Finding Fun in Michigan
This tag hints at articles and stories about Michigan history and the Michigan Thumb region. Michigan was part of the Northwest territory, and starting in 1815, the fur trade and influx of settlers and land speculators began.
By the time Michigan became a state in 1838, much of the southern third was already cris-crossed with improved Indian trails and initial roads. In a few short years, the lumbering era would begin, followed by the agriculture growth resulting from the cleared land.
In the 1920s, there was a flurry of archaeological activity in Michigan to record and catalog Native American villages, garden beds, and burial mounds. As a result, the entire Saginaw Valley has 100s of identified sites. The identification, and looting, of Indian artifacts from burial mounds, was a common occurrence.
Grave robbing was a gruesome yet common crime in the late 1800’s as medical schools sought bodys for study.
We found this set of amazing little tidbits of obscure trivia on what Michigan is known for in the automotive, shipping and transportation area. We are always hunting for others Michigan trivia, so I expect this list to grow well beyond these.
Archives of Michigan is now in possession of a collection of Ora Labora letters written in English and Old German by Emil and Bertha Baur and other family members. They were found in Cincinnati in 1974 and sent to the Historical Society of Michigan in 2018. They are in process of being prepared for availability online
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.
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.
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.
A historical picture and background that shows Caseville Harbor from about 1941. This offers a glimpse of the history of Caseville Harbor. Looking out to Saginaw Bay, the only building that remains today is the Huron Yacht Club.
