Shows / Michigan Minute
Michigan Minute
WKAR’s Jamie Paisley presents intriguing stories for each day in Michigan history. From name changes and iconic cities to arcane laws, Michigan Minute covers a wide variety of fascinatingly true tales from the Great Lake State. Interested in supporting the Michigan Minute?
Episodes
- Michigan Minute
Treaty of Paris and Isle Royale's American Legacy | September 3
Today in 1783, the U.S. Revolutionary War officially ended with the signing of the Treaty of Paris by future president John Adams and Benjamin Franklin, among…
- Michigan Minute
Detroit's First Automobile Fatality and a Milestone for Women Pilots | September 2
On this day in 1902, Detroit recorded its first automobile fatality when businessman George W. Bissell was thrown from his horse-drawn carriage after it was…
- Michigan Minute
Celebrating Lily Tomlin | September 1
Born in Detroit on August 31, 1939, Lily Tomlin began her career in stand-up comedy before earning acclaim in film, television, and theater. Known for her…
- Michigan Minute
Michigan's First Newspaper | August 31
Today in 1809, the first and possibly only issue of "The Michigan Essay or The Impartial Observer" was published by Father Gabriel Richard in Detroit. The…
- Michigan Minute
Ty Cobb's MLB Debut in Detroit | August 30
Today in 1905, Ty Cobb made his MLB debut for the Detroit Tigers at 18 years old. Known for his exceptional batting, Cobb hit .420 in the 1911 season and…
- Michigan Minute
Jazz Musician Bennie Maupin Born in Detroit | August 29
Jazz musician Bennie Maupin, born in Detroit on this day in 1940, famously declined Miles Davis's offer to join his band in 1970, having already committed to…
- Michigan Minute
Michigan Bans Hitchhiking on Freeways | August 28
Michigan passed a law banning hitchhiking and bicycles on the Interstate Highway System, nearly a decade after the system's enactment. Also, on this day in…
- Michigan Minute
Lincoln's Kalamazoo Visit | August 27
Today in 1856, Abraham Lincoln visited Kalamazoo to campaign for John Charles Fremont. His speech, initially lost to history, was rediscovered in 1930 by Tom…
- Michigan Minute
UAW Formation | August 26
Today in 1935, the United Auto Workers (UAW) was officially organized, uniting various autoworker unions under one banner. This led to a series of sit-down…
- Michigan Minute
John Smalley's Last Stand | August 25
Today in 1895, notorious train robber John Smalley was killed in a shootout with deputies near Cadillac, Michigan. Smalley, who had stolen over $1 million and…
- Michigan Minute
Bounty on Rats & Bathtub Boat Adventure | August 24
Today in 1915, Michigan introduced a bounty of 5 cents per rat to combat rodent infestations, a law that remained in place until its repeal in 2000. In 1969…
- Michigan Minute
Keith Moon's Memorable Flint Birthday | August 23
Today in 1967, The Who performed at Flint's Atwood Stadium on drummer Keith Moon’s 21st birthday. Fans sent 200 cakes to the Holiday Inn, leading to a wild…
- Michigan Minute
Iris Kyle's Birthday & Detroit's Electric Trolley Cars | August 22
Today in 1974, professional bodybuilder Iris Kyle was born in Benton Harbor. She is the most successful woman bodybuilder with 10 Ms. Olympia and 7 Ms…
- Michigan Minute
Oldsmobile's Debut & Capri Drive-In Theater Opening | August 21
Today in 1897, Ransom Eli Olds founded Olds Motors Works, which later became Oldsmobile. After a fire destroyed most of the cars, the surviving model became a…
- Michigan Minute
First Commercial Radio & Paul Bunyan Claims | August 20
Today in 1920, Detroit began the first commercial radio broadcasting with the test call sign 8MK, later becoming WWJ. It continues to broadcast today. On the…
- Michigan Minute
Birthdays of Rick Snyder & Colleen Moore | August 19
Today in 1958, former Michigan Governor Rick Snyder was born in Battle Creek. Snyder, a businessman and lawyer, served as governor from 2011 to 2019 and gained…
- Michigan Minute
Presidential Pie and Olympic Gold | August 18
Today in 1926, Traverse City's Wallace Keep sent a 46-pound cherry pie to President Calvin Coolidge, showcasing the region’s famous cherries. On the same date…
- Michigan Minute
Claudia House Morcom's Legacy | August 17
Today in 2014, Claudia House Morcom, the first Black woman to serve as a Wayne County circuit court judge, passed away. Morcom was a pivotal civil rights…
