Michigan Minute

On this day in 1835: The Michigan-Ohio border war flared up as Michigan militia confronted Ohio surveyors. The Detroit Free Press and Toledo Gazette exchanged heated articles. On this day in 2004: The final Oldsmobile Alero drove off the line at GM's Lansing Car Assembly plant, marking the end of the historic Oldsmobile brand. Only Cadillac CT4 & CT5 are now produced in Lansing.

On this day in 1887: The Michigan House expelled Representative Milo Dakin for attempting to bribe fellow lawmakers. This marked the first expulsion in Michigan's history. On this day in 1896: The Detroit Tigers played their first official game as part of the Western League, defeating the Columbus Senators 17 to 2 at their new stadium at the corner of Michigan and Trumbull.

On this day in 1764: The Provincial Grand Master of the Free and Accepted Masons in New York issued a charter to Michigan's first Masonic lodge in Detroit. The lodge, known as Zion Lodge, faced suspensions but always returned. On this day in 1833: The steamboat Michigan, the first steamer built in Detroit, was launched. It traveled 2,000 miles in its first season, visiting various ports on Lake Michigan.

On this day in 1901: Kalamazoo saloon owners agreed to stop offering extravagant free lunches, limiting them to cheese and crackers. On this day in 1865: Luther and LaFayette Baker from Lansing, Michigan, found John Wilkes Booth and David Herold in a barn after President Lincoln's assassination. Herold surrendered, but Booth did not. Luther Baker's account is in the Michigan Archives.

On this day in 1838: Mary T. Lathrap, known as the "Daniel Webster of Prohibition," was born in Jackson, Michigan. She was a teacher turned evangelist who championed temperance and co-founded Michigan's Women's Suffrage organization. Although she passed in 1895, her poem "Judge Softly" inspired the saying, "Before you judge someone, walk a mile in their shoes."

On this day in 1941: The first tank from Detroit's Arsenal of Democracy rolled off the assembly line at Chrysler. The 30-ton M3 tank was rapidly produced and tested in Warren, Michigan. Historians note Detroit's high production rates significantly impacted World War II. The M3 Grant model was used by the British army in North Africa. Detroit's arsenal produced over 22,000 tanks during the war.

On this day in 1918: Henry Ford gifted his first Fordson Tractor to his friend, plant breeder Luther Burbank. Burbank was known for his experiments with plants and developing the Idaho Potato. On this day in 1954: Oscar-winning filmmaker Michael Moore was born in Davison, Michigan. Moore is known for his documentaries like "Bowling for Columbine" and "Roger & Me," highlighting political and social issues.

On this day in 1933: The Territory of Michigan chartered its first school of higher learning, initially named the Michigan and Huron Institute, now Kalamazoo College. It remains one of the 100 oldest colleges in America. On this day in 2017: Flint, Michigan lost Lois E. Holt, the first Black school teacher in Flint, who passed away at 101. Holt supported African visitors and mortgaged her home to charter a plane for Flint residents to attend the Montgomery Alabama demonstrations in 1957.

On this day in 1948: James Zarichny, a Michigan State College senior and political activist, took a stand against the Michigan legislature. He refused to testify before the Senate Committee on Un-American Activities, defending political freedom. Zarichny was sentenced to jail but served only one day as the Senate term ended. His actions highlighted the tension of the Cold War era.

On this day in 1912: The Detroit Tigers moved into their new home at Navin Field, later known as Tiger Stadium. The Tigers had previously played at Bennett Park since 1896. On April 20th, 1912, Ty Cobb scored the first run at Navin Field in front of over 24,000 fans. Cobb's performance helped the Tigers secure a 6-5 win over Cleveland in 11 innings.

On this day in 1912: Glenn T. Seaborg, the Nobel-laureate Michigander, was born in Ishpeming, Michigan. He discovered 10 atomic elements, including plutonium, curium, and seaborgium. April 19, 1927, marks the first radio broadcast of a regular season Detroit Tigers baseball game. WWJ and broadcaster Ty Tyson covered the entire season, starting with an 8-5 win over Cleveland. These milestones highlight Michigan's contributions to science and sports.

On this day in 1837, Grand Rapids' first newspaper, the Grand River Times, was published after a challenging journey. The printing press, bought from the Niagara Falls Journal, faced multiple obstacles, including a shipwreck and sinking in the river, before finally making it to its destination.

