Sept. 7, 2007

On Saturday, Sept. 8, Michigan Historical Commissioner Samuel Logan Jr. of Detroit will dedicate Otisville's first Michigan Historical Marker.  The marker, Genesee County's 50th, will be placed at the Laing-Mason House, 12420 N. State Rd. The dedication ceremony will begin at 11 a.m.  

Built in stages between 1860 and 1930, the house was purchased in 1889 by Dr. John and Frances Laing.   Dr. Laing was one of Otisville's earliest physicians. George Mason, the owner of Otisville's Mason Tackle Company - known to fishing enthusiasts worldwide - and his wife, Harriet, purchased the property in 1935.

Michigan Historical Commissioner Judith Tappero of Bloomfield Hills will dedicate a marker commemorating the Wolverine Lake Dam at a ceremony that will begin at 10 a.m. on Sept. 14.  The Wolverine Lake marker, located near the dam, highlights the creation of the lake by local dentist Howard Stuart through a private damming and inundation project during the 1920s. The project was key to Stuart's real estate development.    

"The beauty of the marker program is the diversity of the subjects that receive markers," said State Historic Preservation Officer Brian Conway.  "The Otisville marker pays tribute to the success of a homegrown Michigan business, the renowned tackle company that George Mason operated out of his house until 1944, while the Wolverine Lake marker tells us about how people changed the landscape as early as the 1920s to foster development of the state."

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, a division of the Michigan Historical Center, an agency of the Department of History, Arts and Libraries.  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 Film Office and the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs. 

Read more press releases from the Department of History, Arts and Libraries.