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1861 : First Michigan Musters on Campus Martius
1861 : First Michigan Musters on Campus Martius
May 1 all-day
 The 1st Michigan Regiment mustered at Campus Martius in Detroit on this date in 1861, called by Abraham Lincoln to protect the nation’s capital. After the regiment received its flags, made by the women of … Continue reading "1861 : First Michigan Musters on Campus Martius"
1915 : Detroit Mandates Pasteurization of Milk
1915 : Detroit Mandates Pasteurization of Milk
May 1 all-day
On May 1, 1915, the City of Detroit mandated that all milk be pasteurized. Probably as a direct result, along with improved milk facilities and supply, the health department announced in 1921 that baby death … Continue reading "1915 : Detroit Mandates Pasteurization of Milk"
1918 : Michigan Voters Adopt Prohibition Before the Country as a Whole!
1918 : Michigan Voters Adopt Prohibition Before the Country as a Whole!
May 1 all-day
Michigan voters approved a prohibition amendment to the State’s constitution before national prohibition became effective. However, home production of alcohol and speakeasies quickly became popular. At downtown Detroit’s Richter’s Café on State Street, a single … Continue reading "1918 : Michigan Voters Adopt Prohibition Before the Country as a Whole!"
1919 : World War I Airman Francis I. Lankey Dies
1919 : World War I Airman Francis I. Lankey Dies
May 1 all-day
 Part of World War I airman Francis I. Lankey’s legacy was the creation of the fight song for Michigan State University. Lankey was born in Bay City in 1896, the only child of Bertha and … Continue reading "1919 : World War I Airman Francis I. Lankey Dies"
1926 : Henry Ford Announce Five Day Work Week
1926 : Henry Ford Announce Five Day Work Week
May 1 all-day
On May 1, 1926, Ford Motor Company becomes one of the first companies in America to adopt a five-day, 40-hour week for workers in its automotive factories. The policy would be extended to Ford’s office … Continue reading "1926 : Henry Ford Announce Five Day Work Week"
1948: 1st Negro Social Fraternity at MSC Recognized
1948: 1st Negro Social Fraternity at MSC Recognized
May 1 all-day
 President John A. Hannah presented a charter to the 1st Negro social fraternity at Michigan State College, Alpha Phi Alpha. Herbert Burnett of Detroit was President of the fraternity. Source: Detroit Free Press, April 30, … Continue reading "1948: 1st Negro Social Fraternity at MSC Recognized"
1975 : Beer Salesmen Prohibited From Buying A Round of Drinks for Everyone at Bar
1975 : Beer Salesmen Prohibited From Buying A Round of Drinks for Everyone at Bar
May 1 all-day
 On May 1, 1975, a new state law prohibited beer salesmen from buying rounds for the house at bars and, instead, allowed them to buy a single beer of the salesman’s company’s brand for one … Continue reading "1975 : Beer Salesmen Prohibited From Buying A Round of Drinks for Everyone at Bar"
1981 : General Motors Poletown Project
1981 : General Motors Poletown Project
May 1 all-day
On May 1, 1981, General Motors held groundbreaking ceremonies for a controversial $600 million, 465.5-acre plant in Hamtramck’s Poletown, one of Detroit’s oldest neighborhoods. Approximately $200 million in federal funds were used to acquire the … Continue reading "1981 : General Motors Poletown Project"
1997 : Mohammed Ali Visits Michigan Legislature to Fight Against Child Abuse
1997 : Mohammed Ali Visits Michigan Legislature to Fight Against Child Abuse
May 1 all-day
The following story appeared in the May 1, 1997, edition of Gongwer News Service/Michigan Report: Accolades were heaped on former heavyweight boxing champion Muhammad Ali Thursday, who appeared before the Legislature to praise the efforts … Continue reading "1997 : Mohammed Ali Visits Michigan Legislature to Fight Against Child Abuse"
2010 : Michigan Bans Smoking in Public Areas, Including Restaurants
2010 : Michigan Bans Smoking in Public Areas, Including Restaurants
May 1 all-day
As of May 1, 2010, smoking is generally prohibited in Michigan public places, places of employment and food service establishments. Exceptions have been made for cigar bars and tobacco specialty stores and for gambling areas … Continue reading "2010 : Michigan Bans Smoking in Public Areas, Including Restaurants"
2010 : President Obama Delivers Commencement Address at University of Michigan
2010 : President Obama Delivers Commencement Address at University of Michigan
May 1 all-day
 President Barack Obama exits the stage with University of Michigan president Mary Sue Coleman after delivering the commencement address to University of Michigan graduates at Michigan Stadium, in Ann Arbor, Mich., Saturday, May 1, 2010
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1844 : Elijah McCoy Born, the Real McCoy
1844 : Elijah McCoy Born, the Real McCoy
May 2 all-day
 Elijah McCoy was born on May 2, 1844 in Canadato fugitive slaves who moved to Ypsilanti when Elijah was three. He studied, apprenticed, and became a mechanical engineer in Scotland, but when he returned to … Continue reading "1844 : Elijah McCoy Born, the Real McCoy"
1907 : Two Detroit Girls Sentenced to the Industrial Home for Girls For Frequenting Dance Halls
1907 : Two Detroit Girls Sentenced to the Industrial Home for Girls For Frequenting Dance Halls
May 2 all-day
On May 2, 1907, Detroit Recorders Court Judge James Thelan made news when he told the mothers of two 16-year-old girls that if they could not “keep your children from going to places where they … Continue reading "1907 : Two Detroit Girls Sentenced to the Industrial Home for Girls For Frequenting Dance Halls"
1933 : Camp Raco, Michigan’s First Civilian Conservation Corps Facility
1933 : Camp Raco, Michigan’s First Civilian Conservation Corps Facility
May 2 all-day
 On this day, two hundred young men from Detroit arrive at an isolated spot in Chippewa County near Sault Ste. Marie and set up Camp Raco — Michigan’s first Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) facility. Within … Continue reading "1933 : Camp Raco, Michigan’s First Civilian Conservation Corps Facility"
1939 : Lou Gehrig Removes Himself From Lineup Against Tigers, Breaking Streak of 2130 Games
1939 : Lou Gehrig Removes Himself From Lineup Against Tigers, Breaking Streak of 2130 Games
May 2 all-day
 On May 2, 1939, Lou Gehrig of the New York Yankees, the “iron man” of baseball, removed himself from the lineup prior to the first pitch at Briggs Stadium (later Tiger Stadium) after 2,130 consecutive … Continue reading "1939 : Lou Gehrig Removes Himself From Lineup Against Tigers, Breaking Streak of 2130 Games"
1964: President Johnson Announces Great Society Program at University of Michigan
1964: President Johnson Announces Great Society Program at University of Michigan
May 2 all-day
On May 2, 1964, plans for a “Great Society” are announced. President Lyndon B. Johnson, speaking at spring commencement at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, announced his plans for building a “Great Society,” … Continue reading "1964: President Johnson Announces Great Society Program at University of Michigan"
1985 : Leonard V. Falcone Dies, Long-Time Band Director at Michigan State for 40 Years
1985 : Leonard V. Falcone Dies, Long-Time Band Director at Michigan State for 40 Years
May 2 all-day
 Planning a band formation at Michigan State College. Image from the Michigan State University Archives an Historical Collection. Leonard V. Falcone (5 April 1899 – May 2, 1985) was best known for being Professor of … Continue reading "1985 : Leonard V. Falcone Dies, Long-Time Band Director at Michigan State for 40 Years"
2005 : Pontiac Grand Am Ceases Production
2005 : Pontiac Grand Am Ceases Production
May 2 all-day
On May 2, 2005, the Pontiac Grand Am ceased production at the 100-year-old Lansing Car Assembly plant. Courtesy of WAKV (Plainwell, MI), The Memory Station Pontiac Grand Am Timeline (1973-2005) courtesy of YouTube.
2015 : Earthquake Rattles Southern Michigan
2015 : Earthquake Rattles Southern Michigan
May 2 all-day
 A magnitude 4.2 earthquake shook Michigan on Saturday afternoon and residents in Metro Detroit reported feeling the earth move. The earthquake was centered 8km south of Galesburg, outside of Kalamazoo and was recorded shortly after … Continue reading "2015 : Earthquake Rattles Southern Michigan"
2018: Dearborn Cub Scout Troop Admits All Girl Pack
2018: Dearborn Cub Scout Troop Admits All Girl Pack
May 2 all-day
A Cub Scout troop in Dearborn is celebrating its first female members just as the Boy Scouts of America announced it is dropping the word “boys” from its title. Cub Scout Pack No. 112 inducted nine … Continue reading "2018: Dearborn Cub Scout Troop Admits All Girl Pack"
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1881 : Leonidas G. Woolley Patents First Electric Locomotive Headlight
1881 : Leonidas G. Woolley Patents First Electric Locomotive Headlight
May 3 all-day
On May 3, 1881, Leonidas G. Woolley, of Mendon, patented the nation’s first electric locomotive headlight. Woolley suspended his polygonal lamp frame in position with opposing strings which neutralized jarring. Source: Mich-Again’s Day.
1921 : Sugar Ray Robinson Born
1921 : Sugar Ray Robinson Born
May 3 all-day
Champion boxer Sugar Ray Robinson was born in Detroit, Michigan. One of the greatest pugilists in history, Sugar Ray Robinson (born Walker Smith Jr.) was born in Detroit. When he was a teenager his parents … Continue reading "1921 : Sugar Ray Robinson Born"
1948 : U.S. Supreme Court Rules Housing Racial Covenants Unconstitutional
1948 : U.S. Supreme Court Rules Housing Racial Covenants Unconstitutional
May 3 all-day
On May 3, 1948, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled unanimously in a case brought by a Detroit couple that racial covenants in housing were unconstitutional. Racial covenants had been used for years to bar … Continue reading "1948 : U.S. Supreme Court Rules Housing Racial Covenants Unconstitutional"
1954 : Vincent Markowski, a.k.a. Tom Tyler, Dies in Hamtramck
1954 : Vincent Markowski, a.k.a. Tom Tyler, Dies in Hamtramck
May 3 all-day
If life were like a Saturday-matinee serial, the further adventures of Vincent Markowski would have had a more upbeat, action-packed ending. However, this was Hamtramck, not Hollywood, and Markowski — better known to the world … Continue reading "1954 : Vincent Markowski, a.k.a. Tom Tyler, Dies in Hamtramck"
2011 : Statuary Hall Welcomes Gerald Ford
2011 : Statuary Hall Welcomes Gerald Ford
May 3 all-day
A bronze statue of former President Gerald Ford was unveiled at a ceremony in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda in Washington, D.C. on May 3, 2011. The National Statuary Hall Collection consists of 100 likenesses, representing … Continue reading "2011 : Statuary Hall Welcomes Gerald Ford"
2014: Harness Racing Comes to an End at Hazel Park Track
2014: Harness Racing Comes to an End at Hazel Park Track
May 3 all-day
After 62 years, live harness racing came to a close Saturday night at Hazel Park Raceway. The track, in an effort to increase its dwindling revenue, plans to return to thoroughbred racing next month for … Continue reading "2014: Harness Racing Comes to an End at Hazel Park Track"
2017 : 300 Million Year Old Fossil of Extinct Fish Found at Bay View Park
2017 : 300 Million Year Old Fossil of Extinct Fish Found at Bay View Park
May 3 all-day
Fossils of an extinct fish were discovered last week here in Alpena. The ancient discovery took place along the limestone break wall at Bay View Park. The remains were from more than 300 million years … Continue reading "2017 : 300 Million Year Old Fossil of Extinct Fish Found at Bay View Park"
2018: Patricia Birkholz, Michigan Environmental Warrior, Dies
2018: Patricia Birkholz, Michigan Environmental Warrior, Dies
May 3 all-day
 Patty Birkholz Patricia Birkholz, whose 14 years in the Legislature left a legacy of major policy changes, especially on natural resources and the environment, died Thursday of cancer. She was 74. Ms. Birkholz, a Saugatuck … Continue reading "2018: Patricia Birkholz, Michigan Environmental Warrior, Dies"
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1846: The First Woman to Speak Before The Michigan Legislature Endorses Women’s Suffrage
1846: The First Woman to Speak Before The Michigan Legislature Endorses Women’s Suffrage
May 4 all-day
 Ernestine Rose became the first woman to address the Michigan legislature when she spoke to the all-male body about women’s suffrage. The rest of the story: Ernestine Rose — Polish-born feminist, atheist, and abolitionist who … Continue reading "1846: The First Woman to Speak Before The Michigan Legislature Endorses Women’s Suffrage"
1861 : Berrien County Volunteers Presented A Magnificent Flag
1861 : Berrien County Volunteers Presented A Magnificent Flag
May 4 all-day
In the little country village of Niles, a thousand people crowded the main four corners on May 4, 1861 to see a magnificent flag presented to the Berrien County Volunteers. The 88 infantry volunteers, somestimes … Continue reading "1861 : Berrien County Volunteers Presented A Magnificent Flag"
1916 : Muskegon’s Marsh Field Hosts First Baseball Game
1916 : Muskegon’s Marsh Field Hosts First Baseball Game
May 4 all-day
 Marsh Field has been home to Muskegon Baseball for nearly 100 years. Charles W. Marsh purchased four square blocks of property in the center of town at the corner of Peck Street and Laketon … Continue reading "1916 : Muskegon’s Marsh Field Hosts First Baseball Game"
1928 : Don Coleman Born, MSU’s 1st Unanimous All-American Football Player
1928 : Don Coleman Born, MSU’s 1st Unanimous All-American Football Player
May 4 all-day
 Don Edwin Coleman (May 4, 1928 – January 30, 2017) was an American football player. Coleman played high school football at Flint Central High School and college football at Michigan State University. He was a … Continue reading "1928 : Don Coleman Born, MSU’s 1st Unanimous All-American Football Player"
1935: First Highway Travel Information Center Opens on U.S. 12 in New Buffalo
1935: First Highway Travel Information Center Opens on U.S. 12 in New Buffalo
May 4 all-day
The very first Highway Travel Information center in the Unites States opened on May 4, 1935 on US-12 at New Buffalo in Berrien County. The structure was built by the Michigan State Highway Department (now M-DOT) to welcome … Continue reading "1935: First Highway Travel Information Center Opens on U.S. 12 in New Buffalo"
1970 : Kent State Massacre Claims Former MSU Student
1970 : Kent State Massacre Claims Former MSU Student
May 4 all-day
 “Soldiers are Cutting Us Down; Four Dead in Ohio, Including a Former MSU Student” In this Pulitzer Prize-winning photo, taken by Kent State photojournalism student John Filo, Mary Ann Vecchio can be seen screaming as … Continue reading "1970 : Kent State Massacre Claims Former MSU Student"
1970 : Elton John Performs in East Lansing
1970 : Elton John Performs in East Lansing
May 4 all-day
The Lansing State Journal, April 29, 1970 reports that Elton John will be performing at the Jenison Field House. Tickets are only $4 or $5 depending on location.
