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1832 : Detroit Arsenal Established in Dearbornville
1832 : Detroit Arsenal Established in Dearbornville
Feb 28 all-day
1832 : Detroit Arsenal Established in Dearbornville
On February 28, 1832, the U.S. Congress established the Detroit Arsenal in Dearbornville. The actual site was selected in July and construction of 11 buildings started the next year. One of those buildings, the Commandant’s … Continue reading "1832 : Detroit Arsenal Established in Dearbornville"
1837 : Emma Hall Born, First Woman to Lead State Penal Institution
1837 : Emma Hall Born, First Woman to Lead State Penal Institution
Feb 28 all-day
1837 : Emma Hall Born, First Woman to Lead State Penal Institution
Born February 28, 1837 on a farm in Lenawee County’s Raisin Township, Emma Hall was the second of her parents Reuben and Abby’s eight children. Most of the family relocated to Ypsilanti around 1870. Reuben’s … Continue reading "1837 : Emma Hall Born, First Woman to Lead State Penal Institution"
1907 : Detroit Hoping That A Bill To Allow Sunday Baseball Will Pass in Lansing
1907 : Detroit Hoping That A Bill To Allow Sunday Baseball Will Pass in Lansing
Feb 28 all-day
On February 28, 1907, the Detroit Free Press carried an article hoping that before the present week is ended, an act to legalize the playing of Sunday ball in any municipality, after a public referendum, … Continue reading "1907 : Detroit Hoping That A Bill To Allow Sunday Baseball Will Pass in Lansing"
1928 : Smoky The Bear Campaign Begins
1928 : Smoky The Bear Campaign Begins
Feb 28 all-day
1928 : Smoky The Bear Campaign Begins
On this day, the National Park Service launched the Smoky the Bear advertising campaign to prevent forest fires. The Michigan Department of Natural Resources also adopted Smoky for their own public service announcements and park … Continue reading "1928 : Smoky The Bear Campaign Begins"
1942 : Race Riot in Detroit
1942 : Race Riot in Detroit
Feb 28 all-day
1942 : Race Riot in Detroit
A race riot broke out at the Sojourner Truth federal housing project in Detroit on Feb. 28, 1942, after white picketers protested African-American families moving in. Scores of people, including six police officers, were injured. … Continue reading "1942 : Race Riot in Detroit"
1952 : Coleman A. Young Stands Up to House Committee on Un-American Activities
1952 : Coleman A. Young Stands Up to House Committee on Un-American Activities
Feb 28 all-day
1952 : Coleman A. Young Stands Up to House Committee on Un-American Activities
On February 28-29, 1952  the House Committee on Un-American Activities came to Detroit to hold a hearing to ferret out communists.  Unintimidated by the Committee and its efforts to destroy the lives of those it … Continue reading "1952 : Coleman A. Young Stands Up to House Committee on Un-American Activities"
1962 : Blue Water International Bridge Stops Collecting Tolls
1962 : Blue Water International Bridge Stops Collecting Tolls
Feb 28 all-day
1962 : Blue Water International Bridge Stops Collecting Tolls
Mike Connell of the Port Huron Times Herald wrote that one of the oddest events in Swainson’s term as governor came on Feb. 28, 1962, when the federal government ordered Michigan to stop collecting tolls … Continue reading "1962 : Blue Water International Bridge Stops Collecting Tolls"
1977 : First MHSAA Televised Basketball Game
1977 : First MHSAA Televised Basketball Game
Feb 28 all-day
   On February 28, 1977, Earvin “Magic” Johnson scored 27 points as Lansing Everett defeated Lansing Eastern in a district basketball game. The game was the first in Michigan High School Athletic Association history … Continue reading "1977 : First MHSAA Televised Basketball Game"
1992: Ecoterrorist Strikes at MSU
1992: Ecoterrorist Strikes at MSU
Feb 28 all-day
1992: Ecoterrorist Strikes at MSU
The front page of the Lansing State Journal Feb. 29, 1992. A firebomb attack the day before caused significant damage and destroyed decades of animal research. (Photo: Courtesy / Lansing State Journal Archives) In the early … Continue reading "1992: Ecoterrorist Strikes at MSU"
