News History & Fun in Michigan
Defunct Michigan automakers once filled Detroit, Lansing and Kalamazoo with factories, jobs and big promises. This feature profiles Packard, Hudson, AMC, REO, Hupmobile, Detroit Electric and Checker, and explains how each tried to stand against the Big Three before finally closing the doors.
Chesaning grew along the Shiawassee with mills, farms, rail service, and Main Street parades. See how a Chippewa place-name and early industry shaped a Michigan river town between 1900 and 1930.
Lakeville Michigan history unfolds through rare photos. See how this Oakland County village shifted from mills to summer cottages, Echo Grove Camp, and lakeside tourism.
In the early 1900s, Birch Run, Michigan, transformed from a quiet rail stop into a bustling small town. The Pere Marquette line, interurban railway, and Main Street merchants powered its rise.
Explore the history of Emmett, Michigan — a railroad village born in the 1850s and shaped by faith, farming, and the Grand Trunk Railway. Discover how this small town grew into a symbol of rural Michigan life.
The Wallace Roller Mill was built in 1887 on the shore of Lake Huron. The mill was the first in the area to diversify from grindstone quarry and milling operations.
The stone structure stands today providing four vacation condos.
The Grindstone City Quarry powered a small Michigan town that shipped grindstones across the world. This straight-ahead story explains how it grew, why demand collapsed, and what visitors can still see on Lake Huron. A sharp look at a boom and a bust.
The History of Memphis Michigan follows a small Belle River town that powered early mills, welcomed the railroad, and built “The Thing,” a steam car that rolled before Ford’s Model T. Discover how innovation and industry shaped this Michigan community.
When Henry Ford’s gas electric train rolled into Tecumseh in 1926, it wasn’t just another railcar—it was Ford’s bold move to reinvent railroad travel. This short-lived yet visionary project connected his automotive empire to Michigan’s rail lines in revolutionary fashion.
From sweeping floors to avoiding ice cream with men, the Teacher Rules 1900 demanded more virtue than common sense. Our Michigan Moments post pokes fun at the bizarre expectations placed on early educators in Michigan and across America.