2004 : U.S. 12 Designated Historic Heritage Route
2004 : U.S. 12 Designated Historic Heritage Route
May 4 all-day
 US 12 is now the only U.S. highway route still serving downtown Detroit, whose street grid was laid by Augustus B. Woodward, to have a five-way intersection of the roads that would become US 12, … Continue reading "2004 : U.S. 12 Designated Historic Heritage Route"
2010 : Ernie Harwell, Voice of Detroit Tiger Baseball, Dies
2010 : Ernie Harwell, Voice of Detroit Tiger Baseball, Dies
May 4 all-day
 On this day broadcasting legend Ernie Harwell, one of Detroit and Michigan’s most beloved sports figures, died. Harwell announced Detroit Tiger games on radio for 42 years. Upon his death, he donated his massive sports … Continue reading "2010 : Ernie Harwell, Voice of Detroit Tiger Baseball, Dies"
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1710 : First Recorded Marriage in Detroit
1710 : First Recorded Marriage in Detroit
May 5 all-day
Baptiste Turpin and Margaret Fafard marry at St. Anne’s Church, the oldest recorded marriage in Detroit. Fire destroyed records of the church in 1703 so it is possible that a marriage might have occured earlier, … Continue reading "1710 : First Recorded Marriage in Detroit"
1769 : British Buy Belle Isle
1769 : British Buy Belle Isle
May 5 all-day
 The British government purchased what was then called Hog Island from Ojibwa, Chippewa, and Ottawa tribe leaders in 1769. It was obtained by Lt. George McDougall, an officer for what was then British Detroit, … Continue reading "1769 : British Buy Belle Isle"
1828 : Michigan’s Territorial Legislature Meets for 1st Time
1828 : Michigan’s Territorial Legislature Meets for 1st Time
May 5 all-day
On May 5, 1828, the territorial legislature met for the first time at Michigan’s first capitol building constructed in Detroit at a cost of $24,500. The 60 by 90 foot building served as the territorial … Continue reading "1828 : Michigan’s Territorial Legislature Meets for 1st Time"
1831 : Michigan’s Oldest Newspaper Hit the Streets
1831 : Michigan’s Oldest Newspaper Hit the Streets
May 5 all-day
On May 5, 1831, Michigan’s oldest continuously published newspaper, the Detroit Free Press and Michigan Intelligencer, hit the streets. At the time, it was a weekly made up of four pages. The first edition announced … Continue reading "1831 : Michigan’s Oldest Newspaper Hit the Streets"
1903 : Civil Rights Pioneer Booker T. Washington Speaks In Detroit
1903 : Civil Rights Pioneer Booker T. Washington Speaks In Detroit
May 5 all-day
On May 5, 1903, civil rights pioneer Booker T. Washington addressed an enthusiastic audience at Detroit’s since-demolished Light Guard Armory. “Any race that yields to the temptation of hating another race because of its color … Continue reading "1903 : Civil Rights Pioneer Booker T. Washington Speaks In Detroit"
1995 : President Clinton Speaks At MSU Commencement
1995 : President Clinton Speaks At MSU Commencement
May 5 all-day
The MSU Convocation on Friday, May 5, was one for Spartan history. It marked the appearance of President Bill Clinton, the first sitting president in 88 years to speak to an MSU graduating class. Spartan … Continue reading "1995 : President Clinton Speaks At MSU Commencement"
2010 : Senator Levin Eulogizes Ernie Harwell on Senate Floor
2010 : Senator Levin Eulogizes Ernie Harwell on Senate Floor
May 5 all-day
Sen. Carl Levin delivered the following statement on the Senate floor on May 5, 2010: “For, lo, the winter is past, The rain is over and gone; The flowers appear on the earth; The time … Continue reading "2010 : Senator Levin Eulogizes Ernie Harwell on Senate Floor"
2013 : For the 25
2013 : For the 25
May 5 all-day
May 5, 2013 : For the 25 Documentary Released “We took a lot of casualties,” said Logan Stark, 26, of East Lansing. “After that, you really had to come to grips with the fact that … Continue reading "2013 : For the 25"
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1898 : Daniel Gerber Born, Manufacturer of Baby Food
1898 : Daniel Gerber Born, Manufacturer of Baby Food
May 6 all-day
 Daniel Frank Gerber (May 6, 1898 – March 16, 1974) was an American manufacturer of baby food. Gerber began urging his father to begin the production of strained baby foods at the family cannery in … Continue reading "1898 : Daniel Gerber Born, Manufacturer of Baby Food"
1913 : Richard H. Austin Born, First African American to Hold Statewide Office in Michigan
1913 : Richard H. Austin Born, First African American to Hold Statewide Office in Michigan
May 6 all-day
 Richard H. Austin was a man of firsts. Not only was he the first black Michigander elected to statewide office, other than the Michigan Supreme Court, he also was Michigan’s longest-serving secretary of state, holding … Continue reading "1913 : Richard H. Austin Born, First African American to Hold Statewide Office in Michigan"
1920 : Michigan’s first Muslim lawyer, Michael Berry of Dearborn, Born
1920 : Michigan’s first Muslim lawyer, Michael Berry of Dearborn, Born
May 6 all-day
Michael Berry was born in Highland Park. His parents, Lebanese immigrants, attempted to return to their native country in 1930, but because of an economic depression — one worse than in the U.S. — they … Continue reading "1920 : Michigan’s first Muslim lawyer, Michael Berry of Dearborn, Born"
1945 : Bob Segar Born in Dearborn
1945 : Bob Segar Born in Dearborn
May 6 all-day
On May 6, 1945, Robert Clark Seger was born in Dearborn. He’s known better as Detroit music icon and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Bob Seger. Over his more than 40-year career, he has … Continue reading "1945 : Bob Segar Born in Dearborn"
2005 : Lansing Car Assembly Plant Closes
2005 : Lansing Car Assembly Plant Closes
May 6 all-day
 Lansing Car Assembly was a General Motors automobile factory in Lansing, Michigan. It contained two elements, a 1901 automobile plant in downtown Lansing, and the 1920 Durant Motors factory on Lansing’s Far Westside. The Lansing … Continue reading "2005 : Lansing Car Assembly Plant Closes"
2010 : Fans Pay Tribute to Ernie Harwell
2010 : Fans Pay Tribute to Ernie Harwell
May 6 all-day
On May 6, 2010, from 7 a.m. until past midnight, more than 10,000 Detroit Tigers fans, some who waited more than eight hours in line at Comerica Park, paid their respects to the beloved broadcaster … Continue reading "2010 : Fans Pay Tribute to Ernie Harwell"
May 6, 2012 : A 51st State That Never Happened
May 6, 2012 : A 51st State That Never Happened
May 6 all-day
The State of Superior. The Upper Peninsula, plus, at various times, parts of Wisconsin, Minnesota and Illinois. This new state was the vision of a separatist movement that began in the 1820s, when some U.P. … Continue reading "May 6, 2012 : A 51st State That Never Happened"
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1763 : Pontiac Attacks Fort Detroit
1763 : Pontiac Attacks Fort Detroit
May 7 all-day
 A Great War Chief of the Three Fires Confederacy and leader of the Anishinabe people. This Chief’s actual name was Boon i wuk, which means “Thunderbirds Landing Upon the Earth.” Today we know of him … Continue reading "1763 : Pontiac Attacks Fort Detroit"
1874 : MSU Graduate Lyman Briggs Born
1874 : MSU Graduate Lyman Briggs Born
May 7 all-day
 Lyman James Briggs (May 7, 1874 – March 25, 1963) was an American engineer, physicist and administrator. He was a distinguished director of the National Bureau of Standards during the Great Depression and chairman of … Continue reading "1874 : MSU Graduate Lyman Briggs Born"
1915 : Lusitania Sunk by German U-Boat; Lansing Resident Survived
1915 : Lusitania Sunk by German U-Boat; Lansing Resident Survived
May 7 all-day
 On May 7, 1915, the Lusitania was sunk by a German U-boat off the coast of Ireland. On board the ship were 1,924 passengers, of that total only 726 survived. The sinking of the British … Continue reading "1915 : Lusitania Sunk by German U-Boat; Lansing Resident Survived"
1924 : Sophie Lyons — Famous Rogue and Reformer — Dies In Detroit
1924 : Sophie Lyons — Famous Rogue and Reformer — Dies In Detroit
May 7 all-day
Sophie Lyons spent the last several years of her life preaching that crime doesn’t pay, but those sifting through the contents of her safe-deposit box shortly after she died were hard-pressed to believe it. Trustees … Continue reading "1924 : Sophie Lyons — Famous Rogue and Reformer — Dies In Detroit"
1941 : Detroit Tiger Hank Greenberg Inducted Into U.S. Army
1941 : Detroit Tiger Hank Greenberg Inducted Into U.S. Army
May 7 all-day
 Hank Greenberg wanted to be able to play the 1941 season before being inducted. He was the reigning American League MVP and the highest paid ballplayer at the time. He knew he had a limited … Continue reading "1941 : Detroit Tiger Hank Greenberg Inducted Into U.S. Army"
1970 : MSU Students Stage Strike Against Vietnam War
1970 : MSU Students Stage Strike Against Vietnam War
May 7 all-day
When Michigan State University students decided to skip classes and strike over the war in Vietnam on May 7, 1970, MSU President Clifton Wharton and Governor Milliken did their best to avoid a repeat of … Continue reading "1970 : MSU Students Stage Strike Against Vietnam War"
1998 : Daimler Benz and Chrysler Merge
1998 : Daimler Benz and Chrysler Merge
May 7 all-day
On May 7, 1998, Daimler Benz and Chrysler Corporation announced their “merger of equals.” The value of the combined automotive companies of $92 billion at the time of the merger was historic — the largest … Continue reading "1998 : Daimler Benz and Chrysler Merge"
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1820 : Michigan Territorial Legislature Imposes Property Tax
1820 : Michigan Territorial Legislature Imposes Property Tax
May 8 all-day
On May 8, 1820, the Michigan Territorial legislature imposed the first Michigan tax on personal property and land. The sheriff could arrest anyone who did not pay. Source : Historical Society of Michigan Calendar
1901 : Norman Thomas “Turkey” Stearnes Born, Best African-American Baseball Player in Detroit’s History
1901 : Norman Thomas “Turkey” Stearnes Born, Best African-American Baseball Player in Detroit’s History
May 8 all-day
 Norman Thomas “Turkey” Stearnes (May 8, 1901 – September 4, 1979) was an African American outfielder in the Negro leagues, who played most of his prime with the Detroit Stars. He was elected to … Continue reading "1901 : Norman Thomas “Turkey” Stearnes Born, Best African-American Baseball Player in Detroit’s History"
1913 : Michigan Historical Commission Born
1913 : Michigan Historical Commission Born
May 8 all-day
On a pleasant spring day in Lansing, on May 8, 1913, then-Governor Woodbridge Ferris struck a blow for history. He signed a bill creating the Michigan Historical Commission. The commission was originally autonomous. It was … Continue reading "1913 : Michigan Historical Commission Born"
1917 : Governor Alpert Sleeper Signs Bill Allowing Michigan Women to Vote for Presidential Electors
1917 : Governor Alpert Sleeper Signs Bill Allowing Michigan Women to Vote for Presidential Electors
May 8 all-day
 On May 8, 1917, Governor Albert Sleeper signed a bill allowing Michigan women to vote for presidential electors. A year later, male voters approved an amendment to the state constitution granting women the right to … Continue reading "1917 : Governor Alpert Sleeper Signs Bill Allowing Michigan Women to Vote for Presidential Electors"
1921 : World’s First Riding Mower Introduced by Ideal Power Mower Company of Lansing
1921 : World’s First Riding Mower Introduced by Ideal Power Mower Company of Lansing
May 8 all-day
 The first gasoline-powered lawn mower, 1902. On this day, May 8th, 1921 the world’s first riding lawn mower, manufactured by the Ideal Power Mower Co. of Lansing, was first introduced in Fort Wayne (and other … Continue reading "1921 : World’s First Riding Mower Introduced by Ideal Power Mower Company of Lansing"
1942 : Kalamazoo Plant Turns Out First WWII Amphibious Cargo Carrier
1942 : Kalamazoo Plant Turns Out First WWII Amphibious Cargo Carrier
May 8 all-day
On May 8, 1942, the first World War II amphibious cargo carrier to be constructed under navy contract was completed at the Ingersoll plant in Kalamazoo, MI. Source: Mich-Again’s Day.
