ADRIAN — A lingering controversy over the names etched into bricks at a public monument in Adrian was clarified during Monday night’s City Commission meeting. The issue, which has stirred confusion and speculation in recent weeks, appears to stem from a misunderstanding about the bricks’ origin.
During public comment, a resident addressed previous claims that the engraved names represented individuals or businesses who donated funds to the monument. The speaker said they personally visited the site and reviewed each brick, finding that the names belong to brick manufacturing companies, not donors.
Among the names cited were Logan Block, Townsend Metro, and Trimble, Ohio — entities identified as commercial brick suppliers. The resident stated these companies were likely responsible for producing the materials used in the monument, not listed for commemorative or promotional reasons.
The monument’s design and funding history were not formally discussed by commissioners. No immediate actions or responses followed the comment.
While the clarification may settle one part of the public confusion, the monument itself remains a flashpoint in broader debates around historical memory, symbolism, and transparency in civic projects. Whether the city will revisit the monument’s history or open a formal review remains to be seen.