Night Flight 760 With Jay Roberts – When WJR Was The Great Voice Of The Great Lakes
In the waning days of the fairness doctrine, and before the cheaply produced and political “talk radio” took over the AM band, Night Flight 760 dominated the night.
Category: History
We examine stories and events that shaped the history of the Upper Thumb and Michigan. While we focus on the Thumb region, other Great Lakes historical events are covered. Major events include the lumbering era and the 1871 and 1881 great fires. We cover major pioneers and personalities that shaped the region. To hear many of our best stories, visit and subscribe to our Podcast, “The End of the Road in Michigan.”
Our best Michigan history posts are found below.
1881 Great Michigan Thumb Fire Is the Setting for Author’s Debut Novel
Debut novelist Carol Nickles announces Thumb Fire Desire’s international release, a fictional historical romance set in Parisville, the first Polish-American settlement in Michigan. The story begins in the Spring of 1881, and draws the reader through the hot, dry summer, climaxing during the Great Thumb Fire of 1881. The event is the state’s most significant natural disaster but ends with a note of optimism in the final month of the year.
The Village at Grand Traverse Commons – Michigan’s Only Remaining Kirkbride
The Village at Grand Traverse Commons, once known as the Northern Michigan Asylum, is the perfect getaway after a long winter. One of the last “Kirkbride” buildings in the world.
These 12 Vintage Postcards Of Michigan Small Towns Tell Amazing Stories
Postcards are a window into the past. In the early 1900s, sending a postcard was like sharing a Facebook post. It seemed like everyone was doing it. We found some great examples of vintage postcards of Michigan small towns worth a quick peek.
2 Short Stories Of Anishinaabeg History In Saginaw Valley
This is a story by Ephraim Williams of the Anishinaabeg history (aka Ojibwa) of hunting and gathering in the land of the Sauks. The Ojibwa believed that misfortune was due to the bad spirits that the Sauks had left behind.
The Mystery of the 2 Holes at Rush Lake In Huron County
Mysterious holes are found by kids on the north side of Rush Lake State Game Area. Years later they are determined to be from the 1800s quarry operations.
WPA Great Depression Art – 8 of 47 Post Office Murals & Reliefs We Found in Michigan
The mural in Caro’s Post Office; Mail on the Farm was done in 1941 by Michigan artist David Fredenthal. Its one of five worked commissioned by the Department of the Treasury during the Great Depression.
The March 1947 Snowstorm that Paralyzed Michigan’s Thumb
Minden City Herald Editor Nathan Marks published a great article about the 1947 snowstorm that absolutely walloped Michigan’s Upper Thumb. It’s an interesting bit of history that many don’t know about.