1995 : MSU Board of Trustees Votes to Affiliate With Detroit College of Law
1995 : MSU Board of Trustees Votes to Affiliate With Detroit College of Law
Feb 28 all-day
1995 : MSU Board of Trustees Votes to Affiliate With Detroit College of Law
The Detroit Free Press reported that the MSU Trustees voted to affiliate with the Detroit College of Law today. The Detroit College of Law Trustees approved the motion last week. Interestingly enough, Wayne State University … Continue reading "1995 : MSU Board of Trustees Votes to Affiliate With Detroit College of Law"
2018 : William Webb Ferguson, First African-American Legislator Honored
2018 : William Webb Ferguson, First African-American Legislator Honored
Feb 28 all-day
2018 : William Webb Ferguson, First African-American Legislator Honored
A portrait of William Webb Ferguson, the first African-American to serve in the Michigan Legislature, was unveiled in the Capitol on Wednesday by the Michigan Legislative Black Caucus. William Henderson Video Governor Rick Snyder also … Continue reading "2018 : William Webb Ferguson, First African-American Legislator Honored"
1805 : William Hull Becomes Governor of Michigan Territory
1805 : William Hull Becomes Governor of Michigan Territory
Mar 1 all-day
1805 : William Hull Becomes Governor of Michigan Territory
Born in Connecticut in 1753, William Hull served as a colonel in the Continental Army during the American Revolution. He was serving in the Massachusetts State Senate when he was appointed by President Thomas Jefferson … Continue reading "1805 : William Hull Becomes Governor of Michigan Territory"
1847 : State Abolishes Capital Punishment
1847 : State Abolishes Capital Punishment
Mar 1 all-day
On March 1, 1847, Michigan officially became the first English-speaking government in the world to outlaw capital punishment. According to Michigan & Capital Punishment by Eugene G. Wanger, Michigan’s bold — and often debated — … Continue reading "1847 : State Abolishes Capital Punishment"
1848 : Telegraph Connects Detroit to Buffalo, NY
1848 : Telegraph Connects Detroit to Buffalo, NY
Mar 1 all-day
On March 1, 1848, the first telegraph message was sent between Detroit and Buffalo, NY. Source : Historical Society of Michigan
1941 : President Roosevelt Creates Military District of Sault Ste. Marie
1941 : President Roosevelt Creates Military District of Sault Ste. Marie
Mar 1 all-day
1941 : President Roosevelt Creates Military District of Sault Ste. Marie
On March 1, 1941, President Roosevelt signed an executive order creating the Military District of Sault Ste. Marie. The Japanese attack on December 7, 1941, shifted matters into an even higher gear, and by early … Continue reading "1941 : President Roosevelt Creates Military District of Sault Ste. Marie"
1942 : Nationwide Food Rationing Begins in United States
1942 : Nationwide Food Rationing Begins in United States
Mar 1 all-day
1942 : Nationwide Food Rationing Begins in United States
The can opener will yield to the cook book after midnight February 20. From that time until March 1, when rationing starts, there will be no canned fruits or vegetables sold. (Lansing State Journal, February … Continue reading "1942 : Nationwide Food Rationing Begins in United States"
1954 : First Recipient of Speeding Ticket In Jackson, Michigan Dies
1954 : First Recipient of Speeding Ticket In Jackson, Michigan Dies
Mar 1 all-day
1954 : First Recipient of Speeding Ticket In Jackson, Michigan Dies
Funeral services will be held in Stockbridge at 2 p.m. Wednesday for Stewart M. Watson, 82, who owned the first automobile in Jackson and paid the first traffic fine for “speeding.” … He bought his … Continue reading "1954 : First Recipient of Speeding Ticket In Jackson, Michigan Dies"
1954 : Michigan Congressman Shot in U.S. Capitol by Puerto Rican Nationalists
1954 : Michigan Congressman Shot in U.S. Capitol by Puerto Rican Nationalists
Mar 1 all-day
1954 : Michigan Congressman Shot in U.S. Capitol by Puerto Rican Nationalists
