Highlights from the Detroit Free Press, April 21, 1912…
EIGHT SURVIVORS OF TITANIC HERE; SICK OF HORRORS: TWO WOMEN, NERVE-SHATTERED AND HYSTERICAL; THREE CHILDREN, ONE A BABY ONLY ONE YEAR OLD; THREE BELGIANS, STEERAGE PASSENGERS SEEKING NEW WORLD FORTUNES, ARRIVE IN DETROIT. TELL AGAIN GRIM STORY OF TRAGEDY AND SUBLIME HEROISM MRS. FRED QUICK AND MRS. JOHN HAMLIN RELATE HOW THEY WERE PLACED IN BOATS AS SHIP WAS SINKING; LATTER LAST WOMAN IN LAST LIFEBOAT SWUNG OVER SIDE; MEN SAY THEY SWAM TO SAFETY. TITANIC SURVIVORS IN DETROIT.
TITANIC PROBE WILL BE DRIVEN DEEPLY MONDAY: J. BRUCE ISMAY AND VICE PRESIDENT FRANKLIN, OF WHITE STAR LINE WILL BE QUESTIONED IN WASHINGTON. INQUIRY IN NEW YORK SHOWS ICEBERG WARNINGS IGNORED DETERMINED EFFORT WILL BE MADE IN SPITE OF ALL EVASIONS TO FIX RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE SEA HORROR. DEVELOPMENTS.
WORLD WILL WEEP TODAY FOR VICTIMS: CHURCHES OF TWO CONTINENTS WILL HOLD MEMORIAL SERVICES FOR THE 1,635 LOST OF THE TITANIC DISASTER OF MONDAY.
TAKING RESCUED ON BOARD THE CARPATHIA AT SEA [PDF] Detroit Free Press
CROWD AWAITING TITANIC SURVIVORS ON THE CUNARD LINE PIER IN NEW YORK
“WOMEN AND CHILDREN FIRST”–THE CAPTAIN LAST: THIS IS THE TRADITION OF THE SEA AND THE RULE IS RECOGNIZED AND OBEYED BY MEN OF ALL CLASSES AND ALL NATIONS.
GLOWING TRIBUTE PAID TO C. L. FREER’S ART EXHIBIT: WASHINGTON CRITIC ENRAPTURED WITH DETROITER’S EXTENSIVE COLLECTION NOW ON VIEW IN NATIONAL MUSEUM AT WASHINGTON, WHERE IT IS ATTRACTING WORLD-WIDE ATTENTION.
CROWD ESTIMATED AT 26,000 PARTICIPATES IN DEDICATION OF NAVIN FIELD STADIUM; JUNGALEERS BEAT CLEVELAND IN 11 INNINGS: MULLIN’S GREAT WORK IN PINCHES ENABLES HIM TO STAVE OFF DEFEAT. HIS SINGLE SENDS WINNING RUN ACROSS AFTER BUSH AND STANAGE HAVE HIT SAFELY IN FINAL ROUND.
THORPE AND SHERIDAN WILL FIGURE IN OLYMPIC GAMES: UNITED STATES WILL LOOK TO THEM TO SCORE POINTS IN BIG EVENT IN SWEDEN–MANY OTHER STARS MAY TURN UP TO HELP THE TEAMS.
300 ARE DEAD, 50,000 HOMELESS IN FLOODS NEW ORLEANS REPORTS
CONDUCTOR’S NOSE BROKEN: PERE MARQUETTE PASSENGER TRAINS COLLIDE AT BAD AXE.
HORSELESS AGE NOT IMPROBABLE: GLEESON MURPHY, OF THE GENERAL MOTORS TRUCK CO., SAYS BEAST IS DOOMED.
POLITICS FAILS TO STOP PROSPERITY: PRESIDENTIAL YEAR NO COLD WATER DOUCHE TO THE AUTOMOBILE INDUSTRY.
INCREASE WAGES DECREASE HOURS: HUPP MOTOR CAR CO. EMPLOYEES GO ON 9-HOUR DAY AT 10-HOUR PAY.
