Michigan Minute

On this day in 1934, Vanderbilt, Michigan, recorded the state's coldest temperature at -51°F. In 1942, Detroit's auto manufacturers halted civilian car production to support the war effort, earning the city the nickname "Arsenal of Democracy."

On this day in 1997, Detroit Red Wings coach Scotty Bowman won his 1,000th regular season game. Also, in 1906, chess master Gisela Kahn Gresser was born in Detroit. She became the first American woman to achieve Master standing and be inducted into the U.S. Chess Hall of Fame.

On this day in 1976, Detroiter Sheila Young became the first American to win three medals in one Winter Olympics. In 1994, satellite images showed Lake Superior completely frozen over. In 2017, Betsy DeVos was confirmed as U.S. Secretary of Education by a historic tie-breaking vote.

On this day in 1844, the Grand Rapids vs. Kent dispute was settled, officially naming it Grand Rapids. In 1905, Merze Tate was born in Blanchard, Michigan. She became the first African American woman to achieve numerous academic milestones and joined Howard University's History Department.

On this day in 1959, Governor Jennifer Granholm was born. She made history as Michigan's first woman Attorney General and Governor, and later served as US Secretary of Energy. In 1991, Dr. Jack Kevorkian was barred from assisting in suicides. In 1988, the Brook trout was designated as Michigan’s state fish.

On this day in 1902, Charles Lindbergh was born in Detroit. He became the first person to fly nonstop across the Atlantic in 1927. In 1948, Vincent Furnier, known as Alice Cooper, was born in Detroit, famous for his elaborate stage props and dark performances.

On this day in 1838, passengers rode the Michigan Central Railroad from Detroit to Ypsilanti for the first time. In 1944, Detroit Red Wing’s Sydney Howe scored a double hat trick. In 1865, Michigan ratified the 13th Amendment, abolishing slavery.

On this day in 1870, Elizabeth Madelon Stockwell became the first woman admitted to the University of Michigan. In 1936, the Baseball Hall of Fame inducted its first five players, including Detroit Tiger Ty Cobb.

On this day in 1967, Michigan completed I-94, becoming the first state with an interstate highway stretching border-to-border. In 1942, the Blue Star Mothers of America was founded in Flint to support children serving in WWII, and continues its mission today.

On this day in 1800, Jane Johnston Schoolcraft, the first known Indigenous literary writer and poet, was born in Ste. Saint Marie. Known as Bamewawagezhikaquay in Ojibwe, she left behind writings in both English and Ojibwe, offering insights into early 1800s life.

On this day in 1919, future Detroiter Fred Korematsu was born. He resisted Japanese American internment during WWII and was later awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. In 1955, Michigan State basketball coach Tom Izzo was born, leading the team to numerous Big Ten titles.

On this day in 1919, Michigan ratified the 18th Amendment, leading to Prohibition. In 1945, actor Tom Selleck was born in Detroit. In 1971, Michigan launched its first rocket into space from Keweenaw.

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.