1959: First Little Caesars Opens in Garden City, Michigan
1959: First Little Caesars Opens in Garden City, Michigan
May 8 all-day
 Mike and Marian Ilitch opened their first Little Caesars restaurant in Garden City, Michigan on May 8, 1959. Mike Ilitch had been on another career path as a talented shortstop with the Detroit Tigers farm … Continue reading "1959: First Little Caesars Opens in Garden City, Michigan"
1973 : Carolyn King of Ypsilanti, First Girl to Play in Little League
1973 : Carolyn King of Ypsilanti, First Girl to Play in Little League
May 8 all-day
 On May 8, 1973, Carolyn King of Ypsilanti became the first girl to play in the Little League. Little League officials then took away the local charter, and the city of Ypsilanti filed a sex-discrimination … Continue reading "1973 : Carolyn King of Ypsilanti, First Girl to Play in Little League"
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1815 : Eliza Seaman Leggett Born
1815 : Eliza Seaman Leggett Born
May 9 all-day
 Eliza Seaman Leggett (Born May 9, 1915; Died February 8, 1900) dedicated her life to securing the rights of others, improving the human condition, and enlightening the minds of her family, friends, and neighbors. Although … Continue reading "1815 : Eliza Seaman Leggett Born"
1864 : Company K Faces Action at Battle of Spotsylvania Court House
1864 : Company K Faces Action at Battle of Spotsylvania Court House
May 9 all-day
 Company K of the 1st Michigan Sharpshooters, made up of Michigan Indians, faced its first baptism of fire in the Battle of the Wilderness, as part of Ulysses S. Grant’s Army of the Potomoc. Here … Continue reading "1864 : Company K Faces Action at Battle of Spotsylvania Court House"
1969 : The Who Open N. American Tour in Detroit
1969 : The Who Open N. American Tour in Detroit
May 9 all-day
Back in 1969, the Who Opened Their North American Tour at the Grande Ballroom in Detroit on May 9-11. They returned again on October 11-12 that year. The surviving Who members visited the Joe on … Continue reading "1969 : The Who Open N. American Tour in Detroit"
1970 : Walter Reuther Dies In Plane Crash
1970 : Walter Reuther Dies In Plane Crash
May 9 all-day
On May 9, 1970, United Auto Workers President Walter P. Reuther, his wife and four others were killed in a plane crash near the Pellston, Michigan airport. He was 62 and had been president of … Continue reading "1970 : Walter Reuther Dies In Plane Crash"
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1803 : William H. Harrison, Future President, Visits Detroit
1803 : William H. Harrison, Future President, Visits Detroit
May 10 all-day
On May 10, 1803, William H. Harrison, governor of the Indiana Territory and the first future president to visit Michigan arrived in Detroit. Harrison came to Michigan three more times before becoming president in 1841. … Continue reading "1803 : William H. Harrison, Future President, Visits Detroit"
1865 : 4th Michigan Calvary Capture Confederate President Jefferson Davis
1865 : 4th Michigan Calvary Capture Confederate President Jefferson Davis
May 10 all-day
On this day in 1865, Confederate President Jefferson Davis, dressed as an old woman, was captured in Georgia by the 4th Michigan Cavalry under the command of Lt. Col. Benjamin Pritchard of Allegan. Courtesy of … Continue reading "1865 : 4th Michigan Calvary Capture Confederate President Jefferson Davis"
1933 : First Legal Glass of Beer Poured After Prohibition
1933 : First Legal Glass of Beer Poured After Prohibition
May 10 all-day
 On May 10, 1933, Julius Stroh of the Stroh Brewing Company poured the first legal glass of beer after the repeal of Prohibition at an American Legion convention in Detroit. An update on the Stroh … Continue reading "1933 : First Legal Glass of Beer Poured After Prohibition"
1978 : Rep. Monte Geralds Expelled from Michigan Legislature
1978 : Rep. Monte Geralds Expelled from Michigan Legislature
May 10 all-day
Rep. Monte Geralds (D-Madison Heights) was expelled from the Michigan Legislature on May 10, 1978. An attorney, he had been convicted of embezzling $24,000 from a wealthy Bloomfield Hills heiress he had represented before being … Continue reading "1978 : Rep. Monte Geralds Expelled from Michigan Legislature"
1980 : Chrysler Receives Loan Guarantee from U.S. Government
1980 : Chrysler Receives Loan Guarantee from U.S. Government
May 10 all-day
U.S. Treasury Secretary G. William Miller announced on May 10, 1980, that Chrysler would receive a $1.5-billion loan guarantee from the U.S. government. The federally backed loans, which still had to be approved by Congress, … Continue reading "1980 : Chrysler Receives Loan Guarantee from U.S. Government"
2005: Helen Claytor, Civil Rights Activist, YWCA National President, Dies
2005: Helen Claytor, Civil Rights Activist, YWCA National President, Dies
May 10 all-day
 Mrs. Helen Jackson Wilkins Claytor made it her life’s work to break down racial barriers, before the term “civil rights” became part of the country’s lexicon. She was born in Minneapolis on April 12, 1907 … Continue reading "2005: Helen Claytor, Civil Rights Activist, YWCA National President, Dies"
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1875 : Harriet Quimby Born, First Woman To Fly Solo Over the English Channel
1875 : Harriet Quimby Born, First Woman To Fly Solo Over the English Channel
May 11 all-day
 The first licensed American female pilot and the first woman in the world to fly solo over the English Channel was born in Arcadia in Kinderhook Township, Michigan on May 11, 1875. She flew across … Continue reading "1875 : Harriet Quimby Born, First Woman To Fly Solo Over the English Channel"
1883 : Henry Ford Dodges Death
1883 : Henry Ford Dodges Death
May 11 all-day
 What if the young farmer Henry Ford had been killed in this accident in 1883? Would he have been able to develop the Model T later on? Sources : A BIG BLOW.: A Severe … Continue reading "1883 : Henry Ford Dodges Death"
1903 : Charles Gehringer, Greatest Detroit Tiger Ever?
1903 : Charles Gehringer, Greatest Detroit Tiger Ever?
May 11 all-day
 Out of the farmlands of Fowlerville was born who many sports experts say was the greatest of all the Detroit Tigers: Charles Gehringer. Born on May 11, 1903, Charlie just couldn’t get into farming as … Continue reading "1903 : Charles Gehringer, Greatest Detroit Tiger Ever?"
1912 : American Cement Manufacturers’ Assn. Say Wayne County Roads Are Unexcelled
1912 : American Cement Manufacturers’ Assn. Say Wayne County Roads Are Unexcelled
May 11 all-day
COUNTY ROADS HIGHLY PRAISED: Delegates From American Cement Manufacturers’ Assn. Convention on Inspection Tour. MAY SOLVE PROBLEM OF HIGH COST OF LIVING Government Road Official Says Similarly Constructed Highways Should Connect All Cities. Detroit Free … Continue reading "1912 : American Cement Manufacturers’ Assn. Say Wayne County Roads Are Unexcelled"
1917, EO 2617 Calls for Enlistment of Women Telephone Operators into Army Signal Corps
1917, EO 2617 Calls for Enlistment of Women Telephone Operators into Army Signal Corps
May 11 all-day
During World War I, around 7000 U.S. and Canadian women telephone operators volunteered, but only 447 were selected, to serve with the Army Signal Corps in France and England, becoming the Army’s first female … Continue reading "1917, EO 2617 Calls for Enlistment of Women Telephone Operators into Army Signal Corps"
1978 : Margaret Brewer, Marine Corps’ First Female Brigadier General
1978 : Margaret Brewer, Marine Corps’ First Female Brigadier General
May 11 all-day
 Margaret Brewer, a native of Durand in Shiawassee County, became the Marine Corps’ first female brigadier general on May 11, 1978. She was inspired to join the Marines when, in high school, she heard a … Continue reading "1978 : Margaret Brewer, Marine Corps’ First Female Brigadier General"
2012 : Governor Snyder, First Governor in 50 Years to Visit a Michigan Prison
2012 : Governor Snyder, First Governor in 50 Years to Visit a Michigan Prison
May 11 all-day
Gov. Rick Snyder followed up on a pledge to see how Michigan prisons are being run, becoming the first Michigan governor in more than 50 years to tour a state prison. He visited the Charles … Continue reading "2012 : Governor Snyder, First Governor in 50 Years to Visit a Michigan Prison"
May 11, 1930 : Detroit Stars Open Season
May 11, 1930 : Detroit Stars Open Season
May 11 all-day
 On May 11, 1930, the Detroit Stars kicked off their inaugural season at Hamtramck Stadium. That year, thanks in large part to the heroics of center fielder Norman “Turkey” Stearnes, the Stars won the Negro … Continue reading "May 11, 1930 : Detroit Stars Open Season"
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1781 : British Purchase Mackinac Island From Chippewa Indians
1781 : British Purchase Mackinac Island From Chippewa Indians
May 12 all-day
On May 12, 1781, the Ojibwe tribe sold Mackinac Island to the British for five-thousand pounds… The transaction was completed with the commander of Fort Michilimackinac, Lt. Patrick Sinclair, and the chiefs of several bands … Continue reading "1781 : British Purchase Mackinac Island From Chippewa Indians"
1891 : Detroit’s Streetcar Employees Unionize
1891 : Detroit’s Streetcar Employees Unionize
May 12 all-day
In April of 1891, local transit workers struck the Detroit Street Railway and the smaller independent Grand River Railway companies, resulting in a bloody and violent 3-day riot. A move by the transit workers to … Continue reading "1891 : Detroit’s Streetcar Employees Unionize"
1891 : Shave Costs 15 Cents in Detroit
1891 : Shave Costs 15 Cents in Detroit
May 12 all-day
On May 12, 1891, Detroit barbers raised the price for a shave from 10 to 15 cents. Source : Detroit Historical Society Facebook page
1929 : Zehnder’s of Frankenmuth Opens
1929 : Zehnder’s of Frankenmuth Opens
May 12 all-day
I can only imagine the discussions that went on around the kitchen table as my grandparents William and Emilie Zehnder were pondering the possibility of entering the restaurant business. They were in the farming and … Continue reading "1929 : Zehnder’s of Frankenmuth Opens"
1936 : Black Legion Members Execute Charley Poole Outside Detroit
1936 : Black Legion Members Execute Charley Poole Outside Detroit
May 12 all-day
On May 12, 1936, a young unemployed autoworker — Charley Poole — was taken into the countryside west of Detroit and shot five times at point-blank range, an honor killing that was the latest in … Continue reading "1936 : Black Legion Members Execute Charley Poole Outside Detroit"
1961 : Judy Garland Entertains Fans at Masonic Auditorium in Detroit
1961 : Judy Garland Entertains Fans at Masonic Auditorium in Detroit
May 12 all-day
On this day Judy Garland entertained her fans in Detroit to glowing reviews in the local newspapers. She performed classics such as “Almost Like Falling in Love”, “Chicago”, “Clang! Clang! Clang! Went the Trolley”, and … Continue reading "1961 : Judy Garland Entertains Fans at Masonic Auditorium in Detroit"
2017 : Qline Officially Begins Offering Rides in Detroit
2017 : Qline Officially Begins Offering Rides in Detroit
May 12 all-day
The QLine streetcars will formally roll up and down Woodward beginning May 12, officials announced Thursday. After more than a decade of discussions and delays, construction on the tracks began in July 2014 and QLine … Continue reading "2017 : Qline Officially Begins Offering Rides in Detroit"