MICHIGAN IN NATURE AND STORY: LOTS OF SWEETNESS IS MANUFACTURED EACH YEAR IN THIS “SUGAR BUSH” NEAR MASON, LARGEST IN MICHIGAN ORCHARD COMPRISES 80 ACRES, WHERE 2,200 TREES EACH SPRING YIELD UP THEIR SAP. SOME HAVE BEEN TAPPED 70 YEARS FROM THEM THE INDIANS MADE SUGAR IN THE DAYS BEFORE THE WHITE MEN CAME.
PRETTIEST RESORT ALONG THE GRAND: THAT IS THE CLAIM EATON RAPIDS PEOPLE MAKE FOR THEIR RIVERSIDE PARK.
OLD AGE PENSIONS.: NOTED WRITER DOES NOT SEE ANY DANGER IN THE PROPOSITION.
SUFFRAGE AND THE HOME : NO DANGER OF ILL EFFECTS ARE SEEN BY THIS ADVOCATE OF EQUAL FRANCHISE.
A LITTLE SAGE AND SULPHUR MAKES THE GRAY HAIR VANISH: A HARMLESS WAY TO DARKEN HAIR; SIMPLE REMEDY FOR ALL HAIR TROUBLES.
SURELY TAKE “SYRIP OF FIGS” IF HEADACHY, BILIOUS, CONSTIPATED: SWEETENS YOUR STOMACH, CLEARS YOUR HEAD AND THOROUGHLY CLEANSES YOUR LIVER AND 30 FEET OF BOWELS OF SOUR BILE, FOUL GASES AND CLOGGED-UP WASTE.
WHY A RING IS WORN ON FINGER: STRANGE CUSTOMS AND SUPERSTITIONS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH THIS ORNAMENT.
Note : The Main Library now provides the MSU community online access to the historical Detroit Free Press from 1858 through 1922.
April 12-21, 1928
orty different aircraft manufacturers gather in Detroit for a week where they displayed sixty-three different aircraft in the nation’s first aircraft show.
Sources :
Michigan Historical Calendar, courtesy of the Clarke Historical Library at Central Michigan University.
63 Planes in Nation’s First Aircraft Show, Fredericksburg, VA Free Lance-Star, April 6, 1928.
The Michigan Legislature has always had issues with the liberal nature of Michigan colleges and universities.
In 1948, the Michigan Senate Committee on Un-American Activities was infected with righteous indignation about communism during the height of the Cold War era. During its grilling of President John A. Hannah and the Dean of Students about the presence of reds on campus and the need for further action, they discovered that a Michigan State College student had been placed on probation for passing out Union/Communist literature (what’s the difference?) the previous year.
As a result, the Detroit Republican Senator Matthew Callahan, chairman of the Michigan Senate Committee on Un-American Activities, issued a subpoena for MSC student James Zarichny to appear before the committee on April 21, 1948. When Zarichny refused to testify, Callahan announced that he understood the Senate had the right to imprison Zarichny, but needed to consult with the state Attorney General first.
According to the Detroit Free Press, Zarichny’s reason for refusing to testify: I am “holding a finger in the dyke which keeps out probes of the political and religious views of all the people. The secrecy of the ballot is at stake”.
“If I give way”, Zarichny continued, “it will help open the door to questioning of everyone in public quasi-trials. No one’s freedom of political belief will be safe.”
The tall MSC senior and math major said “This sounds like a soap-box speech but if this investigation continues, the MSC faculty will be intimidated, books will be burned and academic freedom will be lost”.
Zarichny was eventually sentenced to jail for the rest of the Senate term, but since the term ended on the same day, he only had to serve one day before being let go that night.
He was also later expelled from MSU, but not for being a communist, but because he could not restrain himself from participation in questionable extracurricular activities, one of the conditions of his probationary status at MSU.
According to an MLive obituary, James Zarichny was always a man of principle.
Zarichny and his family were longtime political activists.