On this day in 1893, a tidal wave swept St. Joseph, Michigan, extending 600-700 feet over the beach. In 1955, Al Kaline became the youngest player to win the league batting title, playing 22 seasons with the Tigers and hitting 399 home runs. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1980.

On this day in 1912, Harriet Quimby from Arcadia, Michigan, made history as the first woman to fly solo over the English Channel. She was also the first American woman to become a licensed pilot and wrote seven screenplays for early Hollywood. In 2018, Des Linden from Brooks, Michigan, won the Boston Marathon, becoming the first American woman to win since 1985. The two-time Olympian crossed the finish line in just under 2 hours, 39 minutes, and 55 seconds, celebrating with a victory lap carrying an American flag.

On this day in 1912, the Titanic began to sink, with Michigan couple Dickinson and Helen Bishop among the first to board a lifeboat. In 1911, the Detroit Tigers played their famed "Blizzard Game," and in 2002, Byron 'Whizzer' White, former Detroit Lions star and US Supreme Court Justice, passed away.

On this day in 1960, we celebrate the incorporation of Motown Records. With an $800 loan from his family, Berry Gordy Jr. founded the company, originally named Tamla Records. Motown became one of the most successful independent record labels in American music history, representing artists like Marvin Gaye, The Supremes, and Stevie Wonder. Its music transcended racial barriers, even during the era of Jim Crow segregation, and remains iconic to this day.

On this day in 1926, we remember how Michigan State University fans avoided the nickname "Staters" in 1926. Thanks to George Alderton and Stephen Scofes, the team became known as the Spartans, reflecting the ancient warriors' athletic prowess and courage.

On this day in 1825, we remember Lisette Denison, the first Black woman landowner in Michigan, who bought 48.5 acres in Pontiac in 1825. We also highlight the 1955 announcement of the polio vaccine's success by the University of Michigan. Additionally, in 2016, Michigan State University took a significant step to combat climate change by ceasing coal burning in their power plants.

On this day in 1943, we reflect on the 1943 march in Detroit against Jim Crow laws and celebrate the birth of James Vernor Sr., creator of Vernor's Ginger Ale, born in 1843. Vernor's ginger ale became a beloved Michigan staple with its "Deliciously Different" flavor. This march was particularly significant for those contributing to the war effort at Willow Run Airport.

On this day in 1822, Caroline Kiner, aka Elsa Von Blumen, visited Michigan. She was a famous high-wheeled bicyclist, known for her exhibitions on the Penny Farthing. In Detroit, she aimed to ride 1000 miles in six days, inspiring many girls and young women at the start of the suffrage movement.

On this day in 2017, the Red Wings closed out their 38-year residency at Joe Louis Arena with a 4-1 victory over the New Jersey Devils. Fans celebrated by hurling 35 octopuses on the ice. Also, in 1877, ragtime pianist Hughie Cannon was born in Detroit, Michigan, and gained fame in Jackson.

On this day in 1957, the Lansing Board of Education endorsed the establishment of Lansing Community College. The first class was a math refresher course with 32 students, and the opening semester saw 425 students enrolled in various programs.

On this day in 1947, Henry Ford, founder of the Ford Motor Company, died at his residence in Dearborn, Michigan. Ford's innovations, including the Model T and the assembly line, revolutionized the automotive industry and created jobs for thousands. His funeral saw 5,000 people passing his coffin every hour.

On this day in 1862, Private George Sidman, a drummer boy from Owosso, received the Congressional Medal of Honor for heroism on a Civil War battlefield. At 16, Sidman fought off the enemy and carried the 3rd Brigade’s new flag in a charge at Fredericksburg, where he was wounded.

On this day in 1947, Flint experienced one of its worst disasters as rising waters caused severe flooding, sweeping furniture and appliances into the river. The flood caused $10 million in damages, equivalent to $118 million today. Also, in 1882, Wexford County voted to move the county seat from Manton to Cadillac, leading to the "Battle of Manton" where armed residents tried to retain the county records. Despite injuries, the vote to choose Cadillac was upheld.

