Wayne

Long before the roar of Ford engines, Wayne, Michigan was a quiet crossroads known as Johnson’s Tavern. George M. Johnson, the first settler, built a small log cabin here in 1824. This cabin, situated along the Sauk Trail, served weary travelers. It’s hard to imagine now, looking at the bustling Wayne of today, that this city was once a simple tavern in a vast wilderness. The tavern changed hands a few times, with a dark chapter involving Stephen G. Simmons, who murdered his wife and was subsequently hanged in Detroit in 1830. He was the last person to be executed in Michigan before the territory abolished capital punishment. This grim tale adds a layer of intrigue to Wayne’s early history. In 1832, Ezra Derby purchased the tavern and surrounding land. He envisioned a thriving settlement and quickly set about building a sawmill, a store, a mill, a blacksmith shop, and a proper frame house for himself. The settlement officially became Derby’s Corners in 1834. Just two years later, the name was changed to Wayne, honoring Revolutionary War General Anthony Wayne. Wayne continued to grow, especially with the arrival of the Michigan Central Railroad in 1838. The old Chicago Road, which passed right through Wayne, was paved with oak logs in 1850. This road, initially called the Detroit and Saline Plank Road, eventually became the Michigan Avenue we know today. Wayne officially became a village in 1869 with around 800 residents. By 1960, Wayne had transformed from a village to a city. Wayne has a rich industrial history intertwined with the automotive industry. The Prouty and Glass Carriage Factory relocated from Detroit to Wayne in 1888, making Wayne the nation’s leading producer of carriages and sleighs. The arrival of the Detroit interurban railroad in 1899 further boosted Wayne’s growth, connecting the town to Detroit until 1929. Even Ray Harroun, the winner of the first Indianapolis 500, built his Harroun motor car in Wayne from 1916 to 1921. Other notable companies that called Wayne home include Gotfredson Truck (1924-1927), Graham-Paige (1928-1936), Stinson Aircraft (1926-1948), and Gar-Wood (1947-1972). Of course, no discussion of Wayne’s industry would be complete without mentioning the Ford Motor Company. The Michigan Assembly Plant was built here in 1957. Ford’s presence remains strong today with two plants still operating in Wayne: Wayne Stamping & Assembly and the Michigan Assembly Plant. Wayne is more than just cars. It boasts seventeen neighborhood parks and playgrounds, including Attwood Park, where a spectacular annual fireworks display takes place. Music lovers enjoy the Goudy Park Concert Series during the summer months. The community center offers a wide range of amenities. These include an aquatic area, basketball courts, a Racquet & Exercise Club, and the Oakbridge Suites Banquet Facility, now operated by HYPE. For those aged 50 and above, the Senior Center at the corner of Wayne and Sims Roads provides various programs and activities. From its humble beginnings as a small tavern, Wayne has become a vibrant city, a testament to its resilient spirit and rich history.