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1712 : Indian Attack on Detroit Thwarted
1712 : Indian Attack on Detroit Thwarted
May 13 all-day
More than 1000 Fox Indians from southwestern Michigan besige Ft. Pontchartrain and battle for several days before fleeing northeast. The French pursue with Indian allies and attack the Fox Indians again on May 20, 1712, … Continue reading "1712 : Indian Attack on Detroit Thwarted"
1857 : Agricultural College of the State of Michigan Dedicated
1857 : Agricultural College of the State of Michigan Dedicated
May 13 all-day
 Saints’ Rest (1856—1876) Saints’ Rest, c. 1857, with College Hall in the right background. Note the tree stumps remaining to be dug out. 1857 Photograph of Saint’s Rest Dormitory, showing stumps waiting to be dug … Continue reading "1857 : Agricultural College of the State of Michigan Dedicated"
1857: MAC Opening Day Map Shows Indian Encampment
1857: MAC Opening Day Map Shows Indian Encampment
May 13 all-day
 According to this university map, on the first day of class at MSU in 1857, the prior presence of the Anishinaabeg was noted by ‘Indian Encampment’. Remember that Native students, faculty, staff, and community members … Continue reading "1857: MAC Opening Day Map Shows Indian Encampment"
1861 : First Known Michigan Troop Movement by Railroad
1861 : First Known Michigan Troop Movement by Railroad
May 13 all-day
On May 13, 1861, Company G, 3rd Regiment, Michigan Infantry moved by lumber wagons from Lansing to Bath to board the Amboy, Lansing and Traverse Bay Railroad, the nearest railroad to Lansing. It was the … Continue reading "1861 : First Known Michigan Troop Movement by Railroad"
1877 : First Known Observance of Mother’s Day in Albion
1877 : First Known Observance of Mother’s Day in Albion
May 13 all-day
 On May 13, 1877, the second Sunday of the month, Juliet Calhoun Blakeley stepped into the pulpit of the Methodist-Episcopal Church and completed the sermon for the Reverand Myron Daughterty. According to local legend, Daughterty … Continue reading "1877 : First Known Observance of Mother’s Day in Albion"
1899 : Schooner Nelson Sinks In Lake Superior
1899 : Schooner Nelson Sinks In Lake Superior
May 13 all-day
On Aug. 26, 2014, the Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society found the lost schooner Nelson, a shipwreck which has lain undisturbed on the bottom of Lake Superior since May 13, 1899, when the ship’s captain … Continue reading "1899 : Schooner Nelson Sinks In Lake Superior"
1913 : Michigan Reward Trunk Line Highways Act Passed
1913 : Michigan Reward Trunk Line Highways Act Passed
May 13 all-day
The bill creating the state trunkline highways was passed on May 13, 1913. The State Reward Trunk Line Highways Act also provided for surveying, improving and maintaining those highways. Before that, county road commissions, which … Continue reading "1913 : Michigan Reward Trunk Line Highways Act Passed"
1913 : Theodore Roosevelt Visits Marquette
1913 : Theodore Roosevelt Visits Marquette
May 13 all-day
 Theodore Roosevelt arrived in Marquette to take on Ishpeming editor George Hewitt, who publicly called the former president a drunk and a liar. After extensive testimony on May 27 by the former President, Hewitt … Continue reading "1913 : Theodore Roosevelt Visits Marquette"
1950: Stevie Wonder Born
1950: Stevie Wonder Born
May 13 all-day
 Stephen Judkins Hardaway, born May 13, 1950, in Saginaw, MI has been declared immortal by the Library of Congress! As if anyone in Michigan didn’t know that already! Or should I say Stevie Wonder has … Continue reading "1950: Stevie Wonder Born"
1980 : Tornado Strikes Kalamazoo’s Downtown
1980 : Tornado Strikes Kalamazoo’s Downtown
May 13 all-day
On May 13, 1980, a tornado barreled through Kalamazoo’s downtown, killing five, injuring 79 and causing an estimated $50 million in damage. It first touched down at 4 p.m. about eight miles from the city. … Continue reading "1980 : Tornado Strikes Kalamazoo’s Downtown"
2018 : Happy Mother’s Day
2018 : Happy Mother’s Day
May 13 all-day
In the United States, Mother’s Day is celebrated on the second Sunday of May. In 2018, that occurred on May 13. In 2019, it will fall on May 12. In honor of the occasion, I … Continue reading "2018 : Happy Mother’s Day"
2018 : Western Michigan University Graduates First Medical School Class
2018 : Western Michigan University Graduates First Medical School Class
May 13 all-day
A decade-long effort was realized Sunday when nearly 50 students became the first graduates of the new WMU medical school. The inaugural Class of 2018 of the Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of … Continue reading "2018 : Western Michigan University Graduates First Medical School Class"
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1857 : America’s First Land Grant College Opens
1857 : America’s First Land Grant College Opens
May 14 all-day
Although Michigan State University claims 1855 as its founding date, the Michigan Agricultural College actually opened two years after the passage of the enabling act by the Michigan Legislature. Before it officially opened, University of … Continue reading "1857 : America’s First Land Grant College Opens"
1864 : George Emery Ranney, Lansing Doctor, Earns Medal of Honor
1864 : George Emery Ranney, Lansing Doctor, Earns Medal of Honor
May 14 all-day
George E. Ranney, Army Assistant Surgeon, Battle of Resaca, Georgia May 14, 1864, First Michigan Recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor Citation: At great personal risk, went to the aid of a wounded soldier, … Continue reading "1864 : George Emery Ranney, Lansing Doctor, Earns Medal of Honor"
1866 : Hope College Chartered by State of Michigan
1866 : Hope College Chartered by State of Michigan
May 14 all-day
 On this day in 1866, the Holland Academy, created in 1851 and supported by the Dutch Reformed Church, was chartered as Hope College. The first graduating class, eight men, made up more than one-third of … Continue reading "1866 : Hope College Chartered by State of Michigan"
1871 : Portage Lake Channel Opens
1871 : Portage Lake Channel Opens
May 14 all-day
 The history of the Portage Lake Channel It began as little more than a 4-foot wide by 2-foot deep ditch, but in the early morning hours of May 14, 1871, before any light of the … Continue reading "1871 : Portage Lake Channel Opens"
1877 : Michigan Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (MSPCA) Formed
1877 : Michigan Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (MSPCA) Formed
May 14 all-day
“The work of the Michigan Humane Society is of a sort that no city in civilized America can afford to be without.” – Abner E. Larned, 1935 A LOOK BACK TO 1877 On May … Continue reading "1877 : Michigan Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (MSPCA) Formed"
1925 : Sophie Kurys Born, the ‘Flint Flash’
1925 : Sophie Kurys Born, the ‘Flint Flash’
May 14 all-day
 Sophie Kurys, the ‘Flint Flash,’ was born on this day in 1925. She would steal 1114 bases in her 8-year career with the Racine Belles. In 1946 she was named Player of the Year for … Continue reading "1925 : Sophie Kurys Born, the ‘Flint Flash’"
1936 : Ford Rotunda Opens To Public in Dearborn
1936 : Ford Rotunda Opens To Public in Dearborn
May 14 all-day
 The Ford Rotunda was originally built as an exhibit building for the 1933 Chicago World’s Fair, known as the Century of Progress Exposition. After the fair closed, Ford had the Rotunda disassembled and moved to … Continue reading "1936 : Ford Rotunda Opens To Public in Dearborn"
2021 : Gov Lifts Mask Mandate In All Settings For Fully Vaccinated After CDC Update
2021 : Gov Lifts Mask Mandate In All Settings For Fully Vaccinated After CDC Update
May 14 all-day
Gov. Gretchen WHITMER today announced Michigan is lifting mask requirements for vaccinated people in all settings, following the updated federal guidance issued Thursday. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said Thursday that “fully … Continue reading "2021 : Gov Lifts Mask Mandate In All Settings For Fully Vaccinated After CDC Update"
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1856 : L. Frank Baum Born, Author of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
1856 : L. Frank Baum Born, Author of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
May 15 all-day
 L. Frank Baum reads while sitting in a rocking chair on the porch of his Macatawa summer home, nicknamed The Sign of the Goose. L. Frank Baum, author of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, … Continue reading "1856 : L. Frank Baum Born, Author of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz"
1912 : Detroit Tigers Stage First Baseball Strike
1912 : Detroit Tigers Stage First Baseball Strike
May 15 all-day
When Ty Cobb was suspended for beating up a heckler during a game with the New York Highlanders (soon to be Yankees) on May 15, 1912, the rest of the team refused to play the … Continue reading "1912 : Detroit Tigers Stage First Baseball Strike"
1926 : Detroit Cougars Purchased, Would Become Detroit Red Wings
1926 : Detroit Cougars Purchased, Would Become Detroit Red Wings
May 15 all-day
On May 15, 1926, the Victoria (B.C.) Cougars hockey team was purchased by a group of Detroit businessmen — led by Detroit Athletic Club President Charlie Hughes — and renamed the Detroit Cougars. This team … Continue reading "1926 : Detroit Cougars Purchased, Would Become Detroit Red Wings"
1967 : Heroic Helicopter Pilot from Ypsilanti Rescues Ambushed Soldiers
1967 : Heroic Helicopter Pilot from Ypsilanti Rescues Ambushed Soldiers
May 15 all-day
The White House announced Tuesday afternoon that Charles Kettles would receive the Medal of Honor from President Obama on July 18 for his bravery during the Vietnam War. Kettles, 86, recalls the events of May … Continue reading "1967 : Heroic Helicopter Pilot from Ypsilanti Rescues Ambushed Soldiers"
1968 : Robert Kennedy Campaigns in Detroit
1968 : Robert Kennedy Campaigns in Detroit
May 15 all-day
 On May 15, 1968, Bobby Kennedy came to Detroit while campaigning for President. He would be assassinated in California on June 5, 1968. Cheers Amid the Ruins At a Detroit park on the corner of … Continue reading "1968 : Robert Kennedy Campaigns in Detroit"
1976 : Mark Fidrych (The Bird) makes his first start with the Detroit Tigers
1976 : Mark Fidrych (The Bird) makes his first start with the Detroit Tigers
May 15 all-day
 On this day in 1976: Mark Fidrych makes his first start with the #Tigers, tossing six no-hit innings vs. the Indians en route to a complete game victory in which he allowed two hits. Fidrych was … Continue reading "1976 : Mark Fidrych (The Bird) makes his first start with the Detroit Tigers"
2017 : University of Michigan Joins MeLCat
2017 : University of Michigan Joins MeLCat
May 15 all-day
Today, May 15, 2017 we officially welcome the University of Michigan–Ann Arbor Libraries to the MeLCat family of Michigan libraries! MelCat is a cooperative service and part of the Michigan Electronic Library suite.
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1861 : 1st Michigan Infantry Arrives in Washington, D.C.
1861 : 1st Michigan Infantry Arrives in Washington, D.C.
May 16 all-day
May 16, 1861 : The 1st Michigan Infantry Regiment marched into Washington, D.C., at the start of the Civil War. President Lincolnn, who wondered if the west would support the war, was said to exclaim, … Continue reading "1861 : 1st Michigan Infantry Arrives in Washington, D.C."
