Ferndale has a proud and patriotic history punctuated by several monuments. Some were initially established on the Woodward median and some in other locations, but most veterans monuments have been moved to the Memorial Mall on Livernois. Other monuments exist throughout Ferndale. Below is a brief history of the monuments - generally presented in the order each was dedicated.

THE BOULDER (WWI MEMORIAL) - 1927
Ferndale’s Memorial Society raised funds, found a location in front of Lincoln High School, and managed the installation of the Memorial Boulder. A Dec 1, 1926 Royal Oak Tribune article notes: “The school lawn was believed to be the best suited for the purpose not only because it is away from the noise and hustle of Woodward avenue, but also because it will be a constant historical reminder to the generations of high school students.”

The inscription reads: “Honor Roll April 6 1817 – November 11, 1918. A tribute to the Ferndale World war veterans who offered all to the country that liberty and justice might not perish from the earth.”

On May 30 1927 (Memorial Day) a fine quartz boulder, with a bronze plaque bearing the names of 73 soldiers and sailors was dedicated. The first five are those of men, listed at the top, who gave the ultimate sacrifice. Those were: Paul W. Hornaday, Jack Yuill, Andrew Robertson, Robert Darch, and Fred Metcalf.

The boulder is 5 feet 6 inches wide; 33 inches across, and 4 foot 6 inches tall. It set upon a foundation 4 feet 6 inches long and 7 feet deep. The boulder weighs 7 tons. The bronze plaque is 34 ½ inches wide by 33 inches deep. Next to the boulder was a 60 foot flag pole donated and installed by DTE upon which flew a 9 x15 foot flag. Total cost was $946.23 (not including volunteer labor by DTE and Ferndale employees). A copy of the Ferndale Gazette was put inside the flag pole with the complete story of the memorial.

A June 2, 1927 Ferndale Gazette articles notes: “Owing to failure of the bronze company, the tablet bearing the names of Ferndale’s soldiers was not in place on the monument, but would be placed a few days later. Apparently the first cast plaque cracked so another was being made.

In May 1956 the boulder was moved to the Memorial Mall on Livernois and dedicated on Memorial Day 1956. A new 70’ flagpole was installed near the boulder at that time.

THE OBELISK - 1943
An obelisk memorial was designed to honor all those in military service at the time. A Sept 24, 1942 Gazette article described the plan: "The Honor Roll will take the form of an obelisk about 15 feet high, mounted on a concrete base. The names of the war heroes will be printed on paper inserts about six inches by one inch, probably in gold ink. This Roll will be for the duration only and after the war a permanent Honor Roll much more pretentious will be erected."

The Obelisk upon completion was 18 feet high and four feet square made of plywood. Names were apparently hand written in gold ink on masonite strips six inches by one inch and inserted into a slot. Eventually a fence was erected to protect the monument.

It was dedicated on March 28, 1943 as part of a war bond campaign. By 1945 the memorial had over 2,000 names of Ferndale men & women who were in military service. By June of 1946 residents complained to the city that the condition of the obelisk was "an eyesore" and that it should be removed. Mayor Foresythe declared that a group of residents were working on a more permanent memorial. We have yet to find when the monument was removed, but believe it was in the late 1940s. We are pleased that the VFW emblem from the top of the obelisk, which had been carved by WWI Veteran Frank R. Berry, was donated to the museum and is still on display.

MOMS FOUNTAIN - 1951
First mentioned on Jan 6, 1919 by the Memorial Day Society, but that memorial would become the boulder.… A fountain also mentioned in the Jan 23rd 1922 City Council Minutes. The fountain monument was dedicated at Woodward and Nine Mile on Sunday Aug 20, 1951 by Ferndale’s Mothers of Military (MOMS) association . Engraved on monument; “Presented to the people of Ferndale by MOMS of America Ferndale Unit 23 1951”. Also: “We Shall Never Forget” and “In grateful memory of brave men of this area who have given their lives for their country. A 1955 article reports that “As in past years, representatives of the MOMS club displaying the colors, took up their positions at Woodward and Nine Mile until most of the parade had past. They fell in line and marched to the Memorial Boulder.” We cannot find the exact date the monument was moved, but by 1956 it had been moved to the Memorial Mall where it stands today as the Northernmost monument on the mall.

MEMORIAL MALL - 1956
The vision for a Memorial Mall was credited to Col. Edward H. Jacobsen who began a movement for a suitable memorial in 1950, the year the Ferndale War Memorial Committee was formed. During the 1955 Memorial Day event, Mayor Bruce D. Garbutt promised a fitting and permanent memorial to Ferndale’s war dead by the 1956 Memorial Day parade.

Plans were submitted to the city in Oct 1955 by the Memorial Committee headed by Robert Miller. Plans were approved by City Council in November 1955 with an estimated cost of $5,000 (to be raised by a fund drive).

A stone memorial with a stone eternal flame at the top was erected in the center of Ferndale's Memorial Mall in 1956. A window on the front provides a place to include a list of veterans from Ferndale who passed away since the prior Memorial Day. The inscription on the rears says: “Dedicated to those who served in the Armed Forces of our country”. Dedication was completed on Memorial Day 1956.