Zarichny was born on Sept. 17, 1923, in Maple Grove. His family worked as farmers, but the Great Depression forced them to sell their land and look elsewhere for work. After a period at a sugar beet farm in Tuscola County, new jobs at Buick eventually brought them to Flint.
The Zarichny family quickly became supporters of the Flint Sit-Down Strike. According to Lance Zarichny, Jim Zarichny’s mother even served on the Women’s Emergency Brigade. Lance Zarichny said that his uncle passed out pro-union leaflets on street corners alongside a partner: former Detroit Mayor Coleman Young and that protesting didn’t come without occasional risks. “He’d come home with a bloody nose and everything, and my grandma’d be crying, cleaning him up”. “These autoworkers, they were afraid to join the union. It was really, really nasty back then.”
After graduating high school in the early 1940s, James (Jim) Zarichny enlisted in the Army during World War II and served overseas in India, northern Africa and Japan. Once Zarichny returned to Michigan, he enrolled at Michigan State College, perhaps taking advantage of the GI Bill.
Zarichny’s continued political activism however soon got him into trouble on campus and beyond. He was placed on disciplinary probation for being involved in the American Youth for Democracy organization. The AYD had applied to be a recognized student organization but was denied because of its Communist sympathies. When the university found out that the group was still meeting, the college placed the members, including Zarichiny, on probation and was told he would be expelled if he got into any further trouble.
In 1948, as mentioned above, Zarichny was brought before the Michigan Legislature over communist allegations. Although he was only found in contempt, fallout from the hearings led to his expulsion at MSC. The legal battle over Michigan State College’s decision resulted in a national speaking tour.
In the late 1950s, Zarichny moved to New York and finished his degree in mathematics at Columbia University. Afterwards, he worked at various jobs (losing at least one because of his politics) but finally moved to Boulder, Colo., to work at the National Center for Atmospheric Research. According to Lance Zarichny, one of the projects that his uncle was most proud of focused on ways of detecting nuclear explosions in the atmosphere.
“He liked to help people his whole life and he helped millions, if not billions of people, when (the team) that he was on accomplished that,” Lance Zarichny said.
After his retirement in the late 1980s, Zarichny remained active. Among his activities, Lance Zarichny said that his uncle started graduate school in Massachusetts, maintained a bookstore in Boulder, Colo. and even taught English in Ukraine. During this period, Zarichny would often stay with the family of niece Dana Zarichny in the summer.
“He was very proud of his efforts to improve our society,” Dana Zarichny said. “He was selfless (and) he was tireless.”
A photo of Zarichny late in his life. Many of his momentos have been left to the University of Colorado, Boulder.
Zarichny died January 31, 2013 and his life story was reviewed in both Colorado and Michigan newspapers.
Sources:
“Senate Has Right to Jail MSC Senior – Callaghan”, Detroit Free Press, April 22, 1948, p.8.
Eric Chiu, “Former Flint resident James Zarichny, 89, remembered as Flint Sit-Down Striker, lifelong political activist“, MLive, February 6, 2013.
James Zarichny Collection at MSU Archives.
From the Archives: James Zarichny, University of Colorado, Boulder, April 8, 2018.
“MSU Shadows” was officially adopted as the alma mater for Michigan State on April 21, 1949. It was chosen by student vote after a long effort to identify and obtain a distinctive melody for the university.
The music and lyrics were penned by Bernard “Barney” Traynor, an assistant football coach on staff from 1925–27.
Joshua Davis, an MSU College of Arts & Letters graduate, native of Michigan and finalist on the eighth season of NBC’s “The Voice,” has released a recording and music video of his version of Michigan State University’s alma mater, “MSU Shadows.”
Source : Joshua Davis records version of ‘MSU Shadows’, MSU Today, November 6, 2015.
Water Woes: Flooding in MSU’s past
With the recent weather related news, much discussion has arisen regarding floods that have occurred on the campus. There have been three major floods recorded in MSU’s history.
