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Secret Historical Michigan

admin — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 00:00:00 +0000

People think when you live in Michigan you’re only thinking about whether or not you set your HOME SECURITY and how much snow tires cost this year. They’re wrong! There’s a lot of history here and it’s one of Michigan’s best kept secretshere are a few of our favorite spots:
Detroit: Yes, Detroit. Not exactly known as a sightseeing mecca, Motor City has more history than many other cities in the country and some of the most fascinating sights here revolve around dilapidated buildings of old. You’ll love this place.
Lake Michigan: Did you know there are a plethora of sunken ships at the bottom of Lake Michigan? Explore the underwater worlds via satellite and hit up some of the state’s best marine museums for a look back at what’s down there. Fascinating stuff.
Albion: Who would have thought this picturesque college town would make for a great day trip? Albion is still home to a revered university and some of the best covered bridges in Michigan. It’s definitely worth a trip but wait until Spring for the best flora.

Michigan and the Civil War: The Untold Story

admin — Sun, 31 Jul 2011 00:00:00 +0000

People familiar with the US Civil War have heard of the Iron Brigade. This famous infantry unit was comprised of volunteers from the Mid-West, including many soldiers from Michigan. Another brigade, this one cavalry, was also comprised of units from Michigan. This formation, the Custer Brigade, fought its first major engagement at the pivotal Battle of Gettysburg in June/July 1863.

Shortly after Custer assumed command, Confederate cavalry under Jeb Stuart were raiding the Union rear area in the vicinity of Hanover, Pa. On June 30, 1863, Custer’s men formed a skirmish line on the south side of the town and fought off the Confederates.Didn’t catch that? This explains it. On June 2, at the Battle of Hunterstown, Wolverine Norville Churchill rescued Custer who was trapped beneath his slain horse. On July 3d, at the Battle of Gettysburg, the Brigade was stationed east of the city. During the ensuing battle, Custer led the 1st, 5th, 6th and 7th Michigan Calvary Regiments in several counterattacks. Troopers from the Michigan Brigade’s four regiments fought as dismounted skirmishers and as mounted cavalry.

It was during one of these cavalry engagements that the troopers from Michigan responded heroically to Custer’s call of “Come on you, Wolverines”, their new battle cry.

The Battle for Detroit and the War of 1812

admin — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 00:00:00 +0000

The War of 1812, stretching across three theaters of war and lasting almost three years, was fought primarily between the forces of the British Empire and the United States of America. The reasons for the war were numerous, including an American desire to spread into the Northwest Territory, but were rooted in British’s continued support of the American Indian tribes that were resisting American expansion. The Indian general, Tecumseh, played a pivotal role in the war, especially in the Detroit frontier.

Tecumseh’s confederacy was rallied to join the British forces that were invading from Canada, joining under the British Major-General Sir Isaac Brock. Detroit’s surrender was forced in August 1812 due to siege. The number that actually held the siege were few, but Tecumseh ran his forces around in a parade in the nearby woods to make the numbers appear drastically larger than they really were. Brigadier General William Hull, fort commander at the time, was fearing a massacre should he not surrender immediately.

This victory was basically undone a little over a year later, after the victory at Lake Erie. British supply lines were cut off by Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry’s forces, setting the field for Fort Detroit’s recapture. The British, not wanting to just leave without any collateral damage whatsoever, burned all of the buildings before retreating back into Upper Canada.

American and Native American Rivalries: The Treaty of Saginaw

admin — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 00:00:00 +0000

The Treaty of Saginaw was originally made almost 200 years ago, on September 24, 1819. The document was created between Chief John Okemos and General Lewis Cass; Chief Wasso; the Ottawa, Potawatomi, and Ojibwe tribes; and other Native American tribes that resided within the Great Lakes region. The document wasn’t proclaimed by James Monroe, the President of the United States at the time, until March 25, 1820. The Treaty of Saginaw was then placed in law as 7 Stat. 203

Once this document was signed, over six million acres of land was ceded by the Native Americans. The land was in the central portion of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula, described within the treaty as the following:

“Beginning at a point in the present Indian boundary line, which runs due north from the mouth of the great Auglaize river, six miles south of the place where the base line, so called, intersects the same; thence, west, sixty miles; thence, in a direct line, to the head of the Thunder Bay River; thence, down the same, following the courses thereof, to the mouth; thence, northeast, to the boundary line between the United States and the British Province of the Upper Canada; thence, with the same, to the line established by the treat of Detroit, in the year one thousand eight hundred and seven; thence, with the said line, to the place of beginning.”

The document did provide some compensation though; using the land that was signed over, reserves were placed for the Chippewa Indians. About 21,760 acres were separated and set aside solely for use by the Native Americans.

Michigan and the Great Depression: Losses and Gains

admin — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 00:00:00 +0000

The Great Depression was a difficult time in Michigan as it was most everywhere in the world. Much was lost to the faltering economy. The automotive industry was obviously hit hard and unions reacted to employers’ attempts to pay as little as possible for production. But many things were also gained during this time, even if some of those gains had value more abstract than the money and property lost.

With so many unemployed around the country, auto makers tried to increase efficiency at auto plants so that they could make inexpensive cars that an increasingly poorer populace could buy. This brought about speedy assembly lines that were dangerous to workers and a general deterioration of working conditions for laborers. Tensions between Michigan workers and auto makers came to a head when the United Automobile Workers of America (UAW) began a sit-down strike on December 30th, 1936.

But much was also gained during this time of trouble. Reflecting on the economic struggles led many to create great works of art, such as Paul Honore’s mural, “Michigan’s Natural Resources,” which was displayed at the World Fair in Chicago in 1933. The sense of unity discovered between people who struggled to survive, like union workers and laboring families, was also something born from the Great Depression.