- Michigan Minute
Michigan’s First Black Police Chief & Madonna’s Birthday | August 16
Today in 1965, George Grady became Michigan's first African-American police chief in Dowagiac, serving for 9 years. Today also marks the birthday of Madonna…
- Michigan Minute
Michigan’s First Postage Stamps & Chrysler’s Tank Factory | August 15
Today in 1847, the U.S. Government introduced postage stamps to Michigan, with 5 and 10 cent versions arriving in Detroit. On the same date in 1940, Chrysler…
- Michigan Minute
Magic Johnson’s Birthday and Bay City’s Rock & Roll Honor | August 14
Today in 1959, NBA legend Earvin “Magic” Johnson was born in Lansing, Michigan. In 2014, Bay City honored the song “96 Tears” by Rudy Martinez, aka Question…
- Michigan Minute
James Monroe’s Visit & The Palace’s Grand Opening | August 13
Today in 1817, President James Monroe visited Detroit as part of his tour inspecting US forts post-War of 1812, and also visited Monroe, Michigan, named in his…
- Michigan Minute
Commissioning of the U.S.S. Wolverine & Its Historic Training Role | August 12
Today in 1942, the U.S.S. Wolverine, the Great Lakes’ first aircraft carrier, was commissioned in Buffalo, NY. Originally named the Seeandbee, the ship was…
- Michigan Minute
Detroit's Record Rainfall & First Mechanical Heart Pump | August 11
Today in 2014, Detroit experienced its heaviest one-day rainfall in nearly 90 years, causing flooding, power outages, and two deaths. In 1971, Dr. Adrian…
- Michigan Minute
First European Ship in Michigan & Soviet Propaganda | August 10
Today in 1697, the European ship Le Griffon docked in Michigan, only to sink in Lake Michigan shortly after. In 1950, Soviet radio claimed Michigan football…
- Michigan Minute
Claressa Shields' Olympic Gold and Gillian Anderson's Birthday | August 9
In 2012, Flint native Claressa Shields won gold in the first women's middleweight boxing event at the London Olympics. Today is also Gillian Anderson's…
- Michigan Minute
Fishing Agreement Reached, Shortest American League Game & Jim Blanchard's Birthday | August 8
Today in 2000, after 27 years of litigation, an agreement was made between Michigan, the US Government, and various indigenous tribes regarding fishing…
- Michigan Minute
Grand River Avenue Opens & National Lighthouse Day Celebrated | August 7
Today in 1926, Grand River Avenue, or Historic US-16, opened in Michigan, becoming the first paved road to stretch completely across the state. Connecting…
- Michigan Minute
Detroit Restaurateur Convicted as Nazi Spy | August 6
Today in 1942, Detroit restaurant owner Max Stephan was convicted of treason and sentenced to death for being a Nazi spy. A member of the local German…
- Michigan Minute
Stevie Wonder Signs Historic Contract | August 5
Today in 1975, Stevie Wonder signed a groundbreaking contract with Motown worth $37 million for seven albums over seven years. Initially, Wonder considered…
- Michigan Minute
Michigan’s First Telephone Rings | August 4
Today in 1877, the first telephone in Michigan rang, owned by the Grand Rapids Plaster Company, a friend of Alexander Graham Bell. Bell sent him a pair of the…
- Michigan Minute
The Treaty of Greenville & Bois Blanc Island | August 3
Today in 1795, Chippewa Chief Matchekewis ceded Bois Blanc Island to the U.S. as part of the Treaty of Greenville, calling it "an extra and voluntary gift of…
- Michigan Minute
Michigan's Car Ferry Debut & A Historic Olympic Win | August 2
Today in 1923, the first car ferry service began across the Straits of Mackinac, with the wooden ferry Ariel carrying three cars on its inaugural voyage. The…
- Michigan Minute
Detroit's Historic Bowling Alley & Trailblazing Aviator | August 1
In 1913, John Bauer and Irv Giese opened The Garden Bowl, a 10-lane bowling alley on Woodward Avenue in Detroit. It has become America's oldest continuously…
- Michigan Minute
GM Hits NYSE & Treaty with Ottawa, Chippewa| July 31
On this day in 1911, GM became the first auto stock on the NYSE. And in 1855, a treaty with the Ottawa and Chippewa set land reserves and pensions, led by…
- Michigan Minute
Hoffa Vanishes & Charter Schools Approved| July 30
On this day in 1975, Jimmy Hoffa disappeared, sparking decades of mystery. And in 1997, Michigan's Supreme Court cleared the way for charter schools statewide.
