On March 26, 1950, road officials said that virtually every unpaved road in Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties had become an impassable muddy morass for vehicle traffic. Those living in rural communities were not able to get fuel supplies delivered to their homes. Food could only be gotten by “trudging weary miles in mud.”
Source : MIRS Capitol Capsule, Thursday, March 26, 2020.
Magic Johnson dunks the basketball against Bob Heaton of the Indiana State University Sycamores while Larry Bird (standing in front of No. 23) watches.
Michigan State University won the NCAA championship against Indiana State University in a March 26, 1979 game featuring MSU’s Earvin (Magic) Johnson and Indiana State’s Larry Bird, who would carry their storied rivalry into the National Basketball Association, revitalizing the professional game.
The final score in the game that secured MSU’s first national championship at the Special Events Center in Salt Lake City was 75-64.
The Spartans, led by co-captains Johnson and Greg Kelser, reached the final by beating Lamar on March 11, Louisiana State on March 16, Notre Dame on March 18 and Pennsylvania on March 24.
Under Coach Jud Heathcote, the 1978-79 team compiled a 26-6 overall record.
Johnson, a Lansing native, went on to play for the Los Angeles Lakers for 13 years, retiring in 1991. He was on five championship teams, plus the original Dream Team, which won the gold medal in basketball in the 1992 Olympics. The 6-foot-9 point guard was the most valuable player three times and the Finals MVP three times.
His college archrival, Bird, spent the same number of years on the Boston Celtics, where he was a two-time Finals MVP and the first non-center to win three consecutive MVP Awards.
Both were 12-time All-Stars.
The Spartans reclaimed the NCAA title with an 89-76 win over Florida on April 3, 2000.
Source : Detroit Free Press, March 25, 2012.
A jury in Michigan finds Dr. Jack Kevorkian guilty of second-degree murder for administering a lethal injection to a terminally ill man.
Source : HistoryOrb.com
For more information, see “People v Kevorkian, The Right to Die, 447 Mich 436 (1994)”, Michigan Bar Journal, March 2009, pp. 30-32.
Stateside Staff, “Kevorkian papers available to the public at Bentley Historical Museum”, Michigan Radio,
November 18, 2015
Jim Harrison, the fiction writer, poet, outdoorsman and reveler who wrote with gruff affection for the country’s landscape and rural life and enjoyed mainstream success in middle age with his historical saga “Legends of the Fall,” has died at age 78.
Spokeswoman Deb Seager of Grove Atlantic, Harrison’s publisher, told The Associated Press that Harrison died Saturday at his home in Patagonia, Arizona on March 26, 2016. Seager did not know the cause of death. Harrison’s wife of more than 50 years, Linda King Harrison, died last fall.
The versatile and prolific author — born in Grayling, Michigan December 11, 1937 — completed more than 30 books, most recently the novella collection “The Ancient Minstrel,” and was admired worldwide. Sometimes likened to Ernest Hemingway for the range and kinds of his interests, he was a hunter and fisherman who savored his time in a cabin near his Michigan hometown, a drinker and Hollywood script writer who was close friends with Jack Nicholson and came to know Sean Connery, Orson Welles and Warren Beatty among others. He was a sports writer and a man of extraordinary appetite who once polished off a 37-course lunch, a traveler and teller of tales, most famously “Legends of the Fall.”
Published in 1979, “Legends of the Fall” was a collection of three novellas that featured the title story about Montana rancher Col. William Ludlow and his three sons of sharply contrasting personalities and values, the narrative extending from before World War I to the mid-20th century, from San Francisco to Singapore. The book was a best-seller, and Harrison worked on the script for an Oscar-nominated 1994 film of the same name starring Brad Pitt, Anthony Hopkins and Aidan Quinn. Harrison’s screenplay credits also included “Revenge,” starring Kevin Costner, and the Nicholson film “Wolf.” But he would liken the unpredictable and nerve wracking process to being trapped in a “shuddering elevator” and reminded himself of his marginal status by inscribing a putdown by a Hollywood executive, “You’re just a writer,” on a piece of paper and taping it above his desk.
For the full article, see Hillel Italie, “Legends of the Fall’ author Jim Harrison dies“, Detroit News, March 27, 2016.
For another, see Anna Clark, “Jim Harrison: Exploring Michigan writer’s expansive career“, Detroit Free Press, March 27, 2016.
One of Greater Lansing’s most recognizable buildings makes its big-screen debut this weekend.
“Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice,” which opens nationwide this weekend, features at least one scene filmed at East Lansing’s Broad Art Museum. It includes the DC Comics “trinity” of Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman (played by Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill and Gal Gadot, respectively). The museum is even featured in the film’s two official trailers.
For the full article, see Ty Forquer, Gotham, Metropolis, and East Lansing?, Lansing City Pulse, March 23, 2016.
Despite constant changes in the media industry, Richard Lee “Dick” Milliman never lost faith in journalism’s power.
The Michigan Journalism Hall of Fame member owned or started nearly 30 newspapers in the state over a 35-year span and believed it was important to teach new reporters at Michigan State University and Central Michigan University how to pursue careers.
Milliman purchased Grayling’s Crawford County Avalanche newspaper in 1967 and went on to own or start weekly newspapers in 26 communities. At one time, he owned the Williamston Enterprise, the Towne Courier in East Lansing and the Ingham County News.
In addition to being a former Michigan Press Association president and director, Milliman served on the State News Board of Directors for 26 years and was its president for four years. The State News is MSU’s student newspaper.
While teaching classes at MSU in reporting and editing, he also founded Capital News Service. The program still exists and gives students the opportunity to get published in newspapers across the state and receive academic credit for it.
In addition to journalism, Richard Milliman had a love for politics. He worked for Michigan Governor George Romney as his press secretary and executive assistant for public information. Milliman stayed with Romney’s team through the governor’s second term re-election. Milliman then rejoined the team for Romney’s presidential campaign.
For the full article, see Eric Lacy, Michigan journalism pioneer Richard Milliman dies at 88“,
The Great Lakes 2019 navigation season officially kicked off at 12:01 a.m. today, with the first 1,000-footer to ply the inland seas snagging this year’s bragging rights as the first ship through the Soo Locks.
The Stewart J. Cort arrived at the lock system just before midnight. Ship enthusiasts had been tracking her progress through the Lower Great Lakes. Fans gathered near the huge lock system in Sault Ste. Marie as the Cort pulled into the Poe Lock, which handles all the big freighters upbound for Lake Superior.
The Soo Locks had been closed for its annual winter maintenance work since late January. More than 73 million gallons of water were drained from the Poe and MacArthur locks – the only two of the four locks still in operation. Repairs were made, the bottoms of the locks were cleaned out, and then refilled last week.
Less than a week ago, a trio of Coast Guard cutters from the U.S. and Canada were the first vessels to lock through into Lake Superior, where they began breaking up ice so freighters could start making their way to the Soo for the opening of the shipping season.
See the Soo Locks drained of 73 million gallons of water
In past years, there’s been some close jockeying by freighters to see who will enter the St. Marys River first and make the big date at the Soo Locks. This year, the Cort was clearly ahead of her competition.
This video by DRE Designs – Great Lakes Marine Products shows the Cort’s arrival, and the fans’ reaction. For more coverage of Opening Day and in-depth coverage of Great Lakes freighters year-round, check out their Facebook page.
Giant vacuums clean empty Soo Locks in winter, 5 things found at the bottom
Early today, the big freighter was met by an official welcoming committee made up of local leaders, who had some Soo Locks swag for the Cort’s captain.
“An annual tradition, dignitaries from the City of Sault Sainte Marie, the Soo Locks Visitor Center Association, the Chamber of Commerce and the Convention and Visitors Bureau came to greet the first ship and present Captain Sipper with plaques and other commemorative gifts,” said the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Detroit District, which oversees the lock system.
At daybreak today, a marine tracking system showed the Stewart J. Cort and fellow 1,000-footer the American Century stopped around Whitefish Point. It’s unknown if they were stopped because of ice, but the U.S. Coast Guard cutter Mackinaw was shown to be nearby.
Soo Locks refilled with 73M gallons of water, Coast Guard cutters sent to break ice in Lake Superior
Each year, the locks handle more than 4,500 vessels carrying up to 80 million tons of cargo on the Great Lakes. Iron ore, limestone and coal make up the bulk of what is coming through on the big freighters.
The locks, located in the St. Marys River, help ships and boats move from the lower-level waters of Lake Huron to the higher-level entrance to Lake Superior. A new lock is expected to be added in the future.
The three big Coast Guard cutters working in Lake Superior – two from the U.S. and one from Canada – will soon be joined by other vessels, the military said. They will be working areas including Michigan’s Whitefish Bay and Duluth, Minn. before breaking ice in western Lake Superior ports like Silver Bay, Two Harbors and then Thunder Bay in Ontario, Canada.
