Michigan History Moment

Produced by Michigan History Magazine Gerhard Mennen “Soapy” Williams, a liberal reformer, served for 12 years as Michigan’s 41st governor, from 1949 to 1960. Born into an affluent family on February 23, 1911 in Detroit, Michigan, Williams earned the nickname “Soapy” because his maternal grandfather was the founder of Mennen, a brand of men’s personal care products.

Produced by Michigan History Magazine In July of 1911, the neighboring Michigan cities of Oscoda and AuSable burned to the ground in what has been called the "most devastating fire in the history of Michigan". Due to the heavy influence of the lumber trade in those years, both cities were constructed entirely of wood which made the communities extremely vulnerable for disaster.

Produced by Michigan History La Framboise was one of the most successful fur traders in Michigan, while it was still considered the Northwest Territory. At that time, fur trading was a difficult, dangerous and male-dominated occupation. Madame La Framboise was one of the most prominent early businesswomen in the territory.