On this day in 1871, Nannette Gardner became the first Michigan woman to vote in a general election. As a wealthy widow, she convinced Detroit City Officials to allow her to vote since she had no husband to represent her interests. Her story gained fame, and she expressed surprise at the attention, noting that many men vote without comment.

On this day in 1940, Isle Royale was established as a national park. It consists of one large island and over 200 smaller islands in Lake Superior, accessible only by boat or float plane. The park's isolation and natural beauty provide a habitat for timber wolves and moose. The waters of Isle Royale also contain several well-preserved shipwrecks, thanks to the area's harsh weather and cold, fresh water.

On this day in 1954, Michigan State University got its name. The Detroit Free Press reported that Michigan Attorney General Thomas Kavanagh ruled there was no constitutional provision prohibiting Michigan State College from changing its name to Michigan State University. And on this day in 1992, scientists announced the discovery of one of Earth’s largest and oldest organisms living in Michigan—a giant fungus near Crystal Falls, covering 38 acres and weighing roughly 100 tons.

On this day in 1875, a massive ice floe collapsed five bridges in Lansing, starting with the newly constructed Mineral Wells Bridge. In 1963, Michiganders narrowly approved the state’s new constitution with a 50.2% vote. And in 1972, Ann Arbor held its first Hash Bash, celebrating cannabis after John Sinclair's prison sentence for marijuana possession was overturned.

On this day in 1921, Michigan sports official Lloyd W. Olds introduced the striped referee shirt to avoid confusion during games. The idea came after a mix-up in a 1920 football game. Olds' innovation debuted at the 1921 Michigan State High School basketball championships, and stripes became a referee tradition.

On this day in 1966, Michigan's first kidney transplant was performed at the University of Michigan, saving 15-year-old Janice Ottenbacher with an organ from her twin sister Joan. Both twins lived long, healthy lives. Since then, U-M's Transplant Center has performed over 10,000 transplants, becoming one of the largest programs in the country.

On this day in 1815, Detroiters and Canadians celebrated the end of the War of 1812 with the Pacification Ball, mending fences and hoping to leave the previous year's famine behind. In 2017, Michigan mourned the loss of Robert Daniel Mahoney, the first blind person elected to the Michigan House of Representatives, who showed the world what differently abled people could achieve.

On this day in 1979, MSU Superfan Duane Vernon and broadcaster Tim Staudt planned a parade with coach Jud Heathcote. Instead of celebrating a Final Four appearance, they celebrated the Spartans' victory over Indiana State and their NCAA Championship win with a Parade of Champions in downtown Lansing.

On this day in 1871, Amanda Sanford and Sarah Killgore became the first women to graduate from the University of Michigan. Additionally, in 1912, the Michigan Senate voted to support the 19th amendment, advancing women's suffrage.

On this day in 1944, Diana Ross was born in Detroit. She rose to fame as the leader of The Supremes, one of Motown's most successful groups. Ross launched a successful solo career in 1970 and was named Billboard's Female Entertainer of the Century in 1976. She was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988 and has two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

On this day in 1942, Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul, was born in Memphis. She moved to Detroit, began singing at New Bethel Baptist Church, and later recorded hits like "Respect" and "Think." In 1987, she became the first woman inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. After her passing in 2018, she received a posthumous Pulitzer Prize special citation for her contributions to American music and culture.

On this day in 2016, Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha was nominated for Time Magazine’s 100 most influential people for exposing the Flint Water Crisis. She tested Flint children's blood for lead, founded the Flint Child Health and Development Fund, and directs the MSU and Hurley Children’s Hospital Pediatric Public Health Initiative.

On this day in 1710, Detroit held its first Nain Rouge parade to banish the mythical Red Dwarf and his curse. According to legend, Detroit's founder Antoine Cadillac encountered the Nain Rouge, leading to a string of bad luck. The parade became an annual tradition to drive away misfortune from the city.

On this day in 1971, actor and comedian Keegan-Michael Key was born in Southfield, Michigan. He later co-created the influential sketch comedy series "Key & Peele" with Jordan Peele, and famously appeared at the White House Correspondents Dinner as President Obama's Anger Translator, Luther.

On this day in 1933, Diego Rivera's Detroit Industry Murals were unveiled at the Detroit Institute of Arts. In 1953, the S.S. Badger ferry began its voyages across Lake Michigan, connecting Wisconsin to Michigan.