Springtime fun in Frankenmuth
Once upon a time, Frankenmuth was a relatively ordinary little hamlet in Saginaw County that had been founded by German settlers. That is, until local businessman William “Tiny” Zehnder had an idea. He wanted to add atmosphere to what was then Fischer’s Hotel, by adding Bavarian Architecture. The idea took hold in the late 1950s, and before long the town became one of the state’s most
Kellogg family feud
I would be willing to bet that almost everyone has heard of Kellogg's, and also that many know it all began in Battle Creek, Michigan. As for the story of how this business came to be, not so much so. It is a story of bullying, jealousy, and sibling rivalry between the Kellogg brothers, John and Will. The Early Days John Harvey Kellogg was born on
Detroit becomes the Arsenal of Democracy
From the Great Lakes State, Wolverine State, and The Mitten to Motor City and Motown, the state of Michigan and the city of Detroit have a plethora of nicknames. However, there is one that I had never heard of before. During World War II, Detroit was called the Arsenal of Democracy. Once you really think about the name, it makes perfect sense. Michigan sent many brave
Ulysses S. Grant residing in Michigan
Living here we all know that Michigan winters can be brutal. Even in recent history, we had the polar vortex of 2019. As I sit here writing, we are expecting a generational storm this Christmas. As a history teacher, I know that former president Ulysses S. Grant lived in Michigan for three years and had to deal with these snowy winters. He disliked them so much
Muskegon’s grandfather of snowboarding
If you grew up in a place where snow falls regularly during the winter months, you can probably remember standing at the top of a snow-covered hill of some sort and sliding down the incline. It may have been a big mountain, a small hill, or even a mound of snow made from the snowplow. You may have been on a sled, skis, a shovel, or
The remarkable life of Matilda Dodge Wilson
A host of Michigan women have made their mark in the world, and I have written articles on several of them. This month I have found yet another remarkable woman from Michigan. Matilda Dodge Wilson was one of the world’s wealthiest women of the time, but she was also one who embodied hard work and led by example, despite much adversity. One of her quotes to