General George Meade – US Army Engineer, Great Lakes Surveyor and Gettysburg Commander
In the mid 1800’s much of Michigan was wilderness. In 1857, Captain George Meade took over the Lakes Survey mission of the Great Lakes.
Author: Michael Hardy
Michael is the owner of Thumbwind Publications LLC. It started in 2009 covering Michigan and the Upper Thumb. Today, his Michigan Moments series has established a loyal base of 110,000 followers.
History of Michigan Chicory Production – From Ditch Weed to Coffee’s Breakfast Sidekick (1860-1940)
Michigan once supplied nearly all of America’s chicory. This report traces how farms, factories, and railroads built a quiet but profitable coffee industry across the state.
A Midcentury Lunch Staple – The Forgotten 1950s Sandwich Spread Recipe That Fed a Generation
This 1950s sandwich spread turned leftover ham and bologna into an affordable, filling lunch. Learn its history, classic pairings, and why it still works today.
Short History of The Walker Tavern at Cambridge Junction Michigan – House at the Crossroads – (1832-1940)
The Walker Tavern at Cambridge Junction was built in 1832 along the Old Chicago Road. Its story reveals how Michigan travel evolved—from Indigenous trails to stagecoaches, highways, and roadside tourism.
Michigan’s Great Sauk Trail – A 400 Mile Native American Legacy
The Great Sauk Trail is a major Native American route that ran between Detroit, Chicago and terminated at Rock Island on the Mississippi river. Originally created by migrating bison, the trail was only about a foot wide but also a foot deep as eons of travelers walked along it single file. It was used over a thousand years.
Michigan Grave Robbers Brazenly Operated During the 1800s
Grave robbing was a gruesome yet common crime in the late 1800’s as medical schools sought bodys for study.
The Secret History of Tower Beach Amusement Park, Sylvan Lake (1890–1940)
Before cottages and cars, Tower Beach Sylvan Lake Michigan thrived as a trolley-fed amusement park. Families packed picnic baskets, rode the interurban, and spent risky, unforgettable summer days by the water.
Polly Ann Railroad – Rail Life Along Michigan’s Pontiac-to-Caseville Line (1889-1984)
Polly Ann Railroad history still runs under your feet. Follow the 100-mile route from Pontiac to Caseville, meet the depot towns, and see how freight and mail shaped daily life.