Tales of Southwest Michigan's Past

In this episode I interview Author Brian Young who is coming out with a new biography this year on the life and legacy of Del Shannon. In this interview, he gives a lot of lost history of the early life of the music legend who wrote 'Runaway' and several over Billboard hits during his career. Brian Young will also be visiting Battle Creek during Del Shannon Weekend from June 23rd - 25th an...

In this episode I explore the history of the first large public theatre in Battle Creek, which opened in 1869 called the 'Hamblin Opera House'. It was established by Alexander C. Hamblin, a banker and philanthrophist. Through the 30+ years of its existence the Hamblin Opera House brought a variety of entertainment from dramatic plays, to concerts and minstral shows to the community. Many o...

In this episode I explore some of the history of the early hotels in St. Joseph, Michigan as well as take a look at what travel was like during the Victorian Era. To read some of the references used in this episode: click here For more information on Michael Delaware, visit: https://michaeldelaware.com Subscribe to the channel!

In this interview Mac McCullough from the Willard Library returns to the show with Author Sonya Bernard Hollins , who wrote the book 'Here I Stand' which covered the history of the El Grotto Lounge . The El Grotto Lounge was founded in 1949 by Robert & Helen Montgomery, and became an iconic landmark where many black musicians launched their careers. Names like Junior Walker & the A...

In this episode I explore the history of the notorious criminal John Dillinger, and his crime spree through Indiana, Ohio, Minnesota and Wisconsin, and look at whether he was ever in Southwest Michigan. There are reports of him having been in Michigan near Port Huron and the Upper Penninsula, and one story of a woman who received a car ride from him on a stormy day when she was walking home from w...

This episode explore the history of Michigan's lumber industry and the great logging era from 1840 - 1900. Michigan was once the leading lumber producer in the nation, and its deep forest of Eastern White Pines and hardwoods help build a nation. For more information on Hartwick Pines State Park as mentioned in this episode, visit: https://stateparks.com/hartwick_pines_state_park_in_michigan.ht...

In this episode historical fiction author JuliAnne Sisung joins me for a talk on her research into almost a dozen historical fiction novels set in Michigan. He stories are typically set in the region north of Grand Rapids, but contain factual details of Michigan history from all over the state, including Southwest Michigan. It is a fascinating discussion about her various book series that are set...

In this episode I explore the history of poultry breeders and their organizations in the 1800's and the ones that exist today in Michigan and the USA. I also discuss some of the life of George Barnes who founded the Michigan Poultry Breeder trade publication in Battle Creek in 1885 which became a national sought magazine in the industry. For more information on Michael Delaware, visit: https:/...

In this episode I explore the history of Litchfield, Michigan . Included are stories of the early pioneer settlers, a tragic fire that burned the downtown in 1894, an explosive bank robbery that happened in 1904, and the fascinating stories of people who came from this village and went onto greater achievements. Most notably Rose Hartwick Thorpe , the author of the poem ' Curfew Must Not Ring...

In this episode in honor of Memorial Day Weekend , I telling stories of lost and fallen heroes of WWII and Vietnam that I have researched when working on videos on local cemeteries. Many of these servicemen never made it home from the conflict they served in, and some I have chosen to feature had extraordinary experiences while serving the country. For more information on Michael Delaware, visit:...

In this episode I explore some of the history of the Kellogg Airfield in Battle Creek, Michigan. I also include the story of the B-17 Flying Fortress named 'Snap, Crackle & Pop' which served in the European Theatre of Operations in 1942 during World War II. The plane was named by a pilot that had formerly been an engineer at Kellogg's and as cooincidence would have it, he was instr...

In this episode I explore some of the history of the founding of Olivet College and its notable alumni. The college was founded in 1844, and is 179 years old as of 2023. It has some interesting history. For more information on Michael Delaware, visit: https://MichaelDelaware.com Become a subsccriber!

In this episode I explore the founding of the village of Bellevue, as well as the important impact of the limestone industry and its impact on Michigan from this community. I explore specifically the history of the Dyer Kiln and recent developments on its restoration. For more information on how to support the Dyer Mill restoration project, visit: https://www.csamuseum.net To find out about the up...

