Tales of Southwest Michigan's Past

In this episode I explore stories of what Halloween was like in the 1800's in Southwest Michigan.  I include stories taken from newspapers in Battle Creek, Marshall, Albion, Athens, Benton Harbor, St. Joseph, Grand Rapids and South Haven.   The dates range between 1877 to 1890.  Halloween was so very different than what we are used to in present day.  Take a journey back i...

In this episode I explore the Lewis Cass Expedition of 1820 which was a survey of the western part of the Michigan Territory, led by Lewis Cass, the Territorial Governor.  The expedition was approved by John Calhoun, the Secretary of War, and had as its purpose to survey the geograohy and topography of the region in order to produce a complete map, as well as survey the flora and fauna, the N...

The Brass Band of Battle Creek was founded 30 years ago, and has been an incredible source of musical entertainment in the country since that time.  The BBBC was founded by Bill and Jim Gray, who join me in this interview.  Also joining me is the Executive Director of the BBBC, Shannon Aikins. The three guests explain the early history of the BBBC, and how it has grown to become an inter...

In this episode I explore the history of the Calhoun County Poor Farm which was established in 1849, and lasted through at least 1912.  I include some of the early history of the establishment of the farm, as well as some of the stories of the people who lived there.  It is an interesting chapter in Southwest Michigan history.  At one point in 1878 there were 24 counties in Michigan...

In this episode I explore some of the early history of Constantine, Michigan.  Governor John S. Barry, who was the only governor elected to three terms was a prominent businessman in the early foundation of the village.  I also explore some of the other early merchants, the Harvey Hotel, the shipping industry on the river, the early milling history, newspapers, banking, churches and much...

Author Amberrose Hammond joins me again to talk about some of her amazing books on Michigan history which is often interwoven with ghostly tales, true crime and fascinating legends.  She is the author of Wicked Grand Rapids, Wicked Ottawa County, Ghosts and Legends of Michigan's West Coast and also Mysterious Michigan.  In this interview we talk about some of the ghostly stories she has...

In this episode I explore a true crime event from 1886 in which a man by the name of Dr. Martin White murdered his family with an axe.   It is dark and brutal true story that shocked the Battle Creek community when it happened.  This is also the 100th episode of this podcast, and I chose to feature a story that is fitting for October. For more information on Michael Delaware, visit:...

The Battle Creek House was built in 1836 by Leonard Starkweather, and served as the first framed hotel in the village of Battle Creek.  The building would stand 30 years in the central heart of the village, and serve as a gathering place for all social activities.  Starkweather remained owner of the hotel, although several different men served as managers over the years.  The hotel...

In this episode I interview Bobbie Mathis and Brian McCombs from the Union City Society for Historic Preservation on their upcoming Dead Man's Hollow Walking Tour , and we also explore some other ghostly tales from Union City history.  The Dead Man's Hollow Walking Tour is October 15th, with the two showings.  Tickets can be acquired at locations described in the interview.   You wi...

The first settler to arrive in the village known today as Augusta, Michigan was Dr. Salmon King, originally a Vermont native in 1833.  A land deal between Dr. King and three industrialist land speculators occured in 1836, and those three men would all became prominent in Michigan politics in the coming years.  Oen would become a state representative, another Speaker of the House and the...

Mike Cox, a story teller and historic reenactor with the Eaton County Historical Commission joins me to talk about the history of the man known as Sam Hill.  The expression many may have heard: What in Sam Hill? is attributed to his uniquely colorful character, and his story is a fascinating one that explores the history of copper mining in the Upper Peninsula, as well some of his life in Mar...

The Temperance Movement began in the early 1800's as a part of a religious movement to abstain from the use of alcohol.  Over the years this movement grew into legislative action which brought into existance the 18th Amendment to the Constition being ratified in 1919, which ushered in the era of Prohibition which lasted until 1933. In this episode I explore some of the early Temperance moveme...

