Morenci in Lenawee County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Murray D. Van Wagoner Memorial Bridge / Taft Memorial Highway
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 Sterling Road truss bridge, relocated in 2004 from nearby Hillsdale County by the Michigan Department of Transportation for use as a crossing on the pedestrian trail.
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
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. Marker is on S. East Street (State Highway 156), on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Morenci MI 49256, United States of America. Touch for directions.
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. 1˝ miles away); Fractional District No. 3 School (approx. 2.9 miles away); Pleasant View Union Civil War Memorial (approx. 6.9 miles away in Ohio); Fayette Veterans Memorial (approx. 6.9 miles away in Ohio); Royalton Township Civil War Memorial (approx. 7 miles away in Ohio); Weston Veterans Memorial (approx. 7.1 miles away); Lyons World War II Memorial (approx. 7.1 miles away in Ohio). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Morenci.
Credits. This page was last revised on May 10, 2023. It was originally submitted on January 26, 2021, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. This page has been viewed 426 times since then and 281 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on January 26, 2021, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. 6. submitted on May 10, 2023, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.