Morenci in Lenawee County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Taft Memorial Highway
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Murray D. Van Wagoner Memorial Bridge
Photographed by Craig Doda, October 13, 2019
1. Murray D. Van Wagoner Memorial Bridge side of marker
Taft Memorial Highway
In 1930 organizers from Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, and Florida formed the Taft Memorial Highway Association to promote automobile tourism. Named after the nation's twenty-seventh president, William Howard Taft, the highway stretched from Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, to Fort Myers Beach, Florida. Inspired by hundreds of similar associations across the country, founding members lobbied officials for modern roads and bridges along their selected route. Morenci organizers participated actively in the association. Although the association ceased operations during World War II, the state highway bridge over the Silver Creek remains as a legacy of local effort in a national movement.
Murray D. Van Wagoner Memorial Bridge
The Michigan State Highway Department built the steel-beamed Murray D. Van Wagoner Bridge over Silver Creek in 1935 at a cost of $35,700. The federal relief project helped the community by providing work during the Great Depression. The Morenci community, and boosters from the Taft Memorial Highway Association, held a dedication ceremony attended by 5,000 people. Namesake Murray D. Van Wagoner, head of the state Highway Department and a future governor of Michigan, made the keynote speech. Adjacent is the 1893
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Erected 2004 by Michigan Historical Commission. (Marker Number 2124.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Bridges & Viaducts • Roads & Vehicles • War, World II. In addition, it is included in the Michigan Historical Commission series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1935.
Location. 41° 42.737′ N, 84° 12.677′ W. Marker is in Morenci, Michigan, in Lenawee County. It is at the intersection of South East Street (State Highway 156) and Skyline Industrial Drive, on the right when traveling north on South East Street. The marker is a few hundred feet north of the Michigan-Ohio state line. Michigan Route 156 continues into Ohio as Ohio Route 108. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Morenci MI 49256, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is 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 8 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Morenci Veterans Memorial (approx. 0.8 miles away); Morenci Civil War Memorial (approx. 1½ miles away); Fractional District No. 3 School (approx. 2.9 miles away); Chesterfield School (approx. 3.7 miles away in Ohio); Pleasant View Union Civil War Memorial
Photographed by Craig Doda, October 13, 2019
2. Taft Memorial Highway side of marker
Regarding Taft Memorial Highway / Murray D. Van Wagoner Memorial Bridge. The truss bridge currently adjacent to this historical marker is the same design as the bridge that was built here in 1935, but it is not the same bridge. This bridge was originally built near Jonesville, some 40 miles northwest of here in Hillsdale County.
Photographed by Craig Doda, October 13, 2019
3. Murray D. Van Wagoner Memorial Bridge / Taft Memorial Highway Marker
Photographed by Craig Doda, October 13, 2019
4. Murray D. Van Wagoner Memorial Bridge
Photographed by Craig Doda, October 13, 2019
5. Murray D. Van Wagoner Memorial Bridge
Photographed by J. J. Prats, September 8, 2024
6. Murray D. Van Wagoner Memorial Bridge
Photographed by Craig Doda, May 7, 2023
7. Murray D. Van Wagoner Memorial Bridge Dedication Tablet
Credits. This page was last revised on September 15, 2024. It was originally submitted on January 26, 2021, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. This page has been viewed 970 times since then and 46 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on January 26, 2021, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. 6. submitted on September 15, 2024, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. 7. submitted on May 10, 2023, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