1891 : Grand Rapids Furniture Store Workers Riot
1891 : Grand Rapids Furniture Store Workers Riot
May 16 all-day
On May 16, 1891, a riot broke out in Grand Rapids that was finally quelled by fire hoses. The riot stemmed from some 4,000 furniture workers walking off their jobs at 35 plants. Better pay … Continue reading "1891 : Grand Rapids Furniture Store Workers Riot"
1916 : Oldest Continuous Operating Bowling Alley Started
1916 : Oldest Continuous Operating Bowling Alley Started
May 16 all-day
Joe Zainea’s love for people can be felt the moment he shakes your hand as a gracious welcome to the Detroit bowling alley that’s been in his family for more than 70 years. Zainea, affectionately … Continue reading "1916 : Oldest Continuous Operating Bowling Alley Started"
1919 : Former Detroit Tiger Germany Schaefer Dies
1919 : Former Detroit Tiger Germany Schaefer Dies
May 16 all-day
 Nobody in the long history of baseball ever craved the spotlight more than the zany, ruddy-faced Herman “Germany” Schaefer, for whom no gag was too outrageous or primitive and no audience too small or unfriendly. … Continue reading "1919 : Former Detroit Tiger Germany Schaefer Dies"
1956 : General Motors Technical Center Dedicated in Warren
1956 : General Motors Technical Center Dedicated in Warren
May 16 all-day
On May 16, 1956, the General Motors Technical Center was dedicated in Warren. Costing around $100 million–or about half a billion in today’s dollars–to develop and staffed by around 4,000 scientists, engineers, designers and other … Continue reading "1956 : General Motors Technical Center Dedicated in Warren"
1972 : Michigan Voters Approve State Lottery
1972 : Michigan Voters Approve State Lottery
May 16 all-day
On May 16, 1972, by a 2-1 margin, Michigan voters approved a constitutional amendment allowing a state lottery. Sources: Michigan History Official Michigan State Lottery website Michigan Lottery Wikipedia entry
1986 : Top Gun Released
1986 : Top Gun Released
May 16 all-day
 Originally released May 16, 1986, “Top Gun” grossed approximately $171.1 million by the end of the year. When the home video market was in its infancy, the release of “Top Gun” on videocassette in March … Continue reading "1986 : Top Gun Released"
2010 : Rima Fakih of Dearborn Crowned Miss USA
2010 : Rima Fakih of Dearborn Crowned Miss USA
May 16 all-day
 The Lebanon-born beauty and Dearborn resident (since 2003, when she moved from Queens, N.Y.) is the third Michigan woman to capture the Miss USA title. Fakih previously won the Miss Michigan pageant on September 19, … Continue reading "2010 : Rima Fakih of Dearborn Crowned Miss USA"
2015 : Miguel Cabrera Hits 400th Home Run
2015 : Miguel Cabrera Hits 400th Home Run
May 16 all-day
The Tigers first baseman hit his 400th home run in the first inning of today’s game against the Cardinals, swatting a full-count fastball from left-hander Tyler Lyons over the centerfield fence. The home run was … Continue reading "2015 : Miguel Cabrera Hits 400th Home Run"
2016 : Black Marine Honored for WWII Service
2016 : Black Marine Honored for WWII Service
May 16 all-day
A 90-year-old veteran was honored Tuesday more than 70 years after becoming one of the first African-Americans to join the U.S. Marines. A smiling John Willie Jordan of Farmington — on a walker and proudly … Continue reading "2016 : Black Marine Honored for WWII Service"
2018 : MSU Announces $500 Million Payout to Larry Nassar Sexual Abuse Victims
2018 : MSU Announces $500 Million Payout to Larry Nassar Sexual Abuse Victims
May 16 all-day
Michigan State has agreed to pay $500 million to settle lawsuits filed by 332 alleged victims of disgraced former sports physician Larry Nassar, both sides announced Wednesday, ending the university’s involvement in litigation over the … Continue reading "2018 : MSU Announces $500 Million Payout to Larry Nassar Sexual Abuse Victims"
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1673 : Father Jacques Marquette, Fur trader Louis Jolliet Embark on Expedition to Explore the Mississippi River
1673 : Father Jacques Marquette, Fur trader Louis Jolliet Embark on Expedition to Explore the Mississippi River
May 17 all-day
 On May 17, 1673, Jesuit missionary Jacques Marquette, fur trader Louis Jolliet and five voyageurs leave the recently established Indian mission at St. Ignace to explore a great river known by the Indians as the … Continue reading "1673 : Father Jacques Marquette, Fur trader Louis Jolliet Embark on Expedition to Explore the Mississippi River"
1866 : Frederick Douglass Speaks in Ypsilanti
1866 : Frederick Douglass Speaks in Ypsilanti
May 17 all-day
 Frederick Douglass is one of the most iconic figures in American history, and, during the height of his career, he visited Ypsilanti on three different occasions to give speeches. According to Matt Siegfried, a local … Continue reading "1866 : Frederick Douglass Speaks in Ypsilanti"
1881 : Gold Discovered Near Ishpeming
1881 : Gold Discovered Near Ishpeming
May 17 all-day
On May 17, 1881, Julius Ropes, a Marquette chemist and geologist, struck his exploring pick into some moss-covered rock near Ispheming, analyzed it, and discovered that it contained gold. Two years later, Ropes opened a … Continue reading "1881 : Gold Discovered Near Ishpeming"
1920 : Ford Rouge Plant Blast Furnaces Fired Up for First Time
1920 : Ford Rouge Plant Blast Furnaces Fired Up for First Time
May 17 all-day
 On May 17, 1920, the blast furnaces at the Ford Rouge Plant were fired up for the first time. Iron from the furnaces was transported directly to the foundry where it was poured into molds … Continue reading "1920 : Ford Rouge Plant Blast Furnaces Fired Up for First Time"
1964: Detroit Board of Education Reviews WASP History Text
1964: Detroit Board of Education Reviews WASP History Text
May 17 all-day
On May 17, 1964, the Detroit Board of Education was prepared to take up a request by a civil rights group to throw out a ninth-grade world history textbook because it “presents a grossly unrealistic, … Continue reading "1964: Detroit Board of Education Reviews WASP History Text"
2018 : Wallace D. Riley Dies
2018 : Wallace D. Riley Dies
May 17 all-day
Wallace D. Riley of Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan, husband of the late Justice Dorothy Comstock Riley, one of the founders and president of the Michigan Supreme Court History Society, president of both the Michigan Bar … Continue reading "2018 : Wallace D. Riley Dies"
2019 : Celebrating Motor City Comic Con 30th Anniversary
2019 : Celebrating Motor City Comic Con 30th Anniversary
May 17 all-day
 Help Detroit celebrate the 30th anniversary of the most illustrious of our pop culture traditions: the Motor City Comic Con at the Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi between May 17-19 (2019). In case you haven’t … Continue reading "2019 : Celebrating Motor City Comic Con 30th Anniversary"
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1675 : Father Marquette Dies Along Sunset Side of Michigan
1675 : Father Marquette Dies Along Sunset Side of Michigan
May 18 all-day
Father Jacques Marquette, better known as Pere Marquette, was reburied on June 8, 1677, according to American-Indian funeral customs. The French-born Jesuit priest — who explored the Mississippi River and the shores of Lake Michigan, … Continue reading "1675 : Father Marquette Dies Along Sunset Side of Michigan"
1846 : Michigan Outlaws The Death Penalty
1846 : Michigan Outlaws The Death Penalty
May 18 all-day
On this day, Governor Alpheus Felch signed a bill outlawing capital punishment, making Michigan the first government in the English-speaking world to do so. Furthermore, it was also banned in the state Constitution in 1964. … Continue reading "1846 : Michigan Outlaws The Death Penalty"
1927 : Disgruntled Farmer Bombs Bath School
1927 : Disgruntled Farmer Bombs Bath School
May 18 all-day
 One of the first and one of the worst cases of school violence ever recorded. We live in an age where we think that schools shootings, bombings, and the like are only a … Continue reading "1927 : Disgruntled Farmer Bombs Bath School"
1929 : First Holland Tulip Time Festival Held
1929 : First Holland Tulip Time Festival Held
May 18 all-day
 The first Holland Tulip Time was held on May 18, 1929. Two years earlier, local high school biology teacher Lida Rogers had pitched to the Women’s Literary Club the idea of planting tulips in the … Continue reading "1929 : First Holland Tulip Time Festival Held"
1929 : Purple Gang Members Arrested
1929 : Purple Gang Members Arrested
May 18 all-day
 On May 18, 1929, members of the notorious Jewish organized crime organization, the Purple Gang, were arrested for arms violations and protecting Detroit drug dealers. Source : Detroit Historical Society Facebook page Detroit’s Purple Gang … Continue reading "1929 : Purple Gang Members Arrested"
1940 : FDR Calls Bill Knudsen in Detroit To Talk About War Production
1940 : FDR Calls Bill Knudsen in Detroit To Talk About War Production
May 18 all-day
On May 28, 1940, the phone rang in Bill Knudsen’s office in the General Motors Building. Knudsen, a Danish immigrant who had made parts for Henry Ford’s Model T in a bicycle factory in Buffalo … Continue reading "1940 : FDR Calls Bill Knudsen in Detroit To Talk About War Production"
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1898 : Emma Genevieve Gillette, Michigan Conservationist, Born
1898 : Emma Genevieve Gillette, Michigan Conservationist, Born
May 19 all-day
 Emma Genevieve Gillette, distinguished Michigan conservationist, was born in Lansing on May 19, 1898. She attended Michigan Agricultural College, now Michigan State University, and was the only woman graduate in the college’s first landscape architecture … Continue reading "1898 : Emma Genevieve Gillette, Michigan Conservationist, Born"
1903 : Buick Motor Company Incorporated in Detroit
1903 : Buick Motor Company Incorporated in Detroit
May 19 all-day
The division’s founder, David Dunbar Buick was building gasoline engines by 1899, and his engineer, Walter L. Marr, built the first automobile to be called a Buick between 1899 and 1900. But Buick traditionally dates … Continue reading "1903 : Buick Motor Company Incorporated in Detroit"
1930 : World’s First Known Identical Quadruplets Born in Lansing
1930 : World’s First Known Identical Quadruplets Born in Lansing
May 19 all-day
 When Sarah (Sadie) Morlok gave birth to four identical quadruplets at Lansing’s Sparrow Hospital on May 19, 1930, the blessed event was splashed in papers around the world. Everything about them was news-bite size. The … Continue reading "1930 : World’s First Known Identical Quadruplets Born in Lansing"
1968 : Al Kaline Reaches The Top of the Tiger’s All-Time Home Run List
1968 : Al Kaline Reaches The Top of the Tiger’s All-Time Home Run List
May 19 all-day
 On May 19, 1968, Al Kaline hit the 307th round tripper of his career, putting him at top of the Tigers all-time home run list. It came in the sixth inning of a game a … Continue reading "1968 : Al Kaline Reaches The Top of the Tiger’s All-Time Home Run List"
2015 : Michigan Capitol Dome Undergoing Restoration
2015 : Michigan Capitol Dome Undergoing Restoration
May 19 all-day
The historic Michigan Capitol building, constructed in the 1870s, has a new look for summer: scaffolding rings the dome toward the top of the 267-foot spire. That scaffolding, which has taken more than a month … Continue reading "2015 : Michigan Capitol Dome Undergoing Restoration"
2020 : Edenville Dam Collapses; 10000 Forced to Flee Homes
2020 : Edenville Dam Collapses; 10000 Forced to Flee Homes
May 19 all-day
 Wixom Lake is barren following the May 19 collapse of the Edenville Dam. Following heavy rains over 36 hours on Sunday and Monday, the Edenville Dam in Gladwin County failed Tuesday, forcing evacuations of roughly … Continue reading "2020 : Edenville Dam Collapses; 10000 Forced to Flee Homes"
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1835 : Detroit Common Council Votes for Progress, Approves First Underground Sewer for Detroit
1835 : Detroit Common Council Votes for Progress, Approves First Underground Sewer for Detroit
May 20 all-day
A committee of the Detroit Common Council recommended that a stone-and-brick “grand sewer” be built to replace an unsightly and unsanitary series of open ditches that ran through the city. The full council agreed, and … Continue reading "1835 : Detroit Common Council Votes for Progress, Approves First Underground Sewer for Detroit"
1927 : Charles Lindbergh, First Nonstop Solo Transatlantic Flight
1927 : Charles Lindbergh, First Nonstop Solo Transatlantic Flight
May 20 all-day
Detroit native Charles Lindbergh became the first person to successfully complete a nonstop solo transatlantic flight when he landed the Spirit of St. Louis in Paris on May 21, 1927. He left the Roosevelt … Continue reading "1927 : Charles Lindbergh, First Nonstop Solo Transatlantic Flight"
1927 : The First Mac Wood Dune Scooter Ride
1927 : The First Mac Wood Dune Scooter Ride
May 20 all-day
 According to Mable Wood, Malcolm “Mac” Wood took her on her first dune scooting ride in a Model A Ford on May 20, 1927 following a torrential 3-day downpour that packed down the sand over … Continue reading "1927 : The First Mac Wood Dune Scooter Ride"
1942: Glenn Miller Song Immortalizes Kalamazoo
1942: Glenn Miller Song Immortalizes Kalamazoo
May 20 all-day
Glenn Miller recorded “I’ve Got a Gal in Kalamazoo” on May 20, 1942. The song would resonate with women — as well as swing dancers of both genders — far beyond southwestern Michigan. Since 1996, … Continue reading "1942: Glenn Miller Song Immortalizes Kalamazoo"
1951 : Olivia Davis Letts, Lansing’s First Black Elementary Teacher
1951 : Olivia Davis Letts, Lansing’s First Black Elementary Teacher
May 20 all-day
Olivia Davis Letts was the first black elementary teacher in the Lansing Public Schools. Already with three years’ experience teaching in the Chicago schools, she was hired in Lansing on May 20, 1951 with the … Continue reading "1951 : Olivia Davis Letts, Lansing’s First Black Elementary Teacher"
1970 : Michigan State University Students Strike Over Vietnam
1970 : Michigan State University Students Strike Over Vietnam
May 20 all-day
When Michigan State University students decided to skip classes and strike over the war in Vietnam (May 7-20, 1970), MSU President Clifton Wharton and Governor Milliken did their best to avoid a repeat of the … Continue reading "1970 : Michigan State University Students Strike Over Vietnam"
2005 : First Highway Accident Ever on M185
