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

Beet Sugar

Photographed By Joel Seewald, August 27, 2021

1. Beet Sugar Marker

Inscription. One of the first attempts in America to produce beet sugar was made in Michigan at White Pigeon late in the 1830's. The venture did not succeed though the future governor John Barry went to Europe seeking to learn its production methods. In 1888 Dr. Robert C. Kedzie of Michigan Agricultural College began encouraging farmers in the state to grow sugar beets. At Bay City in 1898 the state's first successful factory opened. Thereafter the Saginaw Valley became the sugar bowl of Michigan.

Erected 1957 by Michigan Historical Commission. (Marker Number 129.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Agriculture. A significant historical year for this entry is 1888.

Location. 43° 31.502′ N, 83° 52.991′ W. Marker is near Bay City, Michigan, in Bay County. Marker is on South River Road (State Highway 13) 3½ miles north of Interstate 75, on the left when traveling north. Marker is in Veteran's Memorial Park, a Saginaw County park, closer to the Saginaw River than to the highway. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Bay City MI 48708, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 5 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. James Clements Memorial Airport (approx. 1.6 miles away); O-Ge-Ma Ke-Ga-To (approx. 3 miles away); St. Stanislaus Kostka Roman Catholic Church

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(approx. 3.8 miles away); Frankenlust / St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church (approx. 4 miles away); Abraham Lincoln (approx. 4.7 miles away); Keit's Florist (approx. 4.9 miles away); Charles B. & Georgiana (McGraw) Curtiss House (approx. 5 miles away); Bay City Branch Library (approx. 5 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Bay City.

Photographed By Joel Seewald, August 27, 2021

2. Beet Sugar Marker

View of the marker from the highway looking to the north.

Veteran's Memorial Park sign image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Joel Seewald, August 27, 2021

3. Veteran's Memorial Park sign

Credits. This page was last revised on January 31, 2022. It was originally submitted on August 30, 2021, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan. This page has been viewed 136 times since then and 18 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 30, 2021, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan.