April 11, 2008

The latest Michigan Historical Marker will be dedicated at 2 p.m. on Sunday, April 13, at the Belle Isle Police Station in Detroit. Michigan Historical Commissioner Samuel Logan Jr., publisher of the Michigan Chronicle and the Michigan Front Page, will present the marker on behalf of the commission. The public is welcome to attend.

The marker commemorates the development of the police radio, which was used for the first time on April 7, 1928, when operators at Detroit's Belle Isle station broadcast on a dedicated frequency.  The location on the island was ideal because it was clear of interference from downtown.

"This marker tells the story of something most of us take for granted - communication," said Dr. William Anderson, director of the Department of History, Arts and Libraries. "Today it is hard to imagine the police doing their jobs without communication between the dispatcher and the officers in their cars."

The Michigan Associated Public Safety Communication Officials sponsored the marker and are hosting the dedication to kick off National Public Safety Telecommunications Week, April 13-19.

Belle Isle, one of the most unique urban parks in the nation, is the largest Midwestern example of the work of landscape architect Frederick Law Olmstead, famous for his design of New York City's Central Park.  Belle Isle is the location of many historically significant buildings constructed between 1890 and 1915, including the turreted, stone police station.

Sponsors pay for Michigan Historical Markers through donation to the state of Michigan. Since the Michigan Historical Marker program began in 1955, more than 1,500 historical markers have been erected. Traveling Through Time: A Guide to Michigan's Historical Markers contains the text and location of state markers. It is available anywhere books are sold or by calling (517) 373-1663. To learn more about the marker program and registered historic sites, visit our Web site at www.michigan.gov/shpo.

The Michigan Historical Marker Program is administered by the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), which assists in the identification, rehabilitation, and interpretation of Michigan's historic resources. The SHPO is a division of the Michigan Historical Center, part of the Department of History, Arts and Libraries (HAL). Dedicated to enriching quality of life and strengthening the economy by providing access to information, preserving and promoting Michigan's heritage and fostering cultural creativity, HAL also includes the Library of Michigan, the Mackinac Island State Park Commission, the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs and the Michigan Film Office.  For more information about HAL, visit www.michigan.gov/hal.