2005 : First Highway Accident Ever on M185
May 20 all-day
It took 107 years, but it happened. In 2005, a fire truck utility door was damaged when it maneuvered too closely to the open door of an ambulance and clipped it. Nobody was hurt, as … Continue reading "2005 : First Highway Accident Ever on M185"
2020 : Tittabawassee and Rifle River Flooding
2020 : Tittabawassee and Rifle River Flooding
May 20 all-day
 Above: An aerial view of floodwaters flowing from the Tittabawassee River into the lower part of downtown Midland on May 20, 2020 in Midland, Michigan. Heavy rains over the last few days doused Michigan, prompting flood … Continue reading "2020 : Tittabawassee and Rifle River Flooding"
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1834 : Detroit Installs First Streetlights
1834 : Detroit Installs First Streetlights
May 21 all-day
On May 21st, 1834 Detroit’s first streetlights were introduced lighting up Jefferson from Cass Ave. to Randolph st. The estimated cost as follows: 20 lamps including posts: $5 3 quarts of sperm whale oil per … Continue reading "1834 : Detroit Installs First Streetlights"
1891 : Dickinson County Established
1891 : Dickinson County Established
May 21 all-day
On May 21, 1891, Michigan’s final county was established in the Upper Peninsula. Dickinson County was established by an act of the legislature and was named after Donald Dickinson, a Detroiter who served as postmaster … Continue reading "1891 : Dickinson County Established"
1892 : Ransom Olds Sells First Car in Nation for Export
1892 : Ransom Olds Sells First Car in Nation for Export
May 21 all-day
In 1887, Ransom Olds developed an experimental steam-powered car. An updated version of the car was featured in the May 21, 1892 issue of Scientific American. A company in London saw the article and bought … Continue reading "1892 : Ransom Olds Sells First Car in Nation for Export"
1927 : Charles Lindbergh, First Nonstop Solo Transatlantic Flight
1927 : Charles Lindbergh, First Nonstop Solo Transatlantic Flight
May 21 all-day
Detroit native Charles Lindbergh became the first person to successfully complete a nonstop solo transatlantic flight when he landed the Spirit of St. Louis in Paris on May 21, 1927. He left the Roosevelt … Continue reading "1927 : Charles Lindbergh, First Nonstop Solo Transatlantic Flight"
1937 : “My Michigan” Adopted As Official State Song
1937 : “My Michigan” Adopted As Official State Song
May 21 all-day
“My Michigan” was adopted as an official state song on May 21, 1937. The state Senate returned the bill about the official state tune on that day, after amending it from “the” to “a,” according … Continue reading "1937 : “My Michigan” Adopted As Official State Song"
1941 : Ford Recognizes UAW
1941 : Ford Recognizes UAW
May 21 all-day
On May 21, 1941, after years of bitter and sometimes violent resistance by Henry Ford, workers of the Ford Motor Company voted to have the United Auto Workers represent them. Ford was the last of … Continue reading "1941 : Ford Recognizes UAW"
1958: Dearborn Press Newspaper Features Local Arab American Community
1958: Dearborn Press Newspaper Features Local Arab American Community
May 21 all-day
 On May 21, 1958, the Dearborn Press published an extensive feature on the Dearborn South End and the early Arab American community that lived there. The full newspaper issue can be read more clearly here: … Continue reading "1958: Dearborn Press Newspaper Features Local Arab American Community"
1971 : Marvin Gaye’s What’s Going On Album Released
1971 : Marvin Gaye’s What’s Going On Album Released
May 21 all-day
 On May 21, 1971, “What’s Going On,” the 11th studio album by soul musician Marvin Gaye, was released by @motown subsidiary Tamla Records. Its title song reached #1 on the R&B charts, and the album … Continue reading "1971 : Marvin Gaye’s What’s Going On Album Released"
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1837 : Aaron T. Bliss Born, Future Governor of Michigan
1837 : Aaron T. Bliss Born, Future Governor of Michigan
May 22 all-day
 Governor Aaron T. Bliss was born May 22, 1837 in New York. During the American Civil War, Bliss enlisted as a private in the Peterman Guards of the Tenth New York Volunteer Cavalry, October 1, … Continue reading "1837 : Aaron T. Bliss Born, Future Governor of Michigan"
1857 : William Ferguson Born, Michigan’s First African American Legislator
1857 : William Ferguson Born, Michigan’s First African American Legislator
May 22 all-day
 William Ferguson was born on May 22, 1857 to the family of Joseph Ferguson, the first African American graduate of the Detroit Medical College. He was educated in Detroit schools. Ferguson had a successful career … Continue reading "1857 : William Ferguson Born, Michigan’s First African American Legislator"
1926 : Michigan Reports 1M Registered Cars
1926 : Michigan Reports 1M Registered Cars
May 22 all-day
On May 22, 1926, Michigan became the nation’s sixth state to register and license more than 1,000,000 automobiles. Source: Mich-Again’s Day.
1926: Olga Loizon Born, Founder of Olga’s
1926: Olga Loizon Born, Founder of Olga’s
May 22 all-day
 As a young girl, Olga Loizon would help her mother make spinach and cheese pie. She would watch her, and then she would play her own role. “She’d tell me, ‘you sauté the onions and … Continue reading "1926: Olga Loizon Born, Founder of Olga’s"
1928 : Michigan State College President Resigns
1928 : Michigan State College President Resigns
May 22 all-day
On May 22, 1928, Dr. Kenyon Butterfield resigned as president of Michigan State College (MSC) effective immediately after a series of issues with the State Board of Agriculture. Butterfield came to MSC from the Massachusetts … Continue reading "1928 : Michigan State College President Resigns"
1936 : Black Legion Murders Detroit WPA Worker
1936 : Black Legion Murders Detroit WPA Worker
May 22 all-day
 Black Legion regalia included this high powered rifle and a leather-bladed bludgeon used to beat their vict A 22-year-old Detroit WPA worker was kidnapped, shot ten times, and his body left lying on a rural … Continue reading "1936 : Black Legion Murders Detroit WPA Worker"
1964 : President Lyndon Johnson Unveils Great Society at University of Michigan Commencement
1964 : President Lyndon Johnson Unveils Great Society at University of Michigan Commencement
May 22 all-day
Lyndon B. Johnson unveiled his Great Society in a U-M commencement address on May 22, 1964. LBJ’s Launches Great Society, including text of commencement speech. More about Lyndon Johnson’s Great Society.
2011: The Grand Rapids LipDub, the Greatest LipDub Ever Made?
2011: The Grand Rapids LipDub, the Greatest LipDub Ever Made?
May 22 all-day
“The Grand Rapids LipDub Video was filmed May 22nd, with 5,000 people, and involved a major shutdown of downtown Grand Rapids, which was filled with marching bands, parades, weddings, motorcades, bridges on fire, and … Continue reading "2011: The Grand Rapids LipDub, the Greatest LipDub Ever Made?"
2012 : Niles Resident Catches Record Catfish in St. Joseph River
2012 : Niles Resident Catches Record Catfish in St. Joseph River
May 22 all-day
On May 22, 2012, after a 30 minute struggle, Rodney Akey of Niles landed a 49.8 pound and 45.7 inch flathead catfish — the largest ever caught in Michigan. For the full article, see Jim … Continue reading "2012 : Niles Resident Catches Record Catfish in St. Joseph River"
2015: Lake Michigan’s Underwater Stonehenge
2015: Lake Michigan’s Underwater Stonehenge
May 22 all-day
Stonehenge is creepy enough as is, but finding another Stonehenge underwater? That’s just too much for us to handle. That’s exactly what divers found though, in what we used to think wasn’t a very mysterious … Continue reading "2015: Lake Michigan’s Underwater Stonehenge"
2019 : Another Record Bigmouth Buffalo Caught
2019 : Another Record Bigmouth Buffalo Caught
May 22 all-day
Tyler Fisher of St. Charles is quite the angler because he caught a record-breaking bigmouth buffalo earlier this month, according to the Department of Natural Resources. Fisher’s fish weighed in at 32.01 pounds and measured … Continue reading "2019 : Another Record Bigmouth Buffalo Caught"
2020 : Top Movie In America During Pandemic Filmed in Michigan
2020 : Top Movie In America During Pandemic Filmed in Michigan
May 22 all-day
 Brett and Drew Pierce are 2020’s most unexpected kings of the box office. Their new movie “The Wretched,” shot in Michigan’s Leelanau Peninsula, has held the top spot in box-office earnings since it opened May 1, according to Box Office Mojo. How … Continue reading "2020 : Top Movie In America During Pandemic Filmed in Michigan"
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1863 : Michigan Troops Participate in Vicksburg Siege
1863 : Michigan Troops Participate in Vicksburg Siege
May 23 all-day
On May 23, 1863, the siege of Vicksburg began. Union forces under the command of Gen. Ulysses S. Grant settled down to a siege of Vicksburg, Miss., on the Mississippi River. Seven regiments of infantry … Continue reading "1863 : Michigan Troops Participate in Vicksburg Siege"
1893 : Lynching Occurs in Corunna
1893 : Lynching Occurs in Corunna
May 23 all-day
On May 23, 1893, an angry mob rushed into a Corunna jail, looped a rope around the neck of an accused murderer, and jerked the man into the street. After hanging him from a nearby … Continue reading "1893 : Lynching Occurs in Corunna"
1939 : Detroit City Council Tightens Regulations on Pinball Machines
1939 : Detroit City Council Tightens Regulations on Pinball Machines
May 23 all-day
On May 23, 1939, the Detroit City Council tightened regulations on places where the public could play pinball despite some public pressure to ban the machines entirely. Pinball merchants argued to the council that it … Continue reading "1939 : Detroit City Council Tightens Regulations on Pinball Machines"
1958 : Mitch Albom Born, Newspaper Columnist, Radio Show Host, TV Commentator and Bestselling Author
1958 : Mitch Albom Born, Newspaper Columnist, Radio Show Host, TV Commentator and Bestselling Author
May 23 all-day
 Born Mitchell David Albom on May 23, 1958 in Passaic, New Jersey, this nationally-known newspaper columnist, radio show host, TV commentator and bestselling author has become a Detroit institution. Albom earned a bachelor’s degree in … Continue reading "1958 : Mitch Albom Born, Newspaper Columnist, Radio Show Host, TV Commentator and Bestselling Author"
1959 : Lansing’s Centennial / History of Transportation Parade
1959 : Lansing’s Centennial / History of Transportation Parade
May 23 all-day
 Complete with Miss Lansing, Miss Michigan, and Miss America, Lansing’s History of Transportation Parade, celebrated Lansing’s Centennial on May 23, 1959. A crowd of 175,000 gathered for the spectacle. It was probably the largest parade … Continue reading "1959 : Lansing’s Centennial / History of Transportation Parade"
2002 : Historical Society of Michigan Declared State’s Official Historical Society
2002 : Historical Society of Michigan Declared State’s Official Historical Society
May 23 all-day
Governor John Engler signed a bill on this day making the Historical Society of Michigan the state’s official historical society. The Historical Society of Michigan (HSM) is the state’s oldest cultural organization, founded in 1828 … Continue reading "2002 : Historical Society of Michigan Declared State’s Official Historical Society"
2018: Little Caesars Arena Receives Prestigious Sports Facility of the Year Award
2018: Little Caesars Arena Receives Prestigious Sports Facility of the Year Award
May 23 all-day
 The state-of-the-art Little Caesars Arena received the prestigious Sports Facility of the Year award at the 2018 Sports Business Awards Ceremony at the New York Marriott Marquis in New York City on May 23, 2018. … Continue reading "2018: Little Caesars Arena Receives Prestigious Sports Facility of the Year Award"
Gwen Frostic Day
Gwen Frostic Day
May 23 all-day
 Sara Gwendolen Frostic passed away peacefully on Wednesday, April 25, 2001. She was born April 26, 1906 in Sandusky, Michigan to Fred W. and Sara (Alexander) Frostic. As a well-known author and lecturer Gwen shared … Continue reading "Gwen Frostic Day"
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1749 : “Come to Detroit” Campaign Launched
1749 : “Come to Detroit” Campaign Launched
May 24 all-day
In an effort to attract settlers to Detroit, the governor general of New France (Canada) offered each man who would settle there a spade, an axe, a cow, a sow, a ploughshare, one large and … Continue reading "1749 : “Come to Detroit” Campaign Launched"
1804 : Henry Howland Crapo, Michigan’s 14th Governor, Born
1804 : Henry Howland Crapo, Michigan’s 14th Governor, Born
May 24 all-day
 Henry Howland Crapo (pronounced Cray-poe; May 24, 1804 – July 23, 1869) was the 14th Governor of Michigan during the end of the American Civil War and the beginning of Reconstruction. In 1858 Crapo left … Continue reading "1804 : Henry Howland Crapo, Michigan’s 14th Governor, Born"
1820 : Cass/Schoolcraft Expedition to Explore Upper Peninsula
1820 : Cass/Schoolcraft Expedition to Explore Upper Peninsula
May 24 all-day
Michigan Gov. Lewis Cass and geologist Henry Schoolcraft were among those who participated in the first major American expedition to explore the Upper Peninsula, which began on May 24, 1820. People in the eastern part … Continue reading "1820 : Cass/Schoolcraft Expedition to Explore Upper Peninsula"
1825 : Government Begins Surveying the Chicago Road, Now U.S. 12
1825 : Government Begins Surveying the Chicago Road, Now U.S. 12
May 24 all-day
On May 24, 1825, surveyors began laying out a military road from Detroit to Chicago. The crude road followed the path of the Old Sauk Trail (approximately present-day U.S.12), and upon its completion, two stagecoaches … Continue reading "1825 : Government Begins Surveying the Chicago Road, Now U.S. 12"
1863 : Seventh Day Adventist Church Established in Battle Creek
1863 : Seventh Day Adventist Church Established in Battle Creek
May 24 all-day
On May 21, 1863, the Seventh Day Adventist Church was formally established in Battle Creek, Michigan. For half a decade, Battle Creek acted as the hub of the budding Seventh-day Adventist Church. Founders of Adventism … Continue reading "1863 : Seventh Day Adventist Church Established in Battle Creek"
1918 : Coleman Alexander Young Born, Future Detroit Mayor
1918 : Coleman Alexander Young Born, Future Detroit Mayor
May 24 all-day
 Coleman A. Young at age 11. He’s believed to be the only black boy or girl enrolled at St. Mary’s Catholic School in Greektown at the time this picture was taken in 1929. Young is … Continue reading "1918 : Coleman Alexander Young Born, Future Detroit Mayor"