- Michigan Minute
GM Buys Cadillac & Ford’s Failed Start| July 29
On this day in 1909, GM bought Cadillac for $4.5 million. Born from Henry Ford’s failed company, Cadillac soon became a cornerstone of GM’s growing auto empire.
- Michigan Minute
Detroit Riot Ends & Change Begins| July 28
On this day in 1967, the Detroit riot ended after five days of violence, leaving 43 dead. It sparked major political change, paving the way for leaders like…
- Michigan Minute
Morality Laws & Michigan’s First Quake Shakes| July 27
On this day in 1818, Detroit passed a morality law allowing public whippings. In 1934, Michigan issued its first old-age pension checks. And in 1980, an…
- Michigan Minute
Lorna Gray’s Debut & Grand Rapids Log Jam| July 26
On this day in 1917, actress Lorna Gray was born in Grand Rapids. And in 1883, a massive log jam on the Grand River damaged train bridges in the heart of the…
- Michigan Minute
Busing Ruling & Michigan’s First Ombudsman| July 25
On this day in 1974, the Supreme Court sided with Gov. Milliken on Detroit’s busing case, fueling white flight. And in 1966, Michigan named its first state…
- Michigan Minute
Hydropower Launch & Krone’s Racing Firsts| July 24
On this day in 1880, the world’s first hydroelectric plant began in Grand Rapids. And in 1963, trailblazing jockey Julie Krone was born in Benton Harbor…
- Michigan Minute
Detroit Riot Erupts & National Guard Called In| July 23
On this day in 1967, a police raid sparked the Detroit riot—one of the deadliest in U.S. history. Lasting 8 days, it led to 43 deaths, 7,000 arrests, and a…
- Michigan Minute
Detroit’s Recall & Scouts at Crystal Lake| July 22
On this day in 1930, Detroit Mayor Charles Bowles was recalled over corruption and KKK ties. And in 1911, the first Boy Scouts arrived at Camp Owasippe near…
- Michigan Minute
Robin Williams’ Roots & Bloomfield Hills| July 21
On this day in 1951, Robin Williams was born. Before becoming an Oscar-winning actor, he spent his teen years in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, excelling in…
- Michigan Minute
Hunter Orange Law & Helen Thomas’ Legacy| July 20
On this day in 1977, Michigan required hunters to wear fluorescent orange. And in 2013, trailblazing journalist Helen Thomas, a Wayne State alum, passed away…
- Michigan Minute
Triple Play History & Michigan’s Lost Canal| July 19
On this day in 1909, Michigander Neal Ball made MLB’s first unassisted triple play. And in 1838, a massive canal project began—only to be abandoned years later.
- Michigan Minute
Detroit’s Bankruptcy & Harbor Beach Light| July 18
On this day in 1885, Harbor Beach Lighthouse began service. In 2013, Detroit filed for bankruptcy. And in 1980, actress Kristen Bell was born in Huntington…
- Michigan Minute
Fred Trost’s Legacy & Michigan Outdoors| July 17
On this day in 2007, Michigan lost beloved outdoorsman Fred Trost, host of “Michigan Outdoors” and later “Practical Sportsman,” staples of public TV for…
- Michigan Minute
Mackinac’s Fall & War of 1812 Begins| July 16
On this day in 1812, British forces captured Fort Mackinac in the first War of 1812 battle on U.S. soil—triggering a swift British takeover of Michigan’s forts.
- Michigan Minute
Women’s Rights & World’s Tallest Man| July 15
On this day in 1929 and 1975, Michigan AG rulings advanced women’s rights. And in 1940, the world’s tallest man, Robert Wadlow, died in Manistee at age 22.