In this episode I explore the golden age of cigar manufacturing in Southwest Michigan which was between the 1870's to early 1920's. There were cigar manufacturing operations in Kalamazoo, Battle Creek and Grand Rapids which I explore in this look back into the past. For some of the source material, click here . For history of the Kalamazoo industry, click here. For more information on Mich...

In 1843 a socialistic society was formed that held their first meeting in Jackson, Michigan in December. Following the philosophy and writings of Charles Fourier they drafted their own constitution for communal living, and sought to establish a commune in Southwest Michigan. They settled on a site in Comstock Michigan, just west of Galesburg. They built a mill, a mill race and a mansion for everyo...

On a bitter cold morning in January 1963, Daisy Zick was brually murdered in her home in Battle Creek, Michigan. In this episode, I interview Author Blaine Pardoe who wrote the book: ' Murder in Battle Creek: The Mysterious Death of Daisy Zick ' which covers in detail the crime, and the investigation. Today, the murder remains unsolved. To get a copy of the book, visit: https://amzn.to/3Hk...

In this episode I explore the early pioneer history of the founding of Hastings, Michigan. I use as a reference 'History of Allegan and Barry Counties, Michigan with illustrations and biographical sketches of their prominent men and pioneers' which was published in 1880 by D.W. Ensign & Co. I explore the early pioneer founders of the village, including the first tavern keepers, mills,...

In this episode I explore the life of Betty Hutton, who was born Elizabeth June Thornburg in 1921 in Battle Creek, Michigan. She went on to find success as a singer, and an actress of stage and screen. She performed in over 20 films during the golden age of musicals in Hollywood. Some of her most popular films were 'Annie Get Your Gun' 1950, 'The Greatest Show on Earth' 1952 and &#...

In this episode, Laurie Perkins, the site historian for the Walker Tavern Historic Site which is part of Cambridge Junction Historic State Park . The Walker Tavern was built in 1832, and there is a lot of fascinating history of the people who owned it, as well as the community of Cambridge Junction. For more information on the Walker Tavern Historic Site, visit: https://www.michigan.gov/mhc/museum...

In this episode I explore some of the history of Jonesville, Michigan located in Hillsdale County. It is located approximately 20 miles north of the intersection of the state lines of Michigan, Indiana and Ohio. The village was founded in the early 1830's and was recently chartered as a city in 2014. Jonesville has been the home some facinating industry and people. For the 150 year anniversary...

In this episode, I explore the life of Elijah Pendill the first Mayor of Battle Creek elected in 1859. He served three terms, and was know for his strong enforcement of the 1855 Statewide Prohibition laws in Michigan. His wife Mary Pendill was also an activist in the Temperence movement in Battle Creek. To see the poster created by Nathaniel Currier in 1846 entitled The Drunkard's Progress, cl...

In this episode, I interview Bobbie Mathis from the Union City Society for Historic Preservation and Andrew Noland from Silent Cities Restoration . Both have spent many thousands of hours touring old cemeteries, and working on headstone and monument restoration projects. In this interview we discuss unusual headstones and monuments we have encountered. Ones that made us smile, ones that impressed...

In this episode I explore some of the history and the people of Three Oaks, located in Berrien County, Michigan. Three Oaks was the home of Edward Kirk Warren who founded the Warren Featherbone Company, and also the film location for the Christmas movie 'Prancer' which hit the screens in 1989. For more information on Michael Delaware, visit: https://michaeldelaware.com

In this episode I explore the history of the first telephones installed in Battle Creek, and the creation of the first telephone exchange. Drive by the persistence of Fire Chief John Bohnett in 1882, the City of Battle Creek was able to establish its own telephone system and eventually expand to long distance calling in 1883. For more information on Michael Delaware, visit: https://michaeldelaware...

This this episode, author Dianna Stampfler joins me to talk about the history of Michigan lighthouses. She is the author of two books: 'Michigan's Haunted Lighthouses' and 'Death and Lighthouses on the Great Lakes'. Dianna is also the President of Promote Michigan which serves as an outlet to promote all things in the Great Lakes State. To purchase signed copies of Dianna's...