PEACE POLE - 1990
In March 1990, the city received a "Peace Pole" as a gift from the First United Methodist Church Junior High Youth. An accompanying letter was recorded in the March 26, 1990 Ferndale City Council Minutes, item 156, as follows:

"In this time of change in our world, with the winds of freedom and peace blowing in so many countries, the Junior High youth of the First United Methodist Church would like to present a Peace Pole to the City. The youth raised the money for the Peace Pole by selling Peace ribbons, Hug-a-Planets and mini Peace Poles at Christmas. Our youth feel that not only should the Church be dedicated to Peace but our City and Nation should also be working towards Peace.

At present there is one Peace Pole in Ferndale, that is in front of our Church. Our youth have three suggestions of where the second Peace Pole could be placed. The #1 place would be next to the swing at Nine Mile and Woodward, #2 in front of City Hall, or #3 the Memorial Park at Nine Mile and Livernois. They hope that a site could be picked by Memorial Day and that the Peace Pole might be planted on that holiday.

The wind of peace is blowing and the youth of Ferndale want to be caught up in that wind. We hope that you will accept our gift. If you would like to see a Peace Pole, stop by our Church. The Pole is in front of the church on the corner of Leroy and Woodward.

Motion by Councilman Poole, supported by Councilwoman McCullough, that the communication be received, made a matter of record and the Peace Pole be accepted and placed in the Memorial Park at Nine Mile and Livernois."

The Peace Pole was soon after placed in the Memorial Park by the City DPW, but no record of a dedication service has been found.

Informally, a few Garden Club members have adopted the Peace Pole. They endeavor to keep it weeded and full of garden plants to make it feel more a part of the Memorial Mall.

MACHPELAH CEMETERY PLAQUE - 1990s
The bronze tablet shown below was received by the Machpelah Cemetery in January 1990, but we have yet to confirm when it was dedicated. Most likely it was dedicated at the same time as the 155mm Howitzer memorial on Sunday May 29, 1994. Research continues.... A good history of the cemetery is HERE

FERNDALE VETERAN’S MEMORIAL- 2003
Starting in 1995, Ferndale retired Police Officer Tim McGee worked to raise funds for a Ferndale Veteran’s Memorial. Engraved bricks were sold for $30 upon which a name could be placed. The bricks would become a pathway to the new memorial. The memorial was dedicated on Memorial Day 2003. It lists 135 names of those Ferndale residents who gave their lives: 105 in World War II, 8 in Korea, 16 in Vietnam (5 added later), 1 in the Persian Gulf, and 4 in Non-Conflict situations. The story of this important monument can be found in the March 2003 Crow’s Nest.

BLUE STAR MEMORIAL - 2021
Ferndale’s Garden Club, in cooperation with VFW post 1407 and VFW Auxiliary 1407, dedicated Ferndale's Blue Star Memorial on Veteran's Day 2021.

Per the Michigan Garden Club's website, the Blue Star Memorial program was developed by National Garden Clubs, Inc. in 1945 to pay tribute to the Armed Forces that defended our country during World War II. Based on the original Blue Star flag displayed in family homes, the star became a standard symbol on dedicated Blue Star Highways throughout the United States. The club's website, further history, and a guide to all Michigan Blue Star Memorials is HERE

OTHER FERNDALE MEMORIALS
Research continues on other memorials, all of which are currently on display in the museum.

GEARY PARK MEMORIALS
Geary Park (formerly Roosevelt Park and long ago Catalpa Park) is home to many memorials.

1946 Naval Air Crash and Memorial - The air crash of 1946 in Roosevelt Park was memorialized in 1994. Pilots Judson Neff Berger of Ferndale and Orlo Frederick Hall of Detroit were both killed that day. Detail is available HERE.

Robert W. Chambers Jr Memorial - Bobby was a 10 year old Pleasant Ridge boy watching construction in the park and was accidentally killed on June 17, 1955. A memorial was dedicated at the "Magic Square" on Sept 20, 1955. That was subsequently vandalized in 1977 and never replaced. In 1993 Bobby's Mother asked the city about the memorial and the city eventually had two plaques made. For reasons not known, the plaques were never installed and are now on display at the museum.

Memorial Benches - Plaques are placed on two benches near the middle of the park as shown below.

Heroes Garden - Dedicated in 2001 in memory of victims of the September 2001 attack in New York City. Later this garden was expanded to include memorials to local heroes who had endured or lost their lives in tragic situations.

ROOSEVELT SCHOOL / FORMERLY LOWER ELEMENTARY MEMORIAL
Oak Park kindergarten student Angel Pocock Smith was tragically killed by a falling flagpole during a wind storm on Monday April 16, 2007. A memorial was dedicated in her honor at the school.

SEE ALSO
The history of Ferndale's Memorial Day Parade is available HERE with many more photos!

Other parades & festivals in Ferndale is HERE.

Detroit Photo Collection: The Detroit news offers a fascinating collection of Memorial Day photos from past Detroit events HERE!

If you have photos or memories to add please contact the museum at: info@ferndalehistoricalsociety.org