Michigan Minute

On this day in 1898, Sault-Sainte Marie imposed a 6 mph speed limit, sparking criticism from The Soo Times. In 1958, Ozzie Virgil joined the Detroit Tigers as their first Latino player. In 2015, the Lansing Lugnuts established the Michigan Baseball Hall of Fame.

On this day in 1847, citizens of Marshall, Michigan, thwarted slave catchers and helped the Crosswhite family escape to Canada. In 1859, Jesse Eugene Tenney became Michigan’s state librarian. In 2012, the Michigan gray wolf was removed from the endangered species list.

On this day in 1978, Detroit welcomed future Wimbledon winner Corina Morariu. She won major doubles titles and overcame leukemia. Michigan also became the 26th state in 1837.

On this day in 1945, Grand Rapids, Michigan became the first U.S. city to add fluoride to its tap water. This was part of a study comparing dental health with Muskegon, MI, which later also fluoridated its water. Learn about the origins and impact of water fluoridation.

On this day in 1924, Grace Gilbert, the famous Bearded Lady from Kalkaska, Michigan, passed away. In 1938, a colossal winter storm hit the Upper Peninsula, causing 32 inches of snow and trapping people with snowdrifts up to 18 feet tall.

On this day in 1913, Lorinda Anna Blair Etheridge, a Union nurse and vivandière, was buried in Arlington National Cemetery. In 1963, Malcolm X spoke at MSU about race and the Black Muslim religion.

On this day in 1969, Governor George Romney resigned to join Nixon's cabinet. In 2002, K-Mart filed for bankruptcy. And in 2007, Pfizer closed three research sites, leading to the creation of the University of Michigan's North Campus Research Complex.

On this day in 1893, the first train arrived at Detroit’s Fort Street Union Depot. In 1915, Kiwanis International was founded, with the first club organized in Detroit's Griswold Hotel.

On this day in 1837, Michigan's first locomotive-powered train began service from Adrian to Toledo. In 1988, the Supremes were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, celebrated for their polished style that bridged pop and soul.

On this day in 1941, Bob Heft was born in Saginaw, Michigan. At 17, he designed the 50-star American flag, which earned him a B-minus in class but later a call from President Eisenhower. This flag remains the longest-serving design in U.S. history.

On this day in 1943, Michigan bakeries were ordered to stop slicing bread to save steel for the war effort. Also today, Glenn Frey, co-founder of The Eagles and Royal Oak native, passed away in 2016. His music continues to inspire.

On this day in 1899, Ellen May Tower, a veteran of the Spanish American War, became the first woman in Michigan to receive a military funeral. In 1983, Detroit’s J. L. Hudson Department store closed its doors for the last time. And in 1931, James Earl Jones, the iconic voice of Darth Vader and Mufasa, was born.

On this day in 1937, Blanche Martin, the first African American MSU Trustee, was born. In 1938, Caberfae Ski Resort opened in the Manistee National Forest. And in 2018, a meteor lit up the Michigan sky.

On this day in 1818, Macomb County was named after General Alexander Macomb. In 1919, Michigan had its first all-woman jury, which quickly delivered a guilty verdict. And in 1954, WKAR launched its public television station, the third in the country.

On this day in 1856, Joseph R. Williams became the first president of the Agricultural College of the State of Michigan. In 1913, Jack Johnson, the first African-American heavyweight champion, was arrested in Battle Creek for violating the Mann Act and was posthumously pardoned in 2018.

On this day in 1854, Jim Paul registered the plot of land that would become Ontonagon, though he failed to secure the title. In 1862, Gov. Austin Blair approved a resolution to assist in the exchange of prisoners of war, focusing on Colonel Orlando B. Willcox, who was later promoted and awarded the Medal of Honor.

1959: Berry Gordy founds Tamla Records, the precursor to Motown, to release Marv Johnson's "Come to Me."

1805: President Jefferson signs act creating Michigan Territory. 1955: Detroit SAE reveals car exhaust contributes to smog. 1988: Dr. Hutton oversees first IVF-conceived quintuplets in Michigan.

1974: Charles Youngblood convicted in bribery scandal. 1964: William Clay Ford acquires Detroit Lions for $4.5 million.

1886: Detroit Free Press highlights "Milder Winters" linked to steam heat. 1973: Marquette Airport penalized for failing FAA anti-hijack measures. 1996: House task force advocates fair funding for Michigan's universities.

1831: Detroit gets daily mail, takes 14 days from New York. 1838: Gov. Mason deploys militia against Patriots raiding Detroit. 1997: Marilyn Kelly's investiture marks majority women Supreme Court.

1929: First non-stop flight Detroit to Miami, 9 hours, pilots Schlee and Brock. 1950: Chevrolet debuts affordable Powerglide, sells 300,000 in first year. 1971: B52 bomber narrowly misses nuclear plant, crashes into Lake Michigan.

1912: Danny Thomas, born Muzyad Yakhoob, invents the Spit Take, later founded St. Jude Children's Hospital. 1994: US Figure Skating Championship scandal at Joe Louis Arena as Nancy Kerrigan is attacked.

1870: U of M Board allows female students; Madelon Louise Stockwell leads the way. 1988: Michigan Central Station's last train departs, symbolizing Detroit's decline. 2018: Ford revives the iconic station, signaling Detroit's rebirth.

1918: Ford River Rouge plant launches, evolving into an industrial powerhouse. 1943: Fran Harris breaks radio gender barriers, becoming Michigan's first woman newscaster.