1918 : First Michigan Soldier Dies on German Soil
1918 : First Michigan Soldier Dies on German Soil
May 24 all-day
 Joseph W. Guyton (1889 ~ 1918) lived most of his life near Evart, working as a farmer, plumber, and well driller. When the U.S. entered World War I inn 1917, Guyton was drafted into the … Continue reading "1918 : First Michigan Soldier Dies on German Soil"
1923 : Burns Act Prohibits Public Gatherings of Masked Men (Ku Klux Klan)
1923 : Burns Act Prohibits Public Gatherings of Masked Men (Ku Klux Klan)
May 24 all-day
The Michigan legislature enacts the “Burns Act” prohibiting “public gatherings of masked men.” The law is carefully drafted to apply almost exclusively to Ku Klux Klan activity. Source : Detroit African American History Project Timeline. … Continue reading "1923 : Burns Act Prohibits Public Gatherings of Masked Men (Ku Klux Klan)"
1963 : Life Features MSU Museum Director
1963 : Life Features MSU Museum Director
May 24 all-day
 On May 24, 1963, LIFE magazine featured a profile of then-MSU Museum Director Rollin H. Baker, who was about to undertake a monumental project: reconstructing a 10-foot African elephant skeleton! The African bush elephant came … Continue reading "1963 : Life Features MSU Museum Director"
1970 : Michigan Activity Pass Program Launched
1970 : Michigan Activity Pass Program Launched
May 24 all-day
The Michigan Activity Pass went live on May 24, 2007. To quote TLN Executive Director Jim Pletz: “The Library Network is pleased to continue support for the highly popular Michigan Activity Pass. From humble beginnings … Continue reading "1970 : Michigan Activity Pass Program Launched"
2001 : Michigan Legislator Expelled
2001 : Michigan Legislator Expelled
May 24 all-day
On May 24, 2001, Sen. David Jaye (R-Washington Township) became the first person booted from the Senate. However, he was not the first person booted from the Michigan Legislature. The Macomb County maverick, ultra-conservative had … Continue reading "2001 : Michigan Legislator Expelled"
2018 : Michigan Activity Pass Program Extended
2018 : Michigan Activity Pass Program Extended
May 24 all-day
The 11th season of the Michigan Activity Pass (MAP) program kicked off May 24, 2018. With 440+ participating destinations MAP truly offers something for everyone. Get out and enjoy all that Michigan has to offer … Continue reading "2018 : Michigan Activity Pass Program Extended"
2023 : Hillsdale College Becomes University of Hillsdale
2023 : Hillsdale College Becomes University of Hillsdale
May 24 all-day
Olivet College announced Wednesday that it will change its name to the University of Olivet before the fall 2023 semester begins. At the May 19 Board of Trustees meeting, members voted unanimously to make the … Continue reading "2023 : Hillsdale College Becomes University of Hillsdale"
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1822 : Steamboat Superior Docks in Detroit For the First Time
1822 : Steamboat Superior Docks in Detroit For the First Time
May 25 all-day
The steamship Superior arrived in Detroit from Buffalo with 94 passengers. The second steamboat on the Great Lakes, the Superior contained the engine of the Walk-in-the-Water, the first steamship on the Great Lakes, which was … Continue reading "1822 : Steamboat Superior Docks in Detroit For the First Time"
1845 : Mary Mayo Born, Advocate for Women’s Education
1845 : Mary Mayo Born, Advocate for Women’s Education
May 25 all-day
 Mary Anne Bryant was born in Calhoun County on May 25, 1845 and married Perry Mayo, a Civil War veteran, on April 14, 1865. They had two children together, a son named Nelson and a … Continue reading "1845 : Mary Mayo Born, Advocate for Women’s Education"
1861 : Woman Enlists as Man in 2nd Michigan Infantry
1861 : Woman Enlists as Man in 2nd Michigan Infantry
May 25 all-day
 Edmonds as Franklin Thompson On May 25, 1861, Flint’s Sarah Emma Edmonds joined the 2nd Michigan Infantry disguised as Franklin Thompson. Sources : Michigan History, May/June 2012. For more information, see : Sara Emma … Continue reading "1861 : Woman Enlists as Man in 2nd Michigan Infantry"
1927 : Ford Announces That the Model A Will Replace The Model T
1927 : Ford Announces That the Model A Will Replace The Model T
May 25 all-day
On May 25, 1927, the Ford Motor Company announced in Dearborn that its popular Model T, known as the Tin Lizzie, would be discontinued and replaced by the more modern Model A. Courtesy of WAKV … Continue reading "1927 : Ford Announces That the Model A Will Replace The Model T"
1935 : Jessie Owens Sets 3 World Records and Ties Another in Ann Arbor, All Within 45 Minutes
1935 : Jessie Owens Sets 3 World Records and Ties Another in Ann Arbor, All Within 45 Minutes
May 25 all-day
 Eighty years ago, one of the most impressive athletic feats in history occurred on Michigan’s campus. And it was accomplished by a Buckeye. On May 25, 1935, track and field trailblazer Jesse Owens set three … Continue reading "1935 : Jessie Owens Sets 3 World Records and Ties Another in Ann Arbor, All Within 45 Minutes"
2017 : Sparty Plays MSU Fight Song On Beaumont Tower Carillon
2017 : Sparty Plays MSU Fight Song On Beaumont Tower Carillon
May 25 all-day
Listen to Sparty play the MSU fight song on the campus Beaumont Tower carillon. Sparty gets it done on the field, but who knew he also had musical chops? He’s been voted the best mascot by ESPN, clearly … Continue reading "2017 : Sparty Plays MSU Fight Song On Beaumont Tower Carillon"
2018 : New Record Black Buffalo (Fish) Caught
2018 : New Record Black Buffalo (Fish) Caught
May 25 all-day
 A fish caught on the Grand River has set a new Michigan record. Brandonn Kramer of Muskegon caught the 46.54-pound, 39.75-inch black buffalo in Ottawa County at 11:30 a.m. on Friday, May 25. Kramer … Continue reading "2018 : New Record Black Buffalo (Fish) Caught"
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1668 : 1st Permanent Wooden Structure, St. Mary’s Church, Built in Sault Ste. Marie
1668 : 1st Permanent Wooden Structure, St. Mary’s Church, Built in Sault Ste. Marie
May 26 all-day
Dedication of the St. Mary’s Stone Monument May 26, 2018 The monument depicts an overview of the origins of St. Mary’s Church in Sault Ste. Marie that was built in 1668, being the first permanent wooden … Continue reading "1668 : 1st Permanent Wooden Structure, St. Mary’s Church, Built in Sault Ste. Marie"
1768 : Detroit’s First Election
1768 : Detroit’s First Election
May 26 all-day
The first election was held in Detroit on May 26, 1768. Philippe Dejean was voted judge and justice of the district of Detroit, according to Clarence Burton’s book “The City of Detroit, Michigan, 1701-1922″. The … Continue reading "1768 : Detroit’s First Election"
1927 : Jud Heathcoate, Future Spartan Basketball Coach, Born
1927 : Jud Heathcoate, Future Spartan Basketball Coach, Born
May 26 all-day
 Today (May 26, 1927) is the anniversary of legendary Spartan basketball coach George “Jud” Heathcote’s birthday. The 1995 autobiography entitled “Jud: A Magical Journey,” co-authored by Jack Ebling, chronicles his early years. Born in Harvey, … Continue reading "1927 : Jud Heathcoate, Future Spartan Basketball Coach, Born"
1927 : Last Model T (Tin Lizzie) Rolls Off Assembly Line
1927 : Last Model T (Tin Lizzie) Rolls Off Assembly Line
May 26 all-day
On May 26, 1927 the Ford Motor Co. produced the last Model T, ending production of America’s first mass-produced automobile. The Model T, little changed during its lifetime, captured the nation’s imagination and catapulted Henry … Continue reading "1927 : Last Model T (Tin Lizzie) Rolls Off Assembly Line"
1937: The Battle of the Overpass
1937: The Battle of the Overpass
May 26 all-day
 Unions fight for the rights of workers. But those battles are more often fought these days on picket lines, in contract negotiations, and through media coverage. However, violence and intimidation against union organizers and members … Continue reading "1937: The Battle of the Overpass"
1967 : First Two Women Sworn in as Michigan State Police Officers
1967 : First Two Women Sworn in as Michigan State Police Officers
May 26 all-day
On May 26, 1967, Kay E. Whitfield of Pontiac and Noreen E. Hillary of Grand Rapids became the first two women sworn in as officers in the Michigan State Police. Source : Detroit Historical Society … Continue reading "1967 : First Two Women Sworn in as Michigan State Police Officers"
2022 : Board of Canvassers Deny 5 Republican Governor Candidates Place on Primary Ballot
2022 : Board of Canvassers Deny 5 Republican Governor Candidates Place on Primary Ballot
May 26 all-day
Several candidates, including five gubernatorial candidates, were ruled ineligible to be on the August primary ballot after a deadlock vote from the Board of State Canvassers regarding fraudulent signatures submitted. Source : MIRS, May 26, … Continue reading "2022 : Board of Canvassers Deny 5 Republican Governor Candidates Place on Primary Ballot"
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1927 : Idlewild Summer Resort Company Formed
1927 : Idlewild Summer Resort Company Formed
May 27 all-day
 The Idlewild Summer Resort Company was formulated in Lake County. An isolated spot in Michigan’s Lake County, not four miles from the town of Baldwin, is the location of one of Michigan’s most distinctive resort … Continue reading "1927 : Idlewild Summer Resort Company Formed"
1973 : Ground-Breaking for Detroit’s Renaissance Center
1973 : Ground-Breaking for Detroit’s Renaissance Center
May 27 all-day
 A view of the Renaissance Center from the Detroit River. On May 27, 1973, a ground-breaking ceremony was held to celebrate the kickoff of construction of Detroit’s Renaissance Center on the riverfront. By July of … Continue reading "1973 : Ground-Breaking for Detroit’s Renaissance Center"
1999 : MSU Takes 2nd Place Regarding 25 Biggest College Riots of All Time
1999 : MSU Takes 2nd Place Regarding 25 Biggest College Riots of All Time
May 27 all-day
 Make no mistake, campus riots have been a phenomenon for pretty much as long as colleges have existed. Don’t believe us? Consider this: Student protests at the University of Paris in 1229 led to the … Continue reading "1999 : MSU Takes 2nd Place Regarding 25 Biggest College Riots of All Time"
2009 : Dave Coverly, “Speed Bump Creator”, Named Cartoonist of the Year
2009 : Dave Coverly, “Speed Bump Creator”, Named Cartoonist of the Year
May 27 all-day
 The upper echelon of popular cartoonists includes the likes of Rube Goldberg, Charles Schultz (“Peanuts”), Gary Trudeau (“Doonesbury”), Gary Larson (“The Far Side”), Scott Adams (“Dilbert”) and Matt Groening (“The Simpsons”). Add one more. Plainwell … Continue reading "2009 : Dave Coverly, “Speed Bump Creator”, Named Cartoonist of the Year"
2019 : Black Revolutionary War Veteran Honored
2019 : Black Revolutionary War Veteran Honored
May 27 all-day
 Pvt. James Robinson played an important role in the final battle of the Revolutionary War, but like many African Americans who took up arms against the British, he received little lasting recognition. That’s about to change. … Continue reading "2019 : Black Revolutionary War Veteran Honored"
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1851 : Sojourner Truth Delivers “Ain’t I A Woman” Speech
1851 : Sojourner Truth Delivers “Ain’t I A Woman” Speech
May 28 all-day
 Former slave and Battle Creek resident Sojourner Truth delivered her famous “Ain’t I A Woman” Speech on May 28, 1851. Source : Michigan History, May/June 2014, p.7. For more information and the words of the … Continue reading "1851 : Sojourner Truth Delivers “Ain’t I A Woman” Speech"
1900 : Clarence John Abel, Pride of Sault Sainte Marie and Native American Ice Hockey Star, Born
1900 : Clarence John Abel, Pride of Sault Sainte Marie and Native American Ice Hockey Star, Born
May 28 all-day
 Clarence “Taffy” Abel first played organized amateur hockey with the Michigan Soo Nationals in 1918, in the U.S. Amateur Hockey Association, the first organized league in the United States. Abel competed for that team, also … Continue reading "1900 : Clarence John Abel, Pride of Sault Sainte Marie and Native American Ice Hockey Star, Born"
1912 : Senator William Alden Smith of Michigan Releases First Report on Sinking of Titantic
1912 : Senator William Alden Smith of Michigan Releases First Report on Sinking of Titantic
May 28 all-day
 When the luxury liner Titanic sank in the North Atlantic on April 15, 1912, with more than 1,500 lives lost, the world was stunned! How could such a disaster happen in the modern era of … Continue reading "1912 : Senator William Alden Smith of Michigan Releases First Report on Sinking of Titantic"
1913: Michigan Historical Commission Meets for First Time
1913: Michigan Historical Commission Meets for First Time
May 28 all-day
On May 28, 1913, the Michigan Historical Commission met for the first time. The Michigan Historical Commission, which succeeded the Michigan Pioneer and Historical Society, was organized in Lansing. Its members, who were appointed by … Continue reading "1913: Michigan Historical Commission Meets for First Time"
1957 : Future MSU Spartan and Detroit Tiger Kirk Gibson Born
1957 : Future MSU Spartan and Detroit Tiger Kirk Gibson Born
May 28 all-day
 Gibson was born in Pontiac, Michigan on May 28, 1957, grew up in Waterford, Michigan (attending Waterford Kettering High School), and attended Michigan State University where he was an All-American wide receiver in football. Gibson’s … Continue reading "1957 : Future MSU Spartan and Detroit Tiger Kirk Gibson Born"
2023 : Black Civil War Solder Receives Headstone
2023 : Black Civil War Solder Receives Headstone
May 28 all-day
 A photo of Civil War veteran Sgt. Hiram White of the 25th U.S. Colored Infantry Regiment of the U.S. Army taken by his commanding officer after White and 16 other soldiers helped nurse their gravely … Continue reading "2023 : Black Civil War Solder Receives Headstone"
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1848 : Lewis Cass Becomes Democratic Party’s Presidential Candidate
1848 : Lewis Cass Becomes Democratic Party’s Presidential Candidate
May 29 all-day
 On this day, Lewis Cass won the Democratic Party’s endorsement for President, but he would eventually lose the election due to a split vote among the Democrats. Martin Van Buren (who ran under the banner … Continue reading "1848 : Lewis Cass Becomes Democratic Party’s Presidential Candidate"
1848 : Michigander or Michiganian?
