Tales of Southwest Michigan's Past

In this episode I explore the history of Borgess Hospital which was and idea sparked by Reverend Frank O'Brien in 1888, who successfully drove the funding to make the first hospital in the city possible. Named after Bisphop Caspar Henry Borgess from Detroit who donated the first funds to the project, the institution has undergone a lot of developments and challenges over its 100+ year history.

Dave Eddy, known in Battle Creek as the 'Morning Mayor' of WBCK Radio joins me to talk about holiday memories from his 40+ years with the morning program. Enjoy stories of early remote broadcasts, drunk Santa, the blizzard of 1978, Red Skelton. Richard Simmons and other wonderful stories.

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In this episode I explore the story of the Schooner Rouse Simmons, also known as 'The Christmas Tree Ship' that sank in 1912 in Lake Michigan.

In this episode I explore the story of the sidewheel steamer Alpena which was lost in a storm known as 'The Big Blow' in October 1880.

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In 1940, Veterans Day was known as Armistice Day. On that holiday, a surprise winter storm struck the midwest, impacting northern states including Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin and Michigan. The effects of this storm and its aftermath changed climatologists prediction methods for generations to follow. It was one of the most memorable storms in US history.

In this episode, I explore the history of Mary Clark, the first woman physician of Calhoun County who practiced for 50+ years in Battle Creek, and also in Albion, Kalamazoo and other places in the U.S.

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In this episode, I explore the early history of education in Michigan and Calhoun County. I particularly explore the influence of Rev. John Pierce and Isaac Crary, and many others.

In this episode, I explore the history of the mint industry in Southwest Michigan. I expecially discuss the A.M. Todd Company in Kalamazoo, which at one time was the largest producer of mint and mint oils in the world.

In this espisode, I explore some of the known history of the mysterious mound builder civilization that existed in Southwest Michigan going back 5000 years.

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In this episode, I explore the Willard A. Norton Directory from 1899 for the cities of Dowagiac, Cassopolis and surrounding areas. It is a look at the long forgotten businesses of over 120 years ago, and what was important in thart era, with a comparison to today.

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Author TR Shaw joins me for an interview to discuss the upcoming 100th Anniversary of the Kellogg Airport which is coming up in 2024. He has been the chair of the planning committee on the year long celebration, and also had been giving talks on the history of the airport. We talk about the 100 year history, and other stories.

In this episode I explore some early stories of the pioneer logging days of Cadillac, Michigan. The material for this episode comes from a book written in 1892 entitled: 'Cadillac, its past, present and future: A Symposium.' It can be read in full in the Michigan County Histories collection on the U of M website.

In this episode, I explore how Halloween was celebrated over 100 years ago by sharing stories from Benton Harbor, Marshall, Battle Creek, South Haven, Hillsdale, Kalamazoo, St. Joseph and other cities in Southwest Michigan.

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In this episode I explore the story of the J. Oswald Boyd which left on its fatal voyage in 1936 from the Theisen-Clemons Terminal in St. Joseph, Michigan and take six years to arrive at its destination in Detroit. Over the years it became known as the Death Ship.

In this episode I share a colleciton of humorous tales from a historical record of Daniel Mevis written in 1911, reflecting on the 1840's and 1850's in his boyhood pioneer days in Lansing, Michigan.

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In this episode I explore some of the early history of cemeteries around Calhoun County and when they were founded. I also give some stories of early cemeteries being relocated, and the use of cadaver dogs in cemetery research.

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In this episode, Author Amberrose Hammond joins me to talk about some Michigan monster and ghost stories. Her book 'Ghosts and Legends of Michigan's West Coast' contains some chilling stories from Southwest Michigan.

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In this episode I explore the account of a man named Daniel Mevis where is describes his early boyhood when his parents settled the family in Lansing Michigan in the 1840's. He describes encounters with animals, insects, hunting and encounters with the Okemos tribe among other stories.

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In this episode I explore the manufacturing industry of Battle Creek from an article published in January 1st, 1916 looking back at the prior year. The article explores the growth of the city with new buildings, and the variety of manufacturing occuring, during a time when European imports to the USA were in decline because the war.

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In this episode, Judy Gail Krasnow joins me to talk about her book 'Jacktown: History & Hard Times at Michigan's First State Prison'. We explore some of the early history of the prison, and some of the stories of people in its long history.

