Adrian in Lenawee County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
A Bench By The Road
Photographed by Craig Doda, September 18, 2021
1. A Bench By The Road Marker
There is no place you or I can go, to think about or not think about, to summon the presences of or recollect the absences of slaves; nothing that reminds us of the ones who made the journey and of those who did not make it. There is no suitable memorial or plaque or wreath or wall or park or skyscraper lobby. There's no three-hundred-foot tower. There's no small bench by the road.
- Toni Morrison 1989
This Bench is placed to honor the memory of those freedom seekers who escaped slavery using the Underground Railroad and made their way to Adrian, Michigan, a hub of abolitionist activity in the North. Among the men, women, and children who made the journey to freedom were George Branegan, Robert Coxe, George Taylor, John White, and Elsie and Willis Hamilton. While they were nobly assisted in their quest by brave abolitionists, it is the yearning, the fortitude, and the triumph of these heroic individuals that we remember today. May we continue to be inspired by their journey and may Adrian, Michigan, continue to be a beacon of hope and promise for all who pass through her gates.
Adrian, Michigan
Erected 2017 by Christopher & Kimberly Momany.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in
this page online
Location. 41° 53.833′ N, 84° 2.205′ W. Marker is in Adrian, Michigan, in Lenawee County. It is on East Church Street, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Adrian MI 49221, 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 walking distance of this marker: Laura Smith Haviland (within shouting distance of this marker); Laura Haviland (within shouting distance of this marker); The Antislavery - Underground Railroad Movement (within shouting distance of this marker); Adrian Fire Department / Adrian Engine House No. 1 (within shouting distance of this marker); Frank Navin & The Detroit Tigers (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Adrian Union Hall (about 600 feet away); Adrian & The Republican Party (about 600 feet away); Adrian's Governors (about 600 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Adrian.
More about this marker. This was the 22nd Bench Placement by the Toni Morrison Society.
Photographed by Craig Doda, September 18, 2021
2. A Bench By The Road Marker
Photographed by Craig Doda, September 18, 2021
3. A Bench By The Road Marker
Photographed by Craig Doda, September 18, 2021
4. A Bench By The Road Marker
Photographed by Craig Doda, September 18, 2021
5. A Bench By The Road Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on March 1, 2026. It was originally submitted on September 23, 2021, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. This page has been viewed 469 times since then and 13 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on September 23, 2021, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. • Mark Hilton was the editor who published this page.