A group of men and a woman – shouting “free Puerto Rico” – fired pistols from a house gallery at congress members today and hit at least five. … Spectators grappled with the pistol wielders … Continue reading "1954 : Michigan Congressman Shot in U.S. Capitol by Puerto Rican Nationalists"
1962 : First Kmart Opened in Garden City
1962 : First Kmart Opened in Garden City
Mar 1 all-day
1962 : First Kmart Opened in Garden City
On March 1, 1962, the S.S. Kresge Company opened the first Kmart store concept at the corner of Ford Road and Middlebelt in Garden City. The store is still open today. The more than 1,300 … Continue reading "1962 : First Kmart Opened in Garden City"
1966 : Donyale Luna Becomes First Black Cover Girl for Vogue
1966 : Donyale Luna Becomes First Black Cover Girl for Vogue
Mar 1 all-day
1966 : Donyale Luna Becomes First Black Cover Girl for Vogue
Long before Halle Berry, Jennifer Hudson, and Beyonce were covergirls, and before Naomi, Tyra, or Iman first set foot on a runway, there was this black woman. They called her “the reincarnation of Nefertiti,” and … Continue reading "1966 : Donyale Luna Becomes First Black Cover Girl for Vogue"
1998 : Pasty Cam Started
1998 : Pasty Cam Started
Mar 1 all-day
Anecdotes and scenery with a UP focus. For more information, see Pasty Central Day in History : March 1
2015 : Spicerville Highway Farm Designated Michigan Historical Site
2015 : Spicerville Highway Farm Designated Michigan Historical Site
Mar 1 all-day
The Spicerville Highway farm has been designated by the Michigan State Historical Preservation Office as the 138th recorded historical site in Eaton County. There are 22,000 recorded historical sites on land in Michigan. Some were … Continue reading "2015 : Spicerville Highway Farm Designated Michigan Historical Site"
1799 : Detroit Becomes Official Port of Entry for U.S.
1799 : Detroit Becomes Official Port of Entry for U.S.
Mar 2 all-day
On March 2, 1799, an Act of Congress made Detroit a port of entry. Source : Detroit Historical Society of Michigan Facebook Page
1824 : Father Gabriel Richard Petitions Congress. First Michigan Earmark?
1824 : Father Gabriel Richard Petitions Congress. First Michigan Earmark?
Mar 2 all-day
In his only recorded speech as territorial representative to Congress, Father Gabriel Richard asked for $1,500 to build a road from Detroit to Chicago on March 2, 1824. His appeal was so eloquent that Congress … Continue reading "1824 : Father Gabriel Richard Petitions Congress. First Michigan Earmark?"
1836 : Bronson Renamed Kalamazoo
1836 : Bronson Renamed Kalamazoo
Mar 2 all-day
1836 : Bronson Renamed Kalamazoo
Governor Stevens T. Mason approved changing the name of the town of Bronson to Kalamazoo on this day. Source : Michigan History, March/April 2017, p.8 Titus Bronson is considered the first pioneer of Kalamazoo, MI, … Continue reading "1836 : Bronson Renamed Kalamazoo"
1872 : John W. Patterson Born, African American Baseball Player/Coach and First African American Police Officer in Battle Creek
1872 : John W. Patterson Born, African American Baseball Player/Coach and First African American Police Officer in Battle Creek
Mar 2 all-day
1872 : John W. Patterson Born, African American Baseball Player/Coach and First African American Police Officer in Battle Creek
In the Battle Creek of the early to mid-1900s, he was as constant as the sunrise. John W. Patterson (March 2, 1872 – August 23, 1940) , known to everyone as Pat, could always be … Continue reading "1872 : John W. Patterson Born, African American Baseball Player/Coach and First African American Police Officer in Battle Creek"
1877 : Senator Thomas White from Grand Haven Declares Rutherford B. Hayes 1876 Presidential Election Winner
1877 : Senator Thomas White from Grand Haven Declares Rutherford B. Hayes 1876 Presidential Election Winner
Mar 2 all-day
On March 2, 1877, Rutherford B. Hayes was declared winner of the 1876 election by a special committee set up by Senator Thomas White Ferry from Grand Haven who was serving as President Pro Tempore … Continue reading "1877 : Senator Thomas White from Grand Haven Declares Rutherford B. Hayes 1876 Presidential Election Winner"
