Tales of Southwest Michigan's Past

In this episode, author Sarah Rice joins me again to talk about Christmas memories from Archway Cookies. She is the co-author of the book 'Archway Cookies: A Taste of 20th Century Americana'. Hear about the many different Christmas cookies Archway developed over the years, the holiday parties, the traditions and challenges of this wonderful Michigan company. For a copy of the book, visit:...

In this episode we listen to two of Franklin D. Roosevelt's famous addresses to Congress and to the nation by means of his Fireside Chats following the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. The addresses were given on December 8th & 9th, 1941, and are preserved in the Library of Congress. For more information on Michael Delaware, visit: https://michaeldelaware.com

In this episode I explore the origins of many present day Christmas traditions that originated in the Victorian Era. I also discuss different countries who have influenced the holiday, including England, Germany, Scandanavia, Latin America and the USA. Many of these traditions were held as a custom by pioneers in Southwest Michigan, and there was also a large influence by Charles Dickens. For more...

In this episode, Bobbie Mathis , the President of the Union City Society for Historic Preservation joins me to discuss vintage Christmas advertising, historic diaries and the literary influence in Michigan of Charles Dickens. It is a fun holiday interview, and we also share insight into our upcoming show 'Tales of Christmas Past' at the Battle Creek Regional History Museum and the celebrat...

In this episode I explore the top 10 most memorable winter snow storms in Michigan history. The Great Lakes State has experienced some very intense winter storms in the past. Join me as I take a dive into some of the worse storms in recorded history and try to rank them. For more information on Michael Delaware, visit: https://michaeldelaware.com Get your tickets for 'Tales of Christmas Past&#...

In this episode I explore the history of Borgess Hospital which was and idea sparked by Reverend Frank O'Brien in 1888, who successfully drove the funding to make the first hospital in the city possible. Named after Bisphop Caspar Henry Borgess from Detroit who donated the first funds to the project, the institution has undergone a lot of developments and challenges over its 100+ year history....

Dave Eddy , known in Battle Creek as the ' Morning Mayor ' of WBCK Radio joins me to talk about holiday memories from his 40+ years with the morning program. Enjoy stories of early remote broadcasts, drunk Santa, the blizzard of 1978, Red Skelton. Richard Simmons and other wonderful stories. For more information on Michael Delaware, visit: https://michaeldelaware.com For tickets to 'Ta...

In this episode I explore the story of the Schooner Rouse Simmons, also known as 'The Christmas Tree Ship' that sank in 1912 in Lake Michigan. To read the source article on this story, click here. For more information on Michael Delaware, visit: https://michaeldelaware.com To order tickets for Tales of Christmas Past, visit: https://events.humanitix.com/tours/christmaspast

In this episode I explore the story of the sidewheel steamer Alpena which was lost in a storm known as 'The Big Blow' in October 1880. For more information on Michael Delaware, visit: https://michaeldelaware.com For tickets to Tales of Christmas Past, go to this link: https://events.humanitix.com/tours/christmaspast

In 1940, Veterans Day was known as Armistice Day. On that holiday, a surprise winter storm struck the midwest, impacting northern states including Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin and Michigan. The effects of this storm and its aftermath changed climatologists prediction methods for generations to follow. It was one of the most memorable storms in US history. For more information on the history behind t...

In this episode, I explore the history of Mary Clark, the first woman physician of Calhoun County who practiced for 50+ years in Battle Creek, and also in Albion, Kalamazoo and other places in the U.S. For more information on Michael Delaware, visit: https://michaeldelaware.com Get tickets to Tales of Christmas Past on December 16th, here: https://events.humanitix.com/tours/christmaspast

In this episode, I explore the early history of education in Michigan and Calhoun County. I particularly explore the influence of Rev. John Pierce and Isaac Crary, and many others. For the historic timeline on EMU, click here. For more information on Michael Delaware, visit: https://michaeldelaware.com For tickets to Tales of Christmas Past, click here .

