Benzonia College

Benzonia College is a Michigan historical marker in Benzonia, Benzie County, dedicated 1964.

Michigan Avenue, Benzonia

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In 1858, in what was then a remote wilderness, the Reverend Charles E. Bailey and four families from his Ohio Congregational parish founded Benzonia colony. It was to be an “educational Christian colony” modeled after the earlier Congregational settlements at Oberlin, Ohio, and Olivet, Michigan. As an integral part of the new community, Grand Traverse College was chartered in 1863. Its first building was erected on this corner. During the pioneer era it provided college preparatory work and teacher training. The school reorganized as Benzonia College in 1891. It supplied college-level education until 1900. Benzonia Academy was then maintained until changed conditions led to its closing in 1918. Benzonia College and Academy fulfilled the founders’ dream of bringing educational opportunity to northern Michigan.

TodayHistorical map

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University Library, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam

Historical maps covering this location

1852 · Wisconsin (Cowperthwait, 1852) (Barry Lawrence Ruderman Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
1854 · A map of the surveyed part of Michigan / by John Farmer ; engraved by S. Stiles & Co. (University Library, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam)
1864 · Wisconsin And Michigan (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
1873 · Michigan. (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)
1874 · Colton's Michigan (1874) (Barry Lawrence Ruderman Map Collection, Stanford Libraries)

Colton's Michigan (1874), 1874, covering the location of Benzonia College, with a pin at the marker's coordinates — Colton's Michigan (1874), 1874, covering this location. Barry Lawrence Ruderman Map Collection, Stanford Libraries. The pin is ours, placed from the marker's coordinates.

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Marker data: Michigan History Center
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More markers nearby

Mills Community Houseunder 1 mi
Bruce Catton / Bruce Cattonunder 1 mi
Benzonia Congregational Churchunder 1 mi
Joyfield Cemetery5 mi