1974 : Speed Limit Lowered to 55 MPH In Michigan
1974 : Speed Limit Lowered to 55 MPH In Michigan
Mar 2 all-day
On March 2, 1974, highway speed limits were reduced to 55 miles per hour to comply with federal legislation aimed at reducing energy consumption, adding an hour and 10 minutes to the trip between Detroit … Continue reading "1974 : Speed Limit Lowered to 55 MPH In Michigan"
2018: Detroit Autorama
2018: Detroit Autorama
Mar 2 all-day
2018: Detroit Autorama
March 2-4, 2018 Billed as America’s greatest hot rod show, Autorama has been drawing thousands of car fanatics and gearheads since 1961. The first-ever Detroit Autorama was held at the University of Detroit Memorial Building … Continue reading "2018: Detroit Autorama"
1847 : Governor Alpheus Felch Resigns
1847 : Governor Alpheus Felch Resigns
Mar 3 all-day
On Mar. 3, 1847, Governor Alpheus Felch resigned to become a U.S. Senator instead, and in the process served the shortest gubernatorial tenure in state history — 10 months. Sources : Michigan is Amazing Stewards … Continue reading "1847 : Governor Alpheus Felch Resigns"
1875 : Mackinac Island National Park Established
1875 : Mackinac Island National Park Established
Mar 3 all-day
On March 3, 1875, just three years after the Yellowstone National Park was established, the second national park was designated on Mackinac Island. Twenty years later the park would be turned over to the State … Continue reading "1875 : Mackinac Island National Park Established"
1913 : National Suffrage Parade In Washington, D.C.
1913 : National Suffrage Parade In Washington, D.C.
Mar 3 all-day
1913 : National Suffrage Parade In Washington, D.C.
Less than a century ago, women in the United States were not guaranteed the right to vote. Many courageous groups worked hard at state and local levels throughout the end of the 19th century, making … Continue reading "1913 : National Suffrage Parade In Washington, D.C."
1931 : Isle Royale National Park Authorized
1931 : Isle Royale National Park Authorized
Mar 3 all-day
On March 3, 1931, Congress authorized the creation of Isle Royale National Park. The Chippewa called the island Minong or a “good high place”. By the twentieth century it had passed into the hands of … Continue reading "1931 : Isle Royale National Park Authorized"
2002 : Oscar Warbach, Noted Michigan Conservation Illustrator, Dies
2002 : Oscar Warbach, Noted Michigan Conservation Illustrator, Dies
Mar 3 all-day
2002 : Oscar Warbach, Noted Michigan Conservation Illustrator, Dies
Anyone who has ever viewed Escanaba in da Moonlight probably has his own mental images of deer camps in the Upper Peninsula. However, a State of Michigan Department of Conservation employee, Oscar Warbach, has also … Continue reading "2002 : Oscar Warbach, Noted Michigan Conservation Illustrator, Dies"
1831 : Drunks and Disorderly Could No Longer Be Whipped in Michigan
1831 : Drunks and Disorderly Could No Longer Be Whipped in Michigan
Mar 4 all-day
The state law allowing drunks and disorderly persons to be whipped was repealed on this day in 1831. Source : Historical Society of Michigan
1833 : Tenney Peabody and Family Settle at “Forks of the Kalamazoo”
1833 : Tenney Peabody and Family Settle at “Forks of the Kalamazoo”
Mar 4 all-day
1833 : Tenney Peabody and Family Settle at "Forks of the Kalamazoo"
The first house in Albion, with a thatched roof of grass from the banks of the nearby Kalamazoo River, was erected by Tenney Peabody, a New Yorker. Peabody, a courageous New Yorker, used three yoke … Continue reading "1833 : Tenney Peabody and Family Settle at “Forks of the Kalamazoo”"
1847 : William L. Greenly Becomes Governor of Michigan
1847 : William L. Greenly Becomes Governor of Michigan
Mar 4 all-day
On March 4, 1847,  Lt. Governor William L. Greenly replaced Governor Alpheus Felch as Michigan Governor, who resigned to take a seat in the U.S. Senate. Born in New York, Greenly moved to Adrian, Michigan, … Continue reading "1847 : William L. Greenly Becomes Governor of Michigan"