The most recent occurred in April of 1975. Grand River rose to above 15 feet and the Red Cedar rose to about 12 feet above its normal level and over 16 feet in some areas causing major flooding. However, in comparison to the surrounding cities such as Lansing, East Lansing, Okemos, and Meridian Township, Michigan State’s campus suffered minimal damage. Many people in these nearby cities lost everything. Their houses were completely destroyed by the water and volunteer crews such as the Red Cross had to be called in to assist these individuals. Shelters were set up at Okemos High School, MacDonald Middle School, and Marshall Street Armory for the evacuees. Compared to the devastation that hit elsewhere, MSUs campus was fairly quiet. Demonstration Hall, the Women’s IM Building, Jenison Field House, the Auditorium, Beal Garden, and Kobs Field were the worst hit. Cedar Village and the surrounding apartments were also hit hard. Despite the rain, classes were not cancelled except for those located in Dem Hall, the Women’s building, Jenison, and the Aud. Traffic was the biggest pain on campus. Many roads were closed because of the flood which made it difficult to find alternative routes to class. Preliminary damage reports estimated that it would cost about $50,000 to repair damage to the buildings and anywhere from $5,000 – $10,000 to repair damage to the grounds.
Monday April 6, 1947 marked the second large flood in MSU’s history. A heavy rain fall following a large amount of melting snow caused nearly 65 acres of campus to become covered in water which reached a crest of 12.3 feet. Old College Field was completely covered by water and all outdoor practices for baseball, football, and golf were suspended. Jenison Fieldhouse was the hardest hit with 12 feet of water flooding the basement. Quonset Village, the State Police post, MSC trailer camp, faculty housing, and the apartments were also affected by the waters. Quonset Village and apartment residents were without heat or electricity for about three days. Roads were also flooded which caused a huge hassle getting around campus. Only classes in the fieldhouse were cancelled for a three-day period, and demonstration hall was closed; all other buildings remained open.
The first large flood that devastated campus occurred in 1904. The State News articles make reference to this flood however, no direct documentation was found.
Sources:
“Water Woes: Flooding in MSU’s past“, MSU Archives, August 2, 2011.
Digital copy of that issue of State News is available through DMC http://archive.lib.msu.edu/DMC/state_news/1975/state_news_19750421.pdf
“Flood Costs Not Heavy.” MSU News-Bulletin [East Lansing] 24 Apr. 1975. Print.
Merrell, Jeff. “MSU Wrings Dry after Flooding.” State News [East Lansing] 21 Apr. 1975. Print.
“Record Flood Waters Drowned MSC Campus.” Michigan State News [East Lansing] 16 Apr.1947. Print.
TIME has named Mona Hanna-Attisha, director of the Michigan State University and Hurley Children’s Hospital Pediatric Public Health Initiative, to the 2016 TIME 100 — its annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world.
The list recognizes the activism, innovation and achievement of the world’s most influential individuals.
As TIME editor Nancy Gibbs has said of the list in the past, “The TIME 100 is a list of the world’s most influential men and women, not its most powerful, though those are not mutually exclusive terms. While power is certain, influence is subtle. As much as this exercise chronicles the achievements of the past year, we also focus on figures whose influence is likely to grow, so we can look around the corner to see what is coming.”
“Dr. Mona,” – as many call her, captured the 20th spot in the top 100 list, or 1.1 percent of the vote total, alongside U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, talk show hosts Stephen Colbert and John Oliver and German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
“I am honored and humbled to be on the TIME 100 Most Influential People list,” Hanna-Attisha said. “However, the most influential people in my world are the people of Flint – the smart, strong and resilient people of Flint that are approaching their third year of unsafe water. I hope this recognition continues to bring awareness to the ongoing Flint water crisis, and the very human story behind the crisis.
She added, “I would like to thank TIME magazine for the honor and everyone for their votes and extensive support.”
“We are very proud of Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha for the outstanding work she has done to help the children and families of Flint,” said Aron Sousa, interim dean, MSU College of Human Medicine. “Her science and advocacy demonstrate why public intellectual institutions like hospitals and universities are important to the health and safety of Americans. It is nice that Time has recognized Mona, but her work and energy have made us very proud already.”
