Michigan Minute

On this day in 1846, the first woman to address the Michigan legislature, Ernestine Rose, spoke about women's suffrage. And in 2010, Detroit Tigers' beloved broadcaster Ernie Harwell passed away, leaving behind a legacy in sports memorabilia. Their contributions continue to inspire and shape Michigan's history.

On this day in 2017: A rare fossil of a Placoderm, an armor-plated fish, was found in Alpena, Michigan, exciting paleontologists at the University of Michigan. On this day in 1921: Walker Smith Jr., better known as boxer Sugar Ray Robinson, was born. Although his birth certificate says Georgia, he grew up in Detroit and became one of the greatest boxers, winning six world championships.

On this day in 1964: At Michigan Stadium, President Lyndon B. Johnson announced his plans for "The Great Society" during the University of Michigan’s commencement. This included Medicare, Medicaid, and the Civil Rights Act. On this day in 1844: Elijah McCoy, the son of escaped enslaved people, was born. His invention of a steam engine oil lubrication system led to the phrase "The Real McCoy."

On this day in 1926: The Ford Motor Company became one of the first in America to adopt a five-day, 40-hour workweek for automotive factory workers. This decision, made in 1922, aimed to promote a better home life for employees. Edsel Ford, company president, emphasized the importance of rest and recreation for a proper work-life balance.

On this day in 1935: During the Great Depression, the Regent Cafe in Jackson, Michigan offered $1,000 for couples to walk as long as they could. Tommy McGeer and Jackie Airgood walked for 88 days to win the prize. On this day in 1954: The first passenger flight, a DC6B "Great Lakes Clipper," took off from Wayne Major (now Detroit Metropolitan) Airport, bound for London.

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 Mi...

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...

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...

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 highl...

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 f...

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...

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.