Tales of Southwest Michigan's Past

In this episode, I refer to an article written by Elizabeth Neumeyer in her book 'What's in a Name' on some of the history of 1916 in Battle Creek, Michigan. It was an interesting time where the automobiles were still new, and there were to live theaters in town, along with 5 movie theaters, fountains and so much more around Battle Creek. It is a fascinating snapshot into the past. For...

Mike Cox joins me from the Eaton County Historical Commission on the subject of the history of Native American Removal in Eaton County in the 1840's.  We also discuss some other local history in Eaton County, as well as museums and programs for the coming year. For more information on the Eaton County Historical Commission, visit: https://eatoncountyhistory.org For more information on Michael...

Join me as I explore the forgotten story of a murder that happened on the plank road between Battle Creek and Bedford Township Michigan on a cold December night in 1855. To watch the video I mention on Plank Roads and Barney's Tavern, click here: https://youtu.be/EeHZW02_BSA For more information on Michael Delaware, visit: https://www.michaeldelaware.com

In 1998, Peter N. Stearns wrote an essay for the American Historical Association entitled 'Why Study History?' This essay defines comprehensively and clearly why a study of history is important.  He also describes the 'Labratory of the Human Experience'  that one gains access to when they do make a careful study of the subject. Join me as I read this amazing essay and discuss its import....

Dennis Skupinski from Michigan's Military Heritage Museum in Jackson, Michigan joins me to talk about the story of Rosie the Riveter.  We also explore some other history of Michigan women in wartime. For more information about the Michigan Military Heritage Museum , visit: https://mimhm.org/ For tickets to the Phenomenal Woman show at the Battle Creek Regional History Museum, visit: https://w...

Marshall, Michigan was once known as 'Patent Medicine Town' and one time had as many as 50 different patent medicine businesses.  The F. A. Stuart Company was founded by Frank Alfred Stuart, and it existed between 1893 - 1956.  In this episode I explore the history of the F.A. Stuart Company and some of the history of the Patent Medicine Industry, of which Marshall had some of the leadin...

In this episode I explore stories of early pioneer baseball in Michigan, and also the life of James Thomas 'Deacon' McGuire, AKA Jim 'Deacon' McGuire a professional baseball player from the 19th & 20th century who played for 26 years.  McGuire was considered one of the most durable catchers in his era, and is often referred to as a player who changed the game for the catchers who followed...

In this episode, I interview three members of the Underground Railroad Society of Cass County on the subject of truths and myths of the Underground Railroad. The James E. Bonine House, the Bonine Carriage House, and the Stephen Bogue House are all properties preserved and maintained by the URSCC.  The organization recently purchased in 2022 the Brownsville School, which they are beginning res...

John me as I explore the life of Henry Rowe Schoolcraft (1793 - 1864) who was a geographer, geologist and ethnologist noted for his early studies of Native American cultures as well as several expeditions into the wilderness of the Northwest Territory, including Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Minnesota and Wisconsin.   For more information on Michael Delaware, visit: https://michaelde...

Edward Tiffin was the first Governor of Ohio.  He was later a U.S. Senator, and eventually was appointed by President Madison to be the Chief Land Surveyor of the Northwest Territory, of which Michigan was a part.  A medical doctor by trade, and also an itinerant preacher, Tiffin conducted a survey of the territories of Michigan, Indiana, Illinois and Wisconsin between 1814 - 1816 as par...

In this episode I interview Mac McCollough from the Willard Library, and we discuss the great historians of Battle Creek.  We cover some of the earliest writers of history from the pioneer period all the way to present day.  We also talk about some of the other great resources soon to come to the Willard Library archives.

In this episode I explore an article written and published by historian Charles E. Barnes in the Sunday Record on April 19, 1908 entitled 'Escaped Slaves Found a Safe Haven in Battle Creek Before the War' .  Charles Barnes was born in 1848 and grew up in Battle Creek.  He entered the newspaper business at a young age, and met many of the people he writes about in this article.  In t...