For the full article, see Geri Kelley, Ilene Cantor, and Sarina Gleason, “Mona Hanna-Attisha Named One of Time’s Most Influential People“, MSU Today, April 21, 2016.
Scott Atkinson, “Champion For Children“, Hour Detroit, October 1, 2016 : Dr. Mona gained fame as a ‘water warrior,’ but her long-term crusade is fixing all of Flint’s social ills
Kalamazoo College was founded in 1833 by a group of Baptist ministers as the Michigan and Huron Institute. Its charter was granted on April 22, 1833, the first school chartered by the Legislative Council of the Territory of Michigan. Instruction at the Institute began in fall 1836. In 1837, the name of the fledgling college was changed to the “Kalamazoo Literary Institute” and school officials made their first attempt to secure recognition as a college from the state of Michigan. In 1838, however, the University of Michigan opened the Kalamazoo Branch of the University of Michigan, providing a local competitor to the Literary Institute. In 1840, the two schools merged, and from 1840 to 1850 the College operated as the Kalamazoo Branch of the University of Michigan. In 1850, the Kalamazoo Literary Institute name was restored and in 1855 the school finally received an educational charter from the State of Michigan, establishing explicit recognition of the school as a college. After receiving its educational charter, the school changed its name to Kalamazoo College.
Kalamazoo College, also known as K College or simply K, is a private liberal arts college in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Founded in 1833, the college is among the 100 oldest in the country. Today, it produces more Peace Corps volunteers per capita than any other US academic institution. From 1997 to 2006 it ranked 21st among all baccalaureate institutions in the percentage of graduates who went on to earn doctorates. The school was founded by American Baptist ministers, but today maintains no religious affiliation.
Kalamazoo College Today
Source :
On April 27, 1933, in celebration of the repeal of Prohibition, Michigan Gov. William A. Comstock approved a law permitting people to drink beer and wine starting at age 18.
According to the Michigan Historical Center, 18- to 20-year-olds were not allowed to drink any form of hard liquor during this time. The Legislature reconsidered the move four years later and raised the drinking age to 21.
The legal drinking age remained 21 until 1972, when it was once again lowered to 18. After Michigan began to suffer from higher incidents of alcohol-related traffic incidents among drivers ages 18 to 20, the state decided to change the legal drinking age back to 21 in 1978.
Andrea K. Farmer, This Week in Michigan History, Detroit Free Press, April 22, 2007, B.4
On April 22, 1948, Orlando LeValley died at his farm outside Caro, Mich. The longtime farmer, who had enlisted in the 23rd Michigan Infantry Regiment as a 16-year-old in 1864, was the last of the 90,000 Michigan veterans of the Civil War to die. The press reported that LeValley had outlived his wife, Hannah, by 30 years, and one of their six children. He left 15 grandchildren (three of whom had served in World War II) and 29 great-grandchildren. LeValley, who had enjoyed telling people that he heard President Lincoln’s second inaugural address while on furlough in 1865, was just five months shy of 100 when he died.
Source : Richard Bak, “Last Man Standing”, Hour Detroit, August 2012.
For a related story, search Joseph Clovese.
On April 22, 1956, the Michigan Legislature adopted Act 183 “to establish and regulate a state institution of higher learning to be known as Wayne State University.” This legislative act opened the doors for Wayne State to join Michigan’s other select public universities.
But the history of Wayne State University can be traced back farther than that.
In 1868, Wayne State University was officially founded as the Detroit Medical College, now the School of Medicine. The Detroit Medical College was created in 1868 (founded by 5 Civil War physicians), out of which grew Wayne State University. The first academic term began on Nov. 3, 1868. In 1881, the Detroit Normal Training School was established, now the College of Education
The official sesquicentennial celebration of Wayne State University is being celebrated from January to November 2018.
Source: Tom Watkins, “Wayne State University Turns 150″, Dome, March 2, 2018