Church of Litchfield (approx. 1.4 miles away); Mosherville Church / Mosherville School (approx. 4.4 miles away); First House in Jonesville (approx. 5.1 miles away); Powers Clothing (approx. 5.1 miles away); Hillsdale County National Bank (approx. 5.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Litchfield.

Photographed By Craig Doda, December 25, 2019

2. Wayside Memorial Park Marker

Side 2

Photographed By Craig Doda, December 25, 2019

3. Wayside Memorial Park Marker

Side 1

Photographed By Craig Doda, December 25, 2019

4. Wayside Memorial Park Marker

Side 2

Photographed By Craig Doda, December 25, 2019

5. Wayside Memorial Park Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on January 25, 2021. It was originally submitted on January 25, 2021, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. This page has been viewed 167 times since then and 14 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on January 25, 2021, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. • Mark Hilton was the editor who published this page.