In this episode I explore the history of the Binder Family in Battle Creek.  Today in Battle Creek there is the Binder Park Zoo and the Binder Park Golf course, but many people probably do not know the history of this family in Battle Creek.   For more information on Michael Delaware, visit: https://www.michaeldelaware.com

In this episode I interview Donna Rickman, Jill McCombs and Bobbie Mathis on the subject of women's history in Calhoun County.  Donna, Jill and Bobbie are all performing in an upcoming program at the Battle Creek Regional History Museum on Saturday, March 25th at 2:00 PM called ' Phenomenal Woman '. Tickets for the performance can be purchased online at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/517666673...

In 1875 in downtown Battle Creek, Michigan a murder happened in the middle of the day in October in a saloon at the corner of Jefferson and Main Street.  The man killed was described as a giant of a man, and his killer had fled down the street.  The trial that followed would reveal the story of a card game that erupted into a bar fight, which turned into a stabbing and a murder.  Th...

Between 1867 to 1930 Kalamazoo was one of three cities in the U.S. that manufactured windmills for farms.  Windmills are structures that converted wind power into rotational energy using vanes called sails or blades, and they were in the early days made of wood, and in later years made of metal.  They were essential tools on farms for grinding grain in gristmills, and later became replac...

In this episode I welcome back Amberrose Hammond to Tales of Southwest Michigan's Past to talk about her book Wicked Ottawa County .  She tells us stories of murder, intrigue and jealous lovers who make up her collection of morbid tales of the county just West of Grand Rapids.  She also discusses her upcoming projects and plans for 2023.   For more information Amberrose Hammond, vis...

In this episode I explore the history of Branch County newspapers that existed between 1837 to the 1880's.  The Michigan Star was the first one published in 1837 in the Village of Branch, and through the years there was the Coldwater Observer, The Branch County Democrat, the Coldwater Sentinel, The Branch County Republican, The Branch County Gazzette, The Democratic Union, The Southern Michig...

In 1897, the announcement of gold in Alaska sparked a group of entreprenuers from Kalamazoo to unite and make plans to seek their fortuned in the Yukon Territory.  They became popularly known as the 'Kalamazoo Hustlers' although their official name was the Kalamazoo Mining and Prospecting Company .  This is the story of their adventure in Alaska. To read the article from the Kalamazoo Li...

My guest in this episode is Rhiannon Cizon from the Berrien County Historical Association.   She has been investigating the history of a murder of a Benton Harbor man that happened in 1904 named Mintor Northup.  The investigation crossed state lines into Northern Indiana, and also involved a very well respected law enforcement officer at the time.  The intrique includes threatening...

The Battle Creek Sanitarium was a very large medical facility for many decades, and at one point it was the largest in the United States.  It also had one of the largest nursing training programs of its time, training nurses from all over the U.S. and internationally.  In 1908, there was an article written on the Nursing Program and it offers a unique insight into the lives of the women...

In this episode I read an article published in the Sunday Journal - Record on February 23, 1908.  It is called: Lunch Hour at the Postum Cereal Plant, and it offers a unique insight into the social customs of the time, and also the new innovation of a lunch room at the Postum Cereal Factory which was considered to be a new idea for that period in history. For more information on Michael Delaw...

On the evening of November 21st, 1883, just a short distance from Jackson, Michigan in Summit Township, Jacob Crouch, William Henry White, his son-in-law, Eunice White his daughter and a guest Moses Polley were all murdered in their beds by some unknown parties.  The case became known as the Crouch Murders in all the newspaper.  Some say the crimes were driven by greedy relatives who wan...

The Black Hand was a precursor to the mafia in the United States, and they primarily targeted the Italian immigrant population.  Although they committed violent crimes, such as murder, bombings and kidnapping; these actions were all just moves in a larger game, which was intended to keep the Italian communities living in fear of retribution.  They extorted money from hardworking laborers...

In this episode I explore numerous stories of 'petrified bodies' carried in Michigan Newspapers from 1837 to 1895.  The stories are mostly relayed from other parts of the country, and carried in these papers.  However, the subject of body petrification after burial was a popular topic of the period, and so I explore the myths and facts about this. For more information on Michael Delaware...