In this episode I explore the history of Coloma, Michigan which was first known as 'Dickerville'. Explore the early pioneer struggles with commerce, exploding mills and harsh winters.

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In this episode I explore some of the early pioneer history of the village of Watervliet in Berrien County, Michigan. The first settler in the area arrived in 1832, and the place was originally known as 'Shingle Diggings' from the early shingle industry.

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In this episode I explore some stories of the millinery/hatmaking industry. I also profile a woman named Mary Morgan who led an exceptional life in Michigan in the millinery business, and other stories.

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In this episode I explore the works of Washington Gardner where he defines the early history of the Temperance Movement in Michigan. Particularily explaining the Washingtonian Movement, the Red Ribbon Movement, the Women's Christian Temperance Movement and the various legislative actions of the late 1800's influenced by this.

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In this episode I explore the history of thc Charlotte Brewery that once existed from 1870 - 1909 in Charlotte, Michigan.

The article referred to in this episode is from a book entitled 'Spirits of the Past' published by the Eaton County Historical Commission.

Parcel post was introduced by the USPS on January 1st, 1913 and in the early years there were many interesting stories of about what people were shipping, as well as the challenges the postal workers had in adapting to the new service. There were even stories of people shipping children by parcel post!

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In this episode I explore the history of the early streetcar systems which were originally pulled by horses, and their transition to electric street cars, and eventually the establishment of the interurban cars that ran between cities.

In this episode I explore the history of the trial of George Vanderpool for the murder of Herbert Field in 1869. The saga resulted in three separate trials held in Manistee, Kalamazoo and Hastings, Michigan. The story received statewide, national and international attention in the news over a two year period.

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In this episode, Anne Harrigan, the Music Director for the Battle Creek Symphony joins me to talk about the 125 years legacy of the oldest continually operating orchestra in Michigan history.

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In this episode I explore the history of wildcat banking and the panic of 1837 in Michigan, which existed between 1837 and the mid 1840's. It was a period of almost no regulation on the banking industry, and a lot of devaluation of currency and financial panic in the USA.

Much of the material in this episode is taken from Washington Gardner's Book 'History of Calhoun County' published in 1913.

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In this episode I explore some of the history of survivors of the Titanic disaster that lived in Michigan, with many stories from Southwest MI. The Titanic struck an iceberg on April 14, 1912 and onboard were 2200 passengers, and 61 had Michigan connections.

In this episode, Author Nicole Beauchamp joins me to talk about her new book 'Haunted Bars & Pubs of Michigan'. The new book is an eerie roadtrip around the mitten state through haunted places. She gives us some inside details of some of the stories, and her research into their history.

In this episode I explore details about the early history and conditions of the Michigan State Prison in Jackson founded in the 1800's. The information is take from a book written by author Judy Gail Krasnow 'Jacktown: History & Hard Times at Michigan's First State Prison'.

In this episode, I explore the life of musical composer, performer and trumpet player Melvin James 'Sy' Oliver who was born in Battle Creek, Michigan and went onto to perform with Jimmie Lunceford, Tommy Dorsey, Frank Sinatra, Peggy Lee, Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong.

In this episode true crime author Tom Carr joins me to talk about some of the stories in his book that occured in Southwest Michigan. We explore the legend of 'Baby Face' Nelson and the story of the tommy gun found in Berrien County that was used in the St. Valentine's Massacre.

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In this episode I explore railroad history in Potterville, Michigan. There are stories from the depot that once existed there, including a mail robbery and a body found on the tracks. Also two train derailments, one in 2002 and the other in 2006.

For more information on the Eaton County Historical Commission, visit:

In this episode I explore the lives of Father Baart pastor of St. Mary's Church in Marshall and Father Sadlier, pastor of St. Philips Church in Battle Creek, Michigan. Both died in 1908 within two days of each other, both were similar in age, reputation and had the largest funerals in their respective cities within a day of each other.

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In this episode, Bobbie Mathis and Brian McCombs from the Union City Society for Historic Preservation return to the show to talk about some interesting tales from the cities history. We talk about the apple lady, memories from WWII and a circus elephant who was saved from the brink of death by a determined local veterinarian.

In this episode I explore the history of the CK&S Railroad, also known as the 'Beer Bucket Train' and the 'Cuss, Kick & Swear' Railroad. It is a fascinating history that spans Kalamazoo, Barry and Eaton Counties.

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