Michigan Tidbits

I often wondered what the era was for "Baby Boomers" and found out it was anyone born between 1946 and 1960, and what kind of an effect it had on Michigan education.  What I did find out according to Bruce Rubenstein was that many colleges were started to offset the over enrollment in many of Michigan universities and that some of the state colleges we up graded to universities.  I thought this little Michigan tidbit might be of interest to some.  Have a great day, until next time.
Cinda

Michigan Tidbits

I read some very interesting facts about trains in "Michigan a history of The Greatlake State," by Rubenstein.  I never realized just how slow trains were when the were first introduced.  I have to admit that the reading had me chuckling.  Trains only went 10 mph and it was not uncommon for passengers to get out and help push the train up hills.  The seats were just benches nailed to the flatbeds, hardly up to today's standards.  The train cars were linked together by chains so every time they began to move there was a violent jerk.  Surprised no one got whiplash.  The sparks from the engine usually rained on the passengers and many would use their umbrellas to cover themselves but the umbrellas would catch on fire.  It was not uncommon to see passenger arrive at their destination smoldering.  You have got to love progress.
That's all for now.

Cinda

Michigan Tidbits

This piece is on the artic grayling fish that once filled the Au Sable and Manistee rivers until over zealous fishermen caused them to be extinct.  As the story goes, overeager fishermen had caught over 2000 of these beautiful and tasty fish as a way to measure their fishing ability and just left them there to rot on the river bank. It finally to an act of legislation in 1871, to outlaw the use of gill nets to protect the grayling and trout. 

Michigan Tidbits

In 1914 the minimum wage was $2.30 a day.  That is pretty small by todays standards.  Henry Ford was manufacturing cars that even his own employees could not afford to buy.  Being the business man that he was in order to remedy that he started paying his workers $5.00 a day for work so they would be able to afford the cars they made.  $5.00 a day is equivalent to $111.00 today.  I promise to write more about Henry Ford in up coming blogs.  Have a great day.
Cinda

Michigan Tidbits

During the Civil War did you know Michigan actually had a time of prosperity?  Prices and wages rose, agricultural and manufactured goods were in great demand for the war time effort.  Crops were sold for food to the army, wool was sold for uniforms and brass for buttons, copper for canteens and bronze for cannons.  There were so many orders that Michigan could not fill all the orders immediately.  This was not the only contributions to the war, Michigan also had 90,000 men that served in the war and nearly 15,000 men did not return from the war.  Have a great day.
Cinda

Michigan Tidbits

I just thought I would write about some little know facts about Michigan that I read in a book called "Michigan A History of the Great Lakes" by Bruce Rubenstein.  Detroit established a free public high school in 1844.  The Catholepistemaid, or University of Michigania was established by Judge Woodward in 1817.  From 1860 to 1890, 1 billion trees were harvested in Michigan.  Michigan's first working rail line went from Erie to Kalamazoo.  This should be enough for you all to ponder on for now.  Have a great day.
Cinda