Leonidas Dibble led a fascinating life.  He was an attorney, and spent many years in school in New York, and established himself in a practice after passing the bar in that state.  He then was stricken was a case of gold fever and sold everything to move with his father to California.  After recovering enough fortune to pay for his trip, he returned home by way of Michigan and settl...

In this episode I had the pleasure to interview Dave Eddy , the former morning show host on WBCK for many years.  Known as the Morning Mayor, Mr. Eddy grew up in Albion, Michigan.  We discuss his early life and how he started in radio, as well as local Albion history and famous people.  Join us for a fun time as we explore some interesting Tales of Southwest Michigan's Past. For mor...

The Titus & Hicks Mill was originally founded by Richard Titus and Ellery Hicks in 1853.  After they passed away, the mill past away their sons took over the operation.  Making bold and revolutionary moves, the sons tore down the old mill and rebuilt it, increasing production of the mill by 5X and a few years later advanced it to 8X more than when their fathers owned it.  It is...

Michigan was under the French Flag for over 150 years as part of the territory of New France as declared by Samuel de Champlain in 1608.  In this podcast I explore some of that early history and the French influence that remains in this state today, including some locations in Southwest Michigan.

The war for American Independence was between 1775 -1783, and the wave of pioneer settlers began in 1831, some 48 years later.  However, despite the many decades between, several former soldiers of the American Revolution settled in Michigan in their final years with their families.  In this episode, I explore the lives of two that were buried at Oak Hill Cemetery in Battle Creek, one th...

My guest on this episode of Tales of Southwest Michigan's Past is Dan Hil l from an organization called Outhouse Diggers .  They are a group of modern day history hunters who locate where old outhouses once stood from the 1800's and excavate them to find their hidden secrets.  Over the years, his team has found many relics from the past, as well as some secrets that were lost to time. &n...

A hobo is a migrant worker or homeless vagrant.  The term originated in the U.S. around 1890.  Unlike a 'tramp', who works only when forced to, or a 'bum', who does not work at all, a "hobo" is a traveling worker.  The number of hobos increased during the Great Depression era of the 1930's.  With no work and no prospects at home, many decided to travel the freight trains in pur...

Walter Woolnough was born in Bungay, Suffolk County, England in 1821.  He moved with his parents to America when he was just eleven years old.  He would grow up in New York and become an apprentice for a printing company.  He would eventually move west to Ohio, and work for the Ashtabula Ohio Sentinel, a Whig newspaper in 1842.  A decade later he would move even father west, an...

The Battle Creek Regional History Museum is located at 307 W Jackson St, in Battle Creek Michigan.  In this episode I interview Doug Sturdivant, the President of the museum.  We discuss the exhibits, coming events at the museum and also some of his favorite local history.  We also talk about some of the past and present projects at the museum.  For more information on the Battl...

Lawton, Michigan is located on the Southeast corner of Van Buren County, and has a history of steel production, fruit growing and wine production.  Today Welch's has a fruit juice manufacturing operation there, and in this episode I explore some of the history of this village that all started with a train station in 1848. For more information Michael Delaware , visit: https://www.michaeldelaw...

The golden age of circuses is often cited as beginning in 1872, when the growth and expansion allowed circuses to move their tents, animals and people over greater distances with ease.  When the circus came into town, it was one of the only forms of entertainment that offered an escape for the hard work of farmers in the fields.  Entire families would converge on a town to see witness th...

T.R. Shaw and his family operated the Shaw Funeral Home in Battle Creek, Michigan for four generations.  The company was founded just after the close of the Civil War, and was in continuous operation until the family sold it in 2015.  T.R. tells stories from the business going back to the late 1800's, including stories from Battle Creek, Bellevue, Detroit as well as his experiences growi...

The American Civil War has often been referred to as a war which placed brother against brother .  In Southwest Michigan, I uncovered a story of two brothers, the Byingtons, who fought on opposite sides of this conflict.  They were both originally born in New York, but one moved with his family to Battle Creek, Michigan many years before the start of the war, and the other moved to Montg...