1853 : Governor Robert McClelland Resigns to Become U.S. Secretary of the Interior
1853 : Governor Robert McClelland Resigns to Become U.S. Secretary of the Interior
Mar 4 all-day
On March 4, 1853, former Gov. Robert McClelland was appointed U.S. Secretary of Interior by President Franklin Pierce, making him the third Michigan governor in 12 years to resign early in order to go to … Continue reading "1853 : Governor Robert McClelland Resigns to Become U.S. Secretary of the Interior"
1915 : Robert Thom Born, Master Illustrator
1915 : Robert Thom Born, Master Illustrator
Mar 4 all-day
1915 : Robert Thom Born, Master Illustrator
Robert Alan Thom (March 4, 1915 – December 31, 1979) was an American illustrator who specialized in the portrayal of historical scenes for commercial patrons. He is perhaps best known for bringing a Rockwellian sensitivity … Continue reading "1915 : Robert Thom Born, Master Illustrator"
1926: Richard Devos, Businessman, Sports Franchise Owner, Philanthropist, Born
1926: Richard Devos, Businessman, Sports Franchise Owner, Philanthropist, Born
Mar 4 all-day
1926: Richard Devos, Businessman, Sports Franchise Owner, Philanthropist, Born
Richard DeVos, Sr. and Jay Van Andel are the two co-founders of the Amway Corporation, a pioneer company in network sales of household and personal products. The network sales company sells its products through dealers … Continue reading "1926: Richard Devos, Businessman, Sports Franchise Owner, Philanthropist, Born"
1933 : FDR and the Grand Hotel
1933 : FDR and the Grand Hotel
Mar 4 all-day
Check out the Pasty Central Day in History for a connection between FDR and the Grand Hotel! During the depression President Franklin Roosevelt released numerous radio addresses including the famous “We have nothing to fear … Continue reading "1933 : FDR and the Grand Hotel"
1947 : WDIV-TV Detroit Channel 4 Becomes First TV Station in Michigan
1947 : WDIV-TV Detroit Channel 4 Becomes First TV Station in Michigan
Mar 4 all-day
On March 4, 1947, WWDT-TV Channel 4, the first TV station in Michigan and sixth in the U.S., begins broadcasting. Owned by the Detroit News, the station’s call letters changed to WWJ-TV a couple months … Continue reading "1947 : WDIV-TV Detroit Channel 4 Becomes First TV Station in Michigan"
1955 : Eastern Pine Designated Michigan’s State Tree
1955 : Eastern Pine Designated Michigan’s State Tree
Mar 4 all-day
1955 : Eastern Pine Designated Michigan's State Tree
Historical Map of White Pine Growth Areas Young and mature eastern white pine trees; photo by Nicholas A. Tonelli on Flickr (use permitted with attribution). Michigan designated the towering eastern white pine (Pinus strobus) as the … Continue reading "1955 : Eastern Pine Designated Michigan’s State Tree"
2018 : Richard Spencer Holds White Nationalist Speech at Michigan State
2018 : Richard Spencer Holds White Nationalist Speech at Michigan State
Mar 4 all-day
  Violent clashes erupted Monday when Richard Spencer, a leading figure in the white nationalist movement, visited Michigan State University to deliver a speech. Spencer, who is the president of the white nationalist organization The … Continue reading "2018 : Richard Spencer Holds White Nationalist Speech at Michigan State"
1829 : Detroit Gazette Editor Fined
1829 : Detroit Gazette Editor Fined
Mar 5 all-day
You had to be careful what you published in early Michigan. Detroit Gazette editor John P. Sheldon was fined on March 5, 1829 for writing articles critical of the territorial court decisions, and jailed when … Continue reading "1829 : Detroit Gazette Editor Fined"
1836 : Former Slaves Petition State Legislature for a Church
1836 : Former Slaves Petition State Legislature for a Church
Mar 5 all-day
On March 5, 1836, thirteen escaped or freed slaves petition the legislature to start a church. Their efforts lead to the formation of the Second Baptist Church – the first African American church in Detroit. … Continue reading "1836 : Former Slaves Petition State Legislature for a Church"
