House Bill 4173 was passed in June 2008 to name portions of Highway US-127 in Lenawee and Gratiot counties, Michigan, the Annie Oakley Memorial Trail. This was introduced by Rep. Marie Donigan of Royal Oak, my old hometown.
According to the Women in History website Annie Oakley was born in Darke County, Ohio, her parents were from Pennsylvania and Annie died in Greenville, Ohio in 1926 at the age of 66. She met her future husband and beat him in a marksmanship contest in Cincinnati, Ohio. They joined Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show in 1885.
Yeah, she was a totally cool and totally awesome woman.
But where is the connection to Michigan?
Okay, I see Lenawee County down by the Ohio border but Gratiot is smack dab in the middle of the lower penninsula.
Here is one connection:
This is Annie Oakley: Pug Rescue Network would like to welcome PRN #219 Annie Oakley is a sweet, 7 year old young lady. She was surrendered when her owner found himself with too many Pugs and no one to help care for them. Annie appears to have had a few litters in her 7 years. She is now out of the puppy producing game as she was recently spayed. She is also microchipped, up to date on shots and had some dental work done. Annie is a bit shy, but is being socialized to help her overcome this. She is also learning that marking in the house is not proper behavior for a lady. Annie is ready to move on with her new life without puppies. She just wants to be a companion Pug now. To snuggle and play. Go for a walk or just hang out. Are you the person or family for Annie? Fill out an adoption application today! 6/17/2008: Annie is a great little girl that is housebroken and ready for her forever home!! Annie would like to snuggle on your couch and has very good manners. She does not jump on you and will sit and wait patiently for a treat. Annie is still a little shy but has came a long ways.Annie could be yours just fill out an adoption application! Update: 7/2/2008 Annie is doing great! She is not having any accidents in the house and is getting her confidence going. Could you be Annies forever home? Please submit an application and Annie could be yours. As you can see Annie is about 16 pounds of pure joy!!
- Pug Rescue Network
- Walled Lake, MI
- (248)432-0102
I found Oakley, Michigan. It is in Saginaw County.
I went to Rep. Donigan’s site and couldn’t find any information as to why she thinks parts of a Michigan road should be named after Annie Oakley. I guess I could contact her.
Is there a Sojourner Truth memorial highway? The abolitionist and women’s suffragist moved to Michigan, died here and was buried here in Battle Creek, Michigan. Yes:
“1976 — As part of the nation’s bicentennial celebration, the Calhoun County portion of state highway M-66 is designated as the “Sojourner Truth Memorial Highway.”
That’s good. There is also a Clara Barton Memorial Highway:
I went to Clara Barton Junior High School in Royal Oak (it used to be Royal Oak High School) and then they tore it down to build a senior citizen complex. Rep. Donigan is probably glad to learn that I don’t live in Royal Oak anymore as I’d be a pesty constituent. I do have family in high places there, though.
Here is a website with famous Michigan women: http://hall.michiganwomenshalloffame.org/ Annie Oakley isn’t on this list.
From the Michigan Women Hall of Fame site: “Cora Reynolds Anderson was the first woman elected to the Michigan House of Representatives, serving one term from 1925 to 1926. She is also believed to be the only Native American woman elected to the Michigan House or Senate, and remains the only woman ever elected to the State Legislature from the Upper Peninsula. “
Is there a Cora Reynolds Anderson memorial highway? I couldn’t find one. Should there be one, looks like it.
So, what’s up Michigan legislature with the highway naming?
Somebody explain Annie Oakley’s connection to Michigan for me? And don’t validate this by saying there are other memorial highways named after persons of national importance because those person’s life work had an impact on Michigan, such as Martin Luther King Jr and Cesar Chavez. What was Annie’s impact on the lives of Michiganders?
From the site http://www.annieoakleyfoundation.org/ : “Hundreds of inquiries about Annie’s early life led us to encourage Governor Taft to rename US Highway 127 as the Annie Oakley Memorial Pike. It passes where Annie Oakley’s girlhood home stood until the early 1950’s when it was razed for road improvements. Personal testimony before the Ohio Senate and the House of Representatives let to the unanimous approval, and Govern Taft’s signing, of House Bill 481. The Dedication Ceremony was held in Greenville, Ohio on July 28, 2000. “
Looks like Ohio already remembered their famous woman, Annie Oakley.
