Michigan: Who knew?
Have fun reading and reminiscing.
THIS IS A TOTALLY COOL READ
Michigan & Detroit — DID YOU KNOW THIS?
From 1910 to 1920, Hamtramck, Michigan grew from 3,589 to 45,615 residents, leading the nation in growth for that period.
During the lumber boom era, the row of saloons that lined Water Street in Bay City was known as 'Hell's Half Mile.'
In 1936, Escanaba, Michigan harvested and processed 100,000 sq. ft. of birds eye maple to be used in the English Luxury Liner, the Queen Mary.
When the territory of Michigan was created on Jan 11, 1805, Detroit was chosen as its capital.
Bagley's Corner was the original name of Bloomfield Hills.
The world's only marble lighthouse is located on Belle Isle. (Livingston Lighthouse).
Hog's Hollow was the original name of Utica, Michigan.
There are over 11,500 lakes in Michigan.
The home offices of Life Savers Candy, Beech-Nut Gum, and Squirt soft drinks are in Holland, Michigan.
In 1870, Detroit became the nation's first telephone customers to have phone numbers assigned to them.
Charles A. Lindbergh was born in Detroit on Feb 4, 1902.
The Stars and Stripes first flew over Michigan soil on July 11, 1796.
In Sept. 1908, William C. Durant organized several independent automobile plants into what was to become General Motors.
Michigan began charging an annual license fee of 50 cents in 1915 for Autos.
Michigan's first police woman began walking the beat in Detroit in 1893.
In 1942, the Davidson Freeway in Detroit was completed and became the world's first urban freeway.
The first soft drink, (Vernor's Ginger Ale) was introduced by a Detroit Pharmacist, James A. Vernor, in 1866.
Note: There were several 'elixirs' on the market at that time, including what would later be called Coca Cola. These contained alcohol, whereas Vernor's didn't. Thus the name 'soft' drink.
The intersection of Woodward Avenue and Grand Avenue in Detroit proudly displayed the world's first traffic light.
In 1915, leaders of 19 countries and 26 States came to check it out in the first six months.
In 1688, Father Jacques Marquette founded the first permanent settlement in what would later become Michigan.
The world's first shopping mall (Northland Mall), opened in the Detroit suburb of Southfield in 1954. Newspapers from overseas as well as this country wrote that it would never catch on. Duh?
The world's first painted highway center lines were featured in Trenton, Michigan in 1911. They were used in other towns and that was how Center Line, Michigan got its name.
Michigan ranks Number 1 nationally in the production of dog sleds.
The nation's largest indoor/outdoor museum complex is Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village.
Opened in 1904, the nation's oldest freshwater aquarium (was) the Belle Isle Aquarium. (AND IS AGAIN in 2012!)
The onion is Michigan's largest fresh-market vegetable crop.
YOU'RE AN OLD DETROITER (OR JUST OLD) IF:
You took a 'moonlight cruise' to Bob-Lo with Captain Bob-Lo or went to Edgewater Amusement Park.
You shopped at Hughes and Hatcher, B. Siegel, Peck and Peck, Himelhochs, Robert Hall, Crowley's, Shoppers Fair, EJ Korvettes or Federals and of course Demery's.
You rode the elevator at J. L. Hudson's, which was 'run' by an elevator operator. Fabulous Toy Department on the 12th floor.
You remember a Winkleman's, Sanders, and Federal store in your neighborhood.
You remember the 'Big Snow', Buffalo Bob, Howdy Doody, Clarabelle, Phineas T. Bluster, Princess Summer-Fall-Winter-Spring.
You remember Twin Pines Dairy delivered milk and juice to the chute on the side of your house, and Milky the Clown performed magic with the magic words 'Twin Pines.'
You remember the Good Humor man in a white uniform, ringing the bells as he drove down your street selling ice cream.
You remember Olympia Stadium.
You remember when Vernors was made on Woodward Ave., and a bearded troll was on the bottle.
Your Mom got groceries at Great Scott, Food Fair, Wrigley's or Chatham, C. F. Smith was even earlier.
Your Mom saved Holden Red Stamps, S & H Green stamps, or Gold Bell Gift stamps, and you licked them into those little books.
Kresge's and Woolworth's were 'Dime Stores.'
You had an uncle in the furniture business (Joshua Door).
You know who Bill Kennedy is.
You saw the Detroit Lions play football in Tiger Stadium.
You remember Black Bart and the Faygo song. Or how about 'Which way did he go? He went for Faygo, old fashion root beer.'
You watched Rita Bell's prize movies in the morning.
You remember Jack LeGoff, Van Patrick, and Wolf-Man Jack.
You remember Milky the Clown, Soupy Sales, Johnny Ginger, Poopdeck Paul, Captain Jolly, Sagebrush Shorty and maybe even Sergeant Satko Salute.
You visited the Wonder Bread Bakery and got to take home a mini loaf of bread.
Your address had a two-digit 'zone' before there were zip codes. Detroit 19, Michigan.
You remember 'Get on the right track at 9 mile and Mack, to get the best deal in town. Roy O'Brien, it's the best deal around.'
You remember a laundry chute, a milk chute, and a coal chute.
You remember going to Detroit Edison with your Mom to exchange burned out light bulbs for new ones.