Near Vandalia in Cass County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Birch Lake Meeting House
Photographed by Duane Hall, September 4, 2013
1. Birch Lake Meeting House Marker
Underground Railroad Society of Cass County (URSCC) website homepage
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Quakers from the mid-Atlantic region settled here during the 1830's. This is the site of the meeting house, built in 1856, which replaced a log cabin dating from 1837. The congregation contained many active Abolitionists, and this area soon became an important link in the Underground Railroad. In 1927 the property was deeded to the Birch Lake Cemetery Association to be used "for the spiritual betterment of the community."
Erected by Birch Lake Cemetery Association.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Abolition & Underground RR • Religion & Religious Structures. In addition, it is included in the Quakerism series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1856.
Location. 41° 53.115′ N, 85° 53.099′ W. Marker is near Vandalia, Michigan, in Cass County. It is on James Street 0.1 miles north of Brownsville Road, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Vandalia MI 49095, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Greater South Bend and in Southwest Michigan. It is also 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 7 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Chain Lake Baptist Church and Cemetery (approx. 1.7 miles away); The Underground Railroad (approx. 2.8 miles away); The Kentucky Raid (approx. 2.8 miles away); Poe's Corners
this page online
More about this marker. This site is Stop #3 on the Cass County Underground Railroad Sites auto tour.
Photographed by Duane Hall, September 4, 2013
2. Birch Lake Meeting House Marker
Photographed by Duane Hall, September 4, 2013
3. Site of Birch Lake Meeting House
Photographed by Duane Hall, September 4, 2013
4. Birch Lake Cemetery
Credits. This page was last revised on April 26, 2022. It was originally submitted on September 5, 2013, by Duane Hall of Abilene, Texas. This page has been viewed 1,105 times since then and 30 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on September 5, 2013, by Duane Hall of Abilene, Texas.