By the end of March, they expect to break out any ice left near Michigan’s Marquette and the Keweenaw Waterway.
Nine Things You Might Not Have Known About The Soo Locks
There’s something for everyone in Sault Ste. Marie, from historic open houses, to spectacular vistas plus the opportunity to get a behind-the-scenes look at the great Soo Locks. Check out these nine interesting facts about the Soo Locks to inspire your visit from Sault Ste. Marie Convention and Visitor’s Bureau.
A man-made marvel and the busiest lock system in the world, by cargo tonnage, yes the Soo Locks! On average, between seven and ten thousand ships come through the locks during the shipping season each year. Built in 1855, these locks connect Lake Superior to Lake Huron and beyond. We have repeat visitors every season; they call themselves Boat Nerds, that watch ships from all over the world use this free lock system. Now here are some facts about the locking system and the St. Marys River.
1. $500.4 Billion. The value attributed to the iron ore shipped through the Soo Locks each year. An average of 80 million tons of cargo moves through them each year.
2. 7,000 passages each year. Crews at the Soo Locks complete these lockages during the 42- week- long navigations season. They are open 24 hours a day. Can you take your personal boat through the locks? Yes, as long as you have a motor and permission from the lockmaster.
3. 2,342 miles. Ships from all over the world visit this port as the locks are a part of the Saint Lawrence Seaway, which connects Duluth, Minnesota to the Atlantic!
4. 22 Million gallons of water to lift a boat. The locks are powered by gravity itself! Water moves in and out of the lock chambers by just opening and closing valves.
5. 1000 foot boats. There are 13-1000 footers on the Great Lakes, and the largest boat that comes through the Soo Locks is the Paul R. Tregurtha, in at 1013 feet 6 inches which is larger than three football fields! The first vessels on the great lakes were 40 foot-long canoes.
6. 9 hours. The time between Lake Superior and Lake Huron, it takes a freighter about nine hours to pass through the St. Mary’s River system
7. 21 foot drop. A thick layer of bedrock holds back the waters of Lake Superior where it joins the St. Marys River. This drop prevented boats from passing through. This reddish sandstone lines most of Lake Superior southern shores and is about 1000 feet-thick. The Fairbanks Scale Company, which is still in business today, built the first permanent lock, State Lock.
8. 3-4 cents per ton- From 1855 to 1881, this was the toll, but today it is free.
9. The propeller in Soo Locks Park is from a steamer named the Independence, which exploded just northwest of today’s locks. One crewman is said to have survived a trip down the rapids on a hay bale from the ship.
Now that you know more about the Soo Locks, come and visit the Soo Locks Park anytime between late March and Mid-January to see the freighters go through the locks and get up close and personal with this engineering marvel!
Article courtesy of Pure Michigan.
On March 27, 1871, Amanda Sanford received a Doctor of Medicine degree and Sarah Killgore a Bachelor of Law degree, becoming the first women to graduate from the University of Michigan. One year earlier, when the college first allowed women, both women transferred from other schools to complete their education.
One year earlier, when the college first allowed women, both women transferred from other schools to complete their education.
Madelon Stockwell became the first woman to enroll at the University of Michigan in February 1870. The following fall, in 1871, 34 women joined her—a tiny cohort among a thousand men. Gradually, their numbers expanded, reshaping campus life and the futures of hundreds of thousands of women.
Sources:
Mich-Again’s Day
The Snell Joint Resolution adding the Woman’s Suffrage Amendment to the Constitution was passed by the Michigan Senate and sent on to the House for consideration.
“Senate Votes To Submit Woman Suffrage Plan”, Detroit Free Press, March 27, 1912.
Note : The Main Library now provides the MSU community online access to the historical Detroit Free Press through 1922.
On March 27, 1946, Walter Reuther was elected president of the UAW. Actively involved with the Flint Sit-down Strike in early 1937, Reuther also gained recognition when he was beaten by Ford security guards at the “Battle of the Overpass” in 1937. He served as UAW’s president until his accidental death in 1970.
Source: Michigan History
Irving Bluestone, Walter Reuther : Working Class Hero, Time Magazine, December 7, 1998.
No Greater Calling : The Life of Walter P. Reuther, courtesy of the Wayne State University Libraries, Walter P. Reuther Library.
For more information see Walter Reuther / Anthony Carew. Manchester ; New York : Manchester University Press ; New York : Distributed exclusively in the USA and Canada by St. Martin’s Press, c1993, one of many books about him.