History
Adrian was founded on June eighteenth, 1826 by Addison Comstock, promoter of the Erie and Kalamazoo Railroad, and was originally named Logan. Then in 1828 Addison's wife renamed the village to Adrian after the Roman Emperor Hadrian.
The Erie & Kalamazoo Rail Road Bank was chartered by the Territory of Michigan and opened in the village of Adrian in 1835.
Fencing
In the late 19th century through early 20th century Adrian was known as the "fence capital of the world," when J. Wallace Page invented the first successful wire fence. Throughout this time period Adrian was the one of the first fencing manufacturers in the world and its fences were shipped as far as New York, Berlin, Asia, and Africa. The company sponsored the highly successful Page Fence Giants black baseball team.
Automobile Industry
The automobile industry in Adrian is a story of what could have been. One of the first motor vehicles, the Lion automobile, was created in Adrian. And for about twelve years, 1900-1912, Adrian was shaping up to be one of the motor capitals of the world, with three different cars manufactured in Adrian during those twelve years. But due to some unfortunate turn of events it never came to be. SEARCH ADRIAN HOMES FOR SALE!
The first two were the Murry Motor Car and Lenawee Car and both were made by the Church Manufacturing Company. And although the cars were a hit at the 1910 Chicago Automobile show and they sold hundreds of cars, due to bad financial decisions the Church Manufacturing Company ran out of money and had to close. The third car manufactured in Adrian was the Lion made by the Lion Motor Car Company. The Lion was immensely popular, successful, and Lion Motor Car Company was taking the lead in the auto industry. However on June 12, 1912 the plant caught on fire, destroyed about two hundred cars, and ultimately ended the Lion Motor Car Company.
Culture
Adrian's cultural life has connections to the mid-19th century. The Adrian City Band is the oldest continuously active community band in the country, founded in 1836. Also of historical note is the Croswell Opera House. The Adrian Symphony Orchestra was founded in 1981. Adrian College and Siena Heights University also offer many cultural opportunities. SEARCH HOMES FOR A STUDENT NEAR THE COLLEGE CAMPUS!
Notable Residents
- Addison Comstock, founder of Adrian and builder of the Erie and Kalamazoo Railroad (the first railroad west of New York State)
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Norman Bel Geddes, architectural industrial designer, aviation designer, and theatrical designer best known for the 1939 New York World's Fair pavilion Futurama he designed for General Motors
- Laura Smith Haviland, Superintendent and Stationmaster on the Underground Railroad
- Thomas M. Cooley, Chief Justice of the Michigan Supreme Court, 1864-1885
- Thomas Edison, inventor, lived in Adrian and opened a shop for repairing telegraph instruments and the making of new machinery
- Charles Croswell, Governor of Michigan, 1877-1881
- Phil Donahue, talk show host got his start in 1959 working at radio station WABJ in Adrian
- Orville D. Merillat, founder of Merillat Kitchens?later Merillat Industries (born in Salem, Ohio, moved to Adrian as a young man)
- Martha Seger, economist, in 1984 became first woman appointed to a full term on the Federal Reserve Board, Governor of the Federal Reserve System in Washington, D.C. from 1984-1991
- Dorne Dibble, wide receiver for the Detroit Lions was born in Adrian
- Mike Marshall (baseball pitcher), Major League Baseball pitcher who won the 1974 Cy Young Award
- Garry Wills, Catholic intellectual and author, spent childhood years in Adrian
- Matt Noveskey, the bass player for Blue October and A Plus Machines was born in Adrian
- Chris Gregoire, Governor of Washington, 2005-present, was born in Adrian
- Honus Wagner, Major League Baseball Hall of Famer played 16 games for the Adrian Demons in 1895.
- Rich Hoffer, Radio and Television Play-By-Play Announcer for University of Toledo. Graduated Adrian High School, 1975.
- William L. Greenly, fifth Governor of the State of Michigan, 1847-1848 lived in Adrian
- Frank Navin (1871-1935), principal owner of the Detroit Tigers for 27 years was born in Adrian.
- Bob Westfall (1919-1980), College Football Hall of Fame member lived in Adrian
- Dale R. Sprankle, championship coach at Adrian College
- Home Run Johnson and Bud Fowler, African-American baseball players who founded the Page Fence Giants in Adrian
- Rube Kisinger, baseball pitcher, born in Adrian
- John Maulbetsch, All-American football halfback, played for Adrian College in 1911
- Byron Darnton, was an American reporter and war correspondent for the New York Times in the Pacific theater during World War II was born in Adrian.
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