Page 8 - The Wayne Dispatch

Community celebrates 150 years

By Carolyn Marnon
In honor of the City of Wayne’s
Sesquicentennial (150 years old!) cel-
ebration this year, the City recently
received three honors: a County of
Wayne Resolution honoring the city
for celebrating 150 years as a com-
munity signed by District 11 Wayne
County Commissioner Al Haidous; a
State of Michigan Special Tribute
signed by 16th District State Repre-
sentative Kevin Coleman, 7th Dis-
trict State Senator Dayna Polehanki,
Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist II, and
Governor Gretchen Whitmer; and a
Congressional Record from the Hon. M. Johnson who built a log cabin
Rashida Tlaib of Michigan in the that became a popular stop for trav-
House of Representatives honoring elers heading to Chicago.
Wayne’s Sesquicentennial. These Wayne had a population of
documents are currently on view at slightly more than 800 people when
City Hall. it became a “village.”
Some facts from these docu- Wayne was an active industrial
ments include: Wayne Historical Society President Nicole Conklin and Mayor John Rhaesa unveil site in the early 20th century. It expe-
Wayne was founded 150 years the Michigan Sesquicentennial City sign purchased for the community by the Wayne rienced tremendous population
ago in 1869 as a village. This was 64 growth around World War II and the
years after the Michigan Territory Historical Society. Korean War which led to its incorpo-
was created and 32 years after Michi- Wayne was the site of the Sauk Wayne shares its name with its ration into a home rule city in 1960.
gan became the 26th state in the Trail and was visited by Native Amer- home county. Wayne currently has about
union. ican and French fur traders. Wayne was first settled by George 18,000 residents.

8 · September 2019 · The Wayne Dispatch