Say YES to these cool facts about Detroit and Michigan
I just sent this blast:
Many thanks to Kimberly Kassner of Empowermind for sending this along.
Some pretty cool facts about Michigan & Detroit -
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 lumber 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 Davison 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 River 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 Southfieldi n 1954. Newspapers from overseas as well as this country wrote that it would never catch on?
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.
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, E.J. Korvettes or Federals and of course Demery's.
.... You rode the elevator at J. L. Hudson's, which was 'run' by an elevator operator. The fabulous Toy Department was 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.
.... 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, Savon, Wrigley's or Chatham, Big Bear and C. F. Smith were 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, Neisner's and Woolworth's were 'Dime Stores.'
.... You had an uncle in the furniture business (Joshua Door).
.... You know who Bill Kennedy was.
.... 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 and 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 or Lincoln Park 25, 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 in town.'
.... You remember a laundry chute and a milk chute and a coal chute in hour house.
.... You remember going to Detroit Edison with your Mom to exchange burned out light bulbs for "FREE" new ones.
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Man, I wish the milk and juice still came throught the chute instead of the dog !
One more that inadvertently got missed -- "I'll give you 5 pounds of coffee if I can't beat your best deal ! -- Ollie Fretter !
Terri,
Oh my goodness! This makes me so proud to be a Michigander! Thank YOU!
This is way cool and I'll add another.
How about "The Ghoul", "ov'r day"?
I got such a kick out of reading these! Made me laugh out loud with some of them. When I was a young girl, my aunt and I would take the 110 Bus to downtown Detroit. Our first stop was always the Dime Store, Kresge's to have a loose burger at the cafeteria. Then it was on to Hudson's for a full day of shopping with my favorite aunt. When we would return home from our day adventure, we were exhausted! Thanks for helping to bring that childhood memory alive for me Terry.
Don't forget about Mr. Green Jeans; Jonny Ginger & 3 Stooges every morning.
How about a double decker burger at Wigwams (drive-in) on Woodward Ave.
Or how about early fast food in Ferndale (pre-McDonalds) at Peppys !
Bob Mattler, Esq., Dir. Green Brokerage, LEED AP BD&C
Armada Real Estate Services
I like the part where they say you are REALLY old if . . . and YES I went to Boblo Island on the midnight cruise! FUN STUFF! Makes me proud and even more motivated to help bring Detroit back!
I used to climb a tree in front of my house. If I got high enough I could watch the earth movers level the ground to build Northland. Does that make me old? ;-)))
It's great to reminisce about those pleasurable experiences. Yes, I must be really old because I experienced most of those things on the list.
I love reading / learning about our great / underestimated state! That's why I joined the Auburn Hills Historical Society and read up on Detroit, Birmingham, Rochester, and Pontiac's rich history.
Did you know that Lake Orion was a resort town destination for the wealthy of Detroit to travel 'up north' with roller coasters along the water, cabins and resort homes, and the best of the best in dining, entertainment and hotels?
How about the rotary telephone and having Lincoln ( or LI) to start your phone #
The Detroit Historical Museum is so empowering. You enjoy the French pioneers sharing the stories on how Det-wah was such a land of opportunity. Truly inspiring.
I really didn't feel old until I read this... we had Venus - VE at the beginning of our phone number.
I grew up with an ELgin phone number.
Ha. Great list! Along with Federal's and Korvettes, I remember a store called Arlans...
You took the tour at Stroh's Beer Company.....and were underage!