If you think that you would be a pesky constituent, you have never met Bessie Edwards, Annie Oakley’s 86 year-old great-niece!
Bessie, currently a Royal Oak resident, met with Rep Donigan (my lovely wife) and me on a couple of occasions, and according to her the connection to Annie Oakley and Michigan is well-established. She spent much of her time in her later years in Michigan and her husband, Frank Butler, died in Michigan.
Bessie’s claims are fairly-well supported and in some ways contradict some of the established myths surrounding Annie Oakley.
As far as the location of the highway, US-127 in Lenawee county is a continuation of the trail from Ohio and apparently the part in Gratiot county is the next stretch that was not previously named.
I hope this clears that up for you.
Should I have Bessie call you?
BTW: The office building across from the state capitol that houses the offices of the House of Representatives is named for Cora Reynolds Anderson.
Which in my mind is a higher honor than a highway.
Good work Jennifer. So Kevin, seems you are the story teller and correcter here. But the question raised by Jennifer was a good one. Why get so huffy?
I am a constituent of Marie’s, and the only time I hear from her is when election rolls around. I guess it’s good press, the name of “Annie Oakley”. Let’s see June 2008, that was before the November 2008 election wasn’t it. I get it.
Hi Judy. This is Marie. I’ve held at least six town hall meetings every year I’ve been in the Legislature. Those are only my own - I attend many, many community meetings with my counterparts, with SEMCOG, the Michigan Municipal League - I speak often at our schools. I’ve sent out at least 5 newsletters every year, I hold regular monthly office hours in Royal Oak and Madison Heights, I attend PTA meetings, School Board meetings, City Council meetings and I attend community events quite often in each of my communities. I’m a regular the The Bean and Leaf coffee shop where I meet with constituents and others who request meetings. I’m having a town hall meeting on January 22 to update everyone on the last transit plan at St. John’s Church - I will send you a flyer.). I meet regularly with our Superintendents, the Oakland County Medical Society - I attend events and meetings at Beaumont Hospital and St. John’s Hospital in Madison Heights. And I’m involved with Royal Oak and Madison Heights Chamber’s of Commerce.
I’m not sure why anyone’s talking about the Annie Oakley legislation but I think Kevin’s explained it pretty thoroughly. I didn’t catch the huffy part of his reply, but it is curious conversation. I’m glad people are talking about Annie Oakley - she is fascinating woman. Aside from this blog the legislation didn’t get much press.
I’d love to see you more often. Hopefully you’ll attend my January 22 Town Hall meeting!
Marie
Hello- Thank you for posting a comment on my blog. I think talking about your legislation now, after the fact, is all we can do sometimes. It is like saying, “Why are we talking about the TARP act when it was already passed”. Better late than never.
Kevin’s explanation is lacking. He cannot explain Annie Oakley’s lasting
contribution to Michigan nor her continued presence in our state during her
lifetime.
Her husband dying here, doesn’t really cut it for me. There are well-documented published books that outline Oakley’s life. I think and so does everyone I talk to about this, that the legislation strikes them as odd and potentially a waste of taxpayer dollars.
Furthermore, I know you are busy but you could have honored a true Michigander rather than someone who passed through and has relatives here. Especially with the amount of recognition Oakley has already received in Ohio.
Jennifer
Hi Marie, thanks for the update on your busy schedule for which you receive in base salary $79,650 annually even if you don’t do legislative work every day. Additionally, annual expenses of $12,000.
Since you opened a public discussion [my number was available to you and you have my address] I will add some discourse to the mix more important than “Annie Oakley Drive.”
In 2006 at a public meeting [you were present and a legislative representative] I made comments about the Michigan Department of Treasury closing the Detroit hearings office; and said to those present, if they needed an inperson hearing for their tax issue, they would be required to travel to Lansing, a denial of their due process rights. You represented those at the meeting but you did not question me about this information at the meeting.
Secondly, there is an economically relevant issue to be legislatively introduced in Lansing. The Michigan legislature abolished pensions for Michigan State employees hired after March 1998. But the legislature did not abolish their own pensions, which remain intact unless elected offficials voluntarily op out in writing. MCL 38.13
What can you do about this? Best to you and Kevin