In this episode, I explore the history of the mint industry in Southwest Michigan. I expecially discuss the A.M. Todd Company in Kalamazoo, which at one time was the largest producer of mint and mint oils in the world. For the Kalamazoo Library article, click here. For the MLive article references, click here. For more information on Michael Delaware, visit: http://michaeldelaware.com For tickets...

In this espisode, I explore some of the known history of the mysterious mound builder civilization that existed in Southwest Michigan going back 5000 years. For more information on Michael Delaware, visit: https://michaeldelaware.com

In this episode, I explore the Willard A. Norton Directory from 1899 for the cities of Dowagiac, Cassopolis and surrounding areas. It is a look at the long forgotten businesses of over 120 years ago, and what was important in thart era, with a comparison to today. For more information on Michael Delaware, visit: https://michaeldelaware.com

Author TR Shaw joins me for an interview to discuss the upcoming 100th Anniversary of the Kellogg Airport which is coming up in 2024. He has been the chair of the planning committee on the year long celebration, and also had been giving talks on the history of the airport. We talk about the 100 year history, and other stories. For more information on TR Shaw, or to get a copy of his book 'Defy...

In this episode I explore some early stories of the pioneer logging days of Cadillac, Michigan. The material for this episode comes from a book written in 1892 entitled: 'Cadillac, its past, present and future: A Symposium.' It can be read in full in the Michigan County Histories collection on the U of M website. Here is the direct link to the book. For more information on Michael Delaware...

In this episode, I explore how Halloween was celebrated over 100 years ago by sharing stories from Benton Harbor, Marshall, Battle Creek, South Haven, Hillsdale, Kalamazoo, St. Joseph and other cities in Southwest Michigan. For more information on Michael Delaware, visit: https://michaeldelaware.com

In this episode I explore the story of the J. Oswald Boyd which left on its fatal voyage in 1936 from the Theisen-Clemons Terminal in St. Joseph, Michigan and take six years to arrive at its destination in Detroit. Over the years it became known as the Death Ship. For more information on this story or to get a copy of Michigan History Magazine, click here . For more information on Michael Delaware...

In this episode I share a colleciton of humorous tales from a historical record of Daniel Mevis written in 1911, reflecting on the 1840's and 1850's in his boyhood pioneer days in Lansing, Michigan. For more information Michael Delaware, visit: https://michaeldelaware.com To sign up to recieve notice of Michael's upcoming book: Victorian Southwest Michigan True Crime, click here .

In this episode I explore some of the early history of cemeteries around Calhoun County and when they were founded. I also give some stories of early cemeteries being relocated, and the use of cadaver dogs in cemetery research. For more information on Michael Delaware, visit: https://michaeldelaware.com

In this episode, Author Amberrose Hammond joins me to talk about some Michigan monster and ghost stories. Her book 'Ghosts and Legends of Michigan's West Coast' contains some chilling stories from Southwest Michigan. For books and information on Amberrose Hammond, visit: https://mysteriousmichigan.com/store/ For information on the Mid-Michigan Paranormal Convention, visit: https://www....

In this episode I explore the account of a man named Daniel Mevis where is describes his early boyhood when his parents settled the family in Lansing Michigan in the 1840's. He describes encounters with animals, insects, hunting and encounters with the Okemos tribe among other stories. For more information on Michael Delaware, visit: https://michaeldelaware.com For tickets to Tales of Christma...

In this episode I explore the manufacturing industry of Battle Creek from an article published in January 1st, 1916 looking back at the prior year. The article explores the growth of the city with new buildings, and the variety of manufacturing occuring, during a time when European imports to the USA were in decline because the war. For more information on Michael Delaware, visit: https://michaeld...

In this episode, Judy Gail Krasnow joins me to talk about her book 'Jacktown: History & Hard Times at Michigan's First State Prison'. We explore some of the early history of the prison, and some of the stories of people in its long history. To purchase a copy of Jacktown, click here. To get a copy of Judy's other book 'The Town that Shot Itself in the Foot' click here....