Historical Albion Michigan
By Frank Passic

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Any photos not otherwise credited are from the personal collection of Frank Passic, Albion Historian.

RED ARROW HIGHWAY

Morning Star, February 13, 2026, pg. 7

Our official I-94 business route through Albion really doesn't go through much of downtown Albion, except by the post office. This is because it follows the old U.S.-12 2-lane highway route that existed before I-94 was opened in July, 1960. That route was Michigan Avenue into town, then north on Superior, then west on Austin Avenue all the way to Marshall and so forth. After I-94 was built, the new business route turned north on N. Eaton St. where it went to I-94 and remains so today. Did you know that our business route was also known by another name before I-94 was built? How can you designate something, and then several years later "un-designate" it? That's what happened to the Red Arrow Highway through Albion. Our story begins in 1917 during World War I, when National Guard units from Michigan and Wisconsin were combined to form the 32nd Division. It fought bravely in the battlefields of France on five fronts and in three major offensives during the "War to end all wars." Their insignia was the Red Arrow which they carried into battle, and its soldiers were honorably nicknamed "Les Terribles" by the French.

Two members of that Division were future Albion High School principal William C. Harton who served in the 119th Field Artillery, and future VFW commander Vernon Van Meter. Other members serving in the 32nd Division included: Harvey Mills, John Sweeney, Carlton West, Ben Hewitt, J. J. Craft, Charles Hughes, and Harley Transue, Sr. The most remembered Albionite serving in the 32nd Division was Corporal Patrick Leo Hanlon (1894-1918), the first Albion soldier killed in World War I. Our local American Legion post was named in his memory when it was organized in 1919.

Following World War II, a plan was devised to designate U.S.-12 through southern Michigan, and U.S-32 in Wisconsin the "Red Arrow Highway" in honor and memory of the sacrifices made by "our boys" of the Red Arrow Division. These were the days before Interstate-94 was built. The route would be connected together via roads in Indiana and Illinois. In March, 1953, Red Arrow Highway dedication ceremonies were held across Michigan in such communities as New Buffalo, St. Joseph, Paw Paw, Kalamazoo, Galesburg, Battle Creek, Albion, and Jackson. Signs were posted, including in Albion, officially marking this route as the Red Arrow Highway.

When Interstate-94 was completed in 1960, the U.S.-12 signs along Michigan Avenue came down, and with them went the Red Arrow signs, too. However, the Red Arrow route along Lake Michigan by New Buffalo, St. Joseph, and east all the way to Paw Paw was allowed to keep the Red Arrow designation, and it remains so today. Not through Albion, however.

From our Historical Notebook this week we present a picture of the Red Arrow Highway dedication ceremony held on Sunday, March 22, 1953 at "Gold Star Park" at Five Points. Left to right, beginning on the left under the lamp post: Hal Fry of Potterville in his WWI uniform; Captain Donald Harris of Charlotte; Lt. James Nichols of Albion; Captain Carl Oberleiter of Battle Creek. In front is speaker William C. Harton of Albion, followed by: Vernon Van Meter of Albion; Albion Mayor Norman H. Wiener in the dark jacket; Ernie Fry of Battle Creek, Nylie Sayers of Marshall, and WWI veteran Floyd Van Sickle. In the distance is the Five Points grocery store and gas station.

How many of our readers remember the Red Arrow Highway when it went through Albion? Do you think it should be re-designated here as such again?


The Red Arrow Highway dedication ceremony

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All text copyright, 2026 © all rights reserved Frank Passic  |  Artwork copyright Maggie LaNoue © 2026

Frank Passic Albion Historian Frank Passic — Albion Historian

An Albion native and 1971 graduate of Albion High School, Frank Passic has been researching and writing Albion history since 1976. He is the creator of the Albion Historical Notebook, with hundreds of articles appearing weekly in the Morning Star and The Recorder. Frank maintains an extensive personal archive including Riverside Cemetery records, family surname files, genealogies, photographs, city directories, and high school yearbooks. Support his 2026 research at the Historic Albion Michigan Facebook page.

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