1848 : Michigander or Michiganian?
May 29 all-day
Abraham Lincoln left Michigan one lasting legacy that remains the subject of some debate. It concerns the correct term for a Michigan resident. Gubernatorial candidates Virg Bernero and Rick Snyder have both expressed a preference … Continue reading "1848 : Michigander or Michiganian?"
1948 : Lansing Drive-In Opens, Lansing’s First Drive-In
1948 : Lansing Drive-In Opens, Lansing’s First Drive-In
May 29 all-day
The Lansing Drive-in made its debut on Saturday, May 29, 1948 at 5509 S. Cedar St., a mile south of the city. Tickets cost 60 cents for adults, and children under 12 were admitted free. … Continue reading "1948 : Lansing Drive-In Opens, Lansing’s First Drive-In"
1959 : Cattle Prohibited from Detroit Parks and Public Places
1959 : Cattle Prohibited from Detroit Parks and Public Places
May 29 all-day
Ordinance adopted prohibiting cattle running at large in parks and public places in Detroit May 29th 1959 Source : Detroit Historical Society home page
2017 : Brienne Minor Wins NCAA Division I Tennis Singles Title
2017 : Brienne Minor Wins NCAA Division I Tennis Singles Title
May 29 all-day
 University of Michigan athlete Brienne Minor made history as the first African American woman to ever win the NCAA Division I tennis singles title in 2017. The last African American to win a singles title … Continue reading "2017 : Brienne Minor Wins NCAA Division I Tennis Singles Title"
2019 : In Honor of Memorial Day
2019 : In Honor of Memorial Day
May 29 all-day
Jeff Daniel’s version of Michigan, My Michigan via YouTube, very appropriate for Memorial Day. A tribute to the Michigan men who fought and died during the American Civil War. In 1862 a young Detroit … Continue reading "2019 : In Honor of Memorial Day"
2023 : Memorial Day Celebrated
2023 : Memorial Day Celebrated
May 29 all-day
 Three years after the Civil War ended, on May 5, 1868, the head of an organization of Union veterans — the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) — established Decoration Day as a time for … Continue reading "2023 : Memorial Day Celebrated"
President John Fitzgerald Kennedy Day
President John Fitzgerald Kennedy Day
May 29 all-day
Sec. 1. May 29 of each year shall be known as “John Fitzgerald Kennedy Day”. MCL 435.181
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1877 : Will Carleton Celebrates Decoration Day by Delivering Poem at Arlington National Cemetary
1877 : Will Carleton Celebrates Decoration Day by Delivering Poem at Arlington National Cemetary
May 30 all-day
Today, we call it Memorial Day. However, in the days immediately following the Civil War, the annual May remembrance of the soldiers who died saving the Union and ending slavery, was known as Decoration Day. … Continue reading "1877 : Will Carleton Celebrates Decoration Day by Delivering Poem at Arlington National Cemetary"
1879 : University of Michigan Plays First Football Game
1879 : University of Michigan Plays First Football Game
May 30 all-day
On May 30, 1879, Michigan played its first intercollegiate football game against Racine College at White Stocking Park in Chicago. The Chicago Tribune called it “the first rugby-football game to be played west of the … Continue reading "1879 : University of Michigan Plays First Football Game"
1880: First Trains Arrived at Michigan Central R.R. Depot
1880: First Trains Arrived at Michigan Central R.R. Depot
May 30 all-day
On tMay 30th 1880: First trains arrived at Michigan Central R.R. depot on Third Street Source : Detroit History Society home page
1912 : Airplane Over Flint Fair Grounds
1912 : Airplane Over Flint Fair Grounds
May 30 all-day
 Biplane flying over fields. Mat embossed. Handwritten on mat back: “Walter Brookins in his monoplane [sic] over fair grounds, Flint, Mich. Taken by Miss Lottie Sweers, May 30th 1912.” From the Detroit Public Library Burton … Continue reading "1912 : Airplane Over Flint Fair Grounds"
1912 : City of Detroit III Begins Luxury Trips to Buffalo
1912 : City of Detroit III Begins Luxury Trips to Buffalo
May 30 all-day
 More than 6,000 people turned out to see the City of Detroit III launched at the Wyandotte, Mich., yard of the Detroit Shipbuilding Company on Oct. 7, 1911. Among the dignitaries on hand were Kirby, … Continue reading "1912 : City of Detroit III Begins Luxury Trips to Buffalo"
1926 : Gordon Guyer, Head of MSU Extension and MSU President, Born
1926 : Gordon Guyer, Head of MSU Extension and MSU President, Born
May 30 all-day
Gordon Guyer, MSU’s 18th president, and a former director of MSU Extension, died on March 30, 2016 at age 89. He was born in Kalamazoo May 30, 1926. Guyer served as the director of MSU … Continue reading "1926 : Gordon Guyer, Head of MSU Extension and MSU President, Born"
1928 : Chrysler Buys Dodge Brothers
1928 : Chrysler Buys Dodge Brothers
May 30 all-day
 May 30, 1928, Chrysler Corporation purchased the Dodge Brothers auto company in Detroit and became the third largest automobile manufacturer behind General Motors and Ford. Source: Mich-Again’s Day.
1930 : Polar Bear Monument Dedicated at White Chapel Memorial Park Cemetary in Troy
1930 : Polar Bear Monument Dedicated at White Chapel Memorial Park Cemetary in Troy
May 30 all-day
 Detroit’s Own” Polar Bears Memorial,White Chapel Cemetery, Troy, Michigan. This work, by sculptor Leon Hermant, was dedicated on May 30, 1930. On May 30, 1930, in an impressive ceremony attended by top military personnel and … Continue reading "1930 : Polar Bear Monument Dedicated at White Chapel Memorial Park Cemetary in Troy"
1944 : German Prisoners at Camp Owosso
1944 : German Prisoners at Camp Owosso
May 30 all-day
 Soldiers line up at a makeshift prisoner-of-war camp at the Owosso Speedway race track during World War II [National Archives]. On May 30, 1944, the U.S. government brought 200 German prisoners to Camp Owosso and … Continue reading "1944 : German Prisoners at Camp Owosso"
1970 : Willie Horton Saves Al Kaline’s Life at Milwaukee’s County Stadium
1970 : Willie Horton Saves Al Kaline’s Life at Milwaukee’s County Stadium
May 30 all-day
In the history of major league baseball no player has died on the field during a game, but 45 years ago, Tiger legend Al Kaline nearly earned that distinction but for the heroics of teammate … Continue reading "1970 : Willie Horton Saves Al Kaline’s Life at Milwaukee’s County Stadium"
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1822 : First Stagecoach Line Established Out of Detroit
1822 : First Stagecoach Line Established Out of Detroit
May 31 all-day
The Detroit Gazette printed this announcement on May 31, 1822 regarding the very first stagecoach run outside of the city and immediate area: “Judge Clemens … has recently established a stage to leave this City … Continue reading "1822 : First Stagecoach Line Established Out of Detroit"
1855 : Soo Canal Completed
1855 : Soo Canal Completed
May 31 all-day
 On May 31, 1855, the Soo Canal between Lake Huron and Lake Superior was completed after two years of construction. It was considered one of the greatest engineering feats of the era, having cost just … Continue reading "1855 : Soo Canal Completed"
1884 : Kellogg Applies for a Flaked Cereal Patent
1884 : Kellogg Applies for a Flaked Cereal Patent
May 31 all-day
On May 31, 1884, Dr. John Harvey Kellogg applied for a patent for “flaked cereal”. Kellogg was a health-food fanatic, and was trying to improve the diet of patients at his hospital. His search for … Continue reading "1884 : Kellogg Applies for a Flaked Cereal Patent"
1907 : Myrtle Craig, First African American Graduate at MAC
1907 : Myrtle Craig, First African American Graduate at MAC
May 31 all-day
 Myrtle Craig arrived at MAC after graduating from a small school in Missouri. Craig was not only a woman enrolling at MAC, but was the first African American student to attend the university. She faced … Continue reading "1907 : Myrtle Craig, First African American Graduate at MAC"
1907 : President Theodore Roosevelt Visits Lansing
1907 : President Theodore Roosevelt Visits Lansing
May 31 all-day
 On May 31, 1907, Roosevelt arrived at the Lake Shore Depot on East Michigan Avenue, in Lansing. Governor Fred M. Warner, Lansing mayor Hugh Lyons, and M.A.C. president Snyder (who had originally invited the President … Continue reading "1907 : President Theodore Roosevelt Visits Lansing"
1927 : Detroit Tiger Johnny Neun Makes Unassisted Triple Play
1927 : Detroit Tiger Johnny Neun Makes Unassisted Triple Play
May 31 all-day
 The highlight of Johnny Neun’s six-year career was his rare unassisted triple play for the Detroit Tigers in 1927. It is amazing how one moment can keep a player in baseball history forever, no matter … Continue reading "1927 : Detroit Tiger Johnny Neun Makes Unassisted Triple Play"
1964 : Historical Marker Dedicated to Ezekiel Solomon, Michigan’s First Jewish Resident
1964 : Historical Marker Dedicated to Ezekiel Solomon, Michigan’s First Jewish Resident
May 31 all-day
 Two hundred years ago, Fort Michilimackinac was a remote British outpost in the New World where traders like Ezekiel Solomon plied their trade, bartering glass beads, blankets and other goods with the Indians and French … Continue reading "1964 : Historical Marker Dedicated to Ezekiel Solomon, Michigan’s First Jewish Resident"
1975 : Nation’s First Woman Recruiting Station Commander
1975 : Nation’s First Woman Recruiting Station Commander
May 31 all-day
On May 31, 1975, Mattie V. Parker assumed command of the Armed Forces Examining and Entrance Station at Detroit, the second largest AEES in the country at the time, and in the process became the … Continue reading "1975 : Nation’s First Woman Recruiting Station Commander"
1985 : Stroh’s Plant Closes in Detroit
1985 : Stroh’s Plant Closes in Detroit
May 31 all-day
Beer was brewed in Detroit as early as 1836. By the eve of the Civil War there were around 400 breweries in Michigan’s largest city. One of these was operated by Bernhard Stroh, who began … Continue reading "1985 : Stroh’s Plant Closes in Detroit"
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