Adrian, Michigan Of Lenawee County: An Eclectic Selected History

A diverse city with a vibrant history and will have a bright future Adrian, Michigan is located about thirty miles from Ann Arbor and Toledo in Southeast Michigan and seated in Lenawee County. Many notable citizens have called it home such as: Thomas Edison, talk show host Phil Donohue and baseball pitcher Mike Marshall. Addison Comstock was man of distinction who first founded the town in 1826 along the banks of the beautiful “Raisin River.” It was originally named “Logan” but Comstock’s new wife “Sarah Deane Swift” wanted her favorite Roman Emperor to be honored (Hadrian) and thus the name was changed to “Adrian” in 1828. Addison Comstock was also integral to the development of the Erie and Kalamazoo Railroad which was the first railway in New York State and paved the way for the industrial trade markets in Adrian and in neighboring communities. It also established the town as a popular stop for traveling entertainers’ poets and authors on their way to Chicago and further destinations West.

Because Adrian’s “Golden Age was considered to be from 1846 to 1870 many buildings from around 1850 to 1900 still stand today in the “Dennis/State St. Historic District”. During that time the old log structures were replaced by the newly fashionable Commericail Italianate buildings which insured that Adrian would be important in the larger scheme of American 19th century architecture. Farming has been pivotal to Adrian’s economy since the 1800’s as well as manufacturing equipment factories. It was the 3rd largest town in Michigan by 1860, and despite the expansion up through today Adrian has been known for its non-violence activism. The early population mainly consisted of pacifist Quakers and Adrian was home to one of the first co-educational schools to admit females and black students in 1839. That famous school was established by “Laura Haviland” one of Adrian’s most revered female historical figures who is also honored for her help in assisting slaves along the “Underground Railroad” during the Civil War. A statue of Ms. Haviland stands in front of the “Adrian Historical Museum.” Her achievements helped set a precedent in the region of tolerance.

Popular anti-slavery senator and later two term Michigan governor Charles M. Croswell joined up with developers to open the “Adrian Town Hall” in 1859. The “Croswell Opera House” bears his name today in homage. The two largest institutes of higher learning in modern Adrian were also established back in the 1800’s. In 1845 The “United Methodist Church” opened “Adrian College” and the “Dominican Order Of Sisters” opened up “St. Joseph’s For Girls” which is now known as “Sienna Heights College.” In the 1880’s increased railway traffic brought in new business and Adrian was known as the “fence capitol of the world” for a while in the early 1900’s after J. Wallace Page invented a new kind of “bounce back wire fence.” Adrian would also play a big part in early automobile manufacturing with its close proximity to Detroit. In 1909 the “Lion Motor Car Company was started by William Burnham and a “Lion Motor Car” from this era is on display at the “Lenawee County Historical Museum” and is said to still be in working condition.

In the 1930’s the main industries were agriculture and the manufacturing of parts for automobiles and industrial equipment. So, it’s not a big surprise that Adrian’s factories were used in the 1940’s for the war effort. “Bohm Aluminum” in particular crafted B-17 and B-29 bombers and “Hurd-Locke” factories made anti-aircraft shells. Post WWII factories still were attracted to Adrian and agriculture began a revival of sorts with the popularity of organic farming sprouting in the 1960’s. Adrian is trying today to use its factories at least in part to focus on the fossil fuel problem and developments of alternative gas products. Downtown Adrian is also experiencing a revival with new businesses and industries, and benefits from increased funding in the arts and cultural sectors. It is also one of the safest towns in Michigan in which to raise families and new homes are being built every day to accommodate the needs of younger families and college students who want to live off campus. So, the biggest “Golden Age” may still be yet to come and you are invited to take part in giving life to a new era in Michigan history.