1885 : Ring Lardner Born, Future Sports Journalist and Short Story Rider
1885 : Ring Lardner Born, Future Sports Journalist and Short Story Rider
Mar 5 all-day
1885 : Ring Lardner Born, Future Sports Journalist and Short Story Rider
Ringgold Wilmer “Ring” Lardner (March 5, 1885 – September 25, 1933) was an American sports columnist and short-story writer best known for his satirical writings on sports, marriage, and the theatre. His contemporaries Ernest Hemingway, … Continue reading "1885 : Ring Lardner Born, Future Sports Journalist and Short Story Rider"
1916 : Engineering Building Burns at Michigan Agricultural College
1916 : Engineering Building Burns at Michigan Agricultural College
Mar 5 all-day
Michigan State University is recalling a dark day in its long history: the 100th anniversary of a fire that destroyed the school’s engineering building. The pre-dawn fire on March 5, 1916, likely began in the … Continue reading "1916 : Engineering Building Burns at Michigan Agricultural College"
2013 : Michigan Supreme Court Starts Live Streaming
2013 : Michigan Supreme Court Starts Live Streaming
Mar 5 all-day
Can’t get enough of the Supremes? Starting Tuesday, the Michigan Supreme Court will begin live streaming all oral arguments and proceedings. According to Chief Justice Robert Young, live streaming is “a natural extension of this … Continue reading "2013 : Michigan Supreme Court Starts Live Streaming"
1863 : Michigan’s First Race Riot
1863 : Michigan’s First Race Riot
Mar 6 all-day
  After hearing Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation and conscription orders, white Detroiters used the trial of William Faulkner as a catalyst to destroy property within black neighborhoods. Two were killed, hundreds injured. The riot was one … Continue reading "1863 : Michigan’s First Race Riot"
1877 : Detroit Club Witnesses the Power of the Telephone
1877 : Detroit Club Witnesses the Power of the Telephone
Mar 6 all-day
On this evening 150 ladies and gentlemen at the Detroit Club listened to a live concert in Chicago via telephone. Elisha Grey, electrician from the Western Telegraphic Manufacturing Company of Chicago, arranged the demonstration. The … Continue reading "1877 : Detroit Club Witnesses the Power of the Telephone"
1896: First Gasoline-Powered Automobile in Detroit
1896: First Gasoline-Powered Automobile in Detroit
Mar 6 all-day
1896: First Gasoline-Powered Automobile in Detroit
On March 6, 1896, 10 years after Carl Benz patented the first gasoline-powered automobile in Germany, and three years after the Duryea Brothers’ first vehicle, Charles King became the first driver of a gasoline automobile … Continue reading "1896: First Gasoline-Powered Automobile in Detroit"
1997 : President Bill Clinton Addresses Michigan Legislature
1997 : President Bill Clinton Addresses Michigan Legislature
Mar 6 all-day
William Clinton spoke to the state legislature becoming only the second sitting U.S. President to address Michigan’s lawmakers. Theodore Roosevelt was the first in 1907. Source : Historical Society of Michigan
2014 : Detroit Red Wings Retire Nicklas Lidstrom’s Number
2014 : Detroit Red Wings Retire Nicklas Lidstrom’s Number
Mar 6 all-day
2014 : Detroit Red Wings Retire Nicklas Lidstrom's Number
Lidstrom, a Swede nicknamed the Perfect Human, retired in 2012 after a 20-year career during which he won four Stanley Cups and seven Norris Trophies, including one in his penultimate season at age 41. “When … Continue reading "2014 : Detroit Red Wings Retire Nicklas Lidstrom’s Number"
2018: Kalamazoo Votes to Remove Controversial Bronson Park Fountain
2018: Kalamazoo Votes to Remove Controversial Bronson Park Fountain
Mar 6 all-day
After more than 5 hours of discussion, at 1 a.m. on Tuesday morning, March 6, 2108, the Kalamazoo City Commission voted 5-1  to relocate the Fountain of the Pioneers from its most-prized park and develop a … Continue reading "2018: Kalamazoo Votes to Remove Controversial Bronson Park Fountain"
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