Tales of Southwest Michigan's Past

In this episode, I explore the history of local celebrity green and yellow Amazon parrot named Polly from St. Joseph, Michigan. The story is a warm and happy one, with a little unexpected drama.

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In this episode, I cover the history of the first and second college World Series which were held in Kalamazoo. The source article was written by Paul M. Keep in the Summer 2006 issue of Chronicle Magazine by the Historical Society of Michigan.

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In this episode I explore life in rural schools in pioneer Michigan. I use a reference book from the Eaton County Historical Commission 'Rural Schools of Eaton County Michigan' for the source material.

I discuss rules and information published originally in 1864.

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In this episode I relay some history of the Victorian Era circuses in Southwest Michigan with the Van Ambergh Menagerie, and also the origin story of Pink Lemonade.

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The Great Chicago Fire between October 8 - 10th, 1871 is the topic of this episode. During this same time fires in Holland and Manistee, Michigan destroyed those cities.

I explore the impact of those fires, the effects and reaction across Southwest Michigan following the event, as well as first hand accounts of the reporters.

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In this episode, I explore the Historical lenses used to explore history, beginning with the common frameworks of Social, Political and Economic factors. I also discuss the importance of understanding the religious, moral, legal and other lenses such as bias that one might encounter in the study of history.

I also discuss how important it is to approach all history with the lens of curiousity above all others.

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In this episode, Brenna Pixley and Ashley Kloote join me from Earthcraft, and organization based in Scotts, Michigan which is dedicated to Ancestral Skillshare which includes experiential learning, intergenerational exchange and an effort to build an enduring community.

Also in the program is archeologist Tom Talbot who will be presenting a program 'Mysteries in Stone' at the upcoming Earthcraft event happening July 9th -12th, 2026.

In this episode I explore the history of the Michigan Soldiers Home and Cemetery in Grand Rapids. I refer to an article published in the Michigan History Magazine of July/August 2026 written by Bruce Kalish.

In this episode, I explore the life of Ernie Harwell the 50 year voice of Detroit Tigers Baseball who retired in 2002, and passed away in 2010. The source material for this episode is an article in Michigan History Magazine July/August 2026 'Ernie Harwell: The Voice of Michigan Summers'.

In this episode, I explore some early history of the pioneer era and founding of Springport township and Springport village in Jackson County.

In this episode I discuss the history of prostitution post-civil war to the turn of the century in Michigan. I discuss the moral influence on the circuit courts, and examine the story of Ella Lester in Battle Creek, Michigan in 1872 when three men came calling on her at the same time, and the tragic result of that encounter.

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In this episode I explore some of the history of the Grand Trunk Railroad moving their repair shops for their steam engines to Battle Creek in 1908, and it all surrounds an iconic photo taken the day it opened by photographer Isaac D Smith.

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Ever wonder how Lansing became the Capitol of Michigan? In this episode, I explore some of that early history as well as the State Capitol building.

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In this episode I explore some of the history of saloon row that once existed in the early 1900's in Kalamazoo in the Pre-Prohibition era.

In this episode I explore the history and impact of the Presidential Election of 1848 which former Territorial Governor and Senator from Michigan Lewis Cass was the Democratic candidate who lost to General Zachary Taylor, in a race than also included former President Martin Van Buren.

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In this episode I explore the history of the innovation of curb cuts for wheel chair accessibility which had its origins in Southwest Michigan, first being introduced in Battle Creek in 1945, and later in Kalamazoo that same year, 45 years before the American with Disabilities Act in 1990.

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In this episode, I explore the 1887 book 'History of the Ottawa and Chippewa Indians of Michigan: A Grammar of their Language, and Personal and Family History of the Author' by Andrew J. Blackbird, and Native American interpretor for the U.S. Government in Michigan.

In this episode, I explore the unsolved case of the Glass Family Murders of 1838, and the lingering mystery that surrounds it.

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In this episode I explore a story from 1850 when travelers who dined at the Kalamazoo Exchange Hotel began dying suddenly following an afternoon meal. All total 13 people died within a few days, and it took two weeks for doctors and investigators to isolate the cause. The news of the events unfolding traveled all over the world, and creating fears of a new epidemic on the rise.

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In this episode I explore the story of three separate railway accidents that happened in the autumn of 1893 in Southwest Michigan, all carrying excursion trains to and from the World's Fair in Chicago,

The first accident happened in Bellevue, Michigan on September 27th, the second was in Jackson, Michigan on Octiber 13th and the third was in Battle Creek, Michigan on October 20th. Over 40 people were killed between the three incidents, and the worst being in Battle Creek.

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In this episode, I explore the history of Capital Punishment in Michigan and what led up to its abolishment in on March 1, 1847.

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In this episode I explore more of the life of Henry Rowe Schoolcraft, and his involvement and reasoning behind the names he gave to so many Michigan places.

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In this episode, I explore the life and beliefs of John Harvey Kellogg. Dr. Kellogg was an American physician who was the director of the Battle Creek Sanitarium, founded by members of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church. He is credited with the development of the flaked cereal industry, many health foods and holistic principles in medicine.

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In this episode I explore Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles, MI and talk about some of their key monuments and structures, as well as share some obitiuaries transcribed by the 'Friends of Silverbrook Cemetery' organization.

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In this episode I explore an article recently published in the Michigan History Magazine about Dr. Robert Clark Kedzie and his battle against the use of arsenic in wallpaper.

In this episode I share with listeners information on existing walking tours at Oak Hill Cemetery in Battle Creek.

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In this episode, I explore a long forgotten book entitled "The Railway Traveller's Handy Book of Hints, Suggestions, and Advice, Before the Journey, On the Journey and After the Journey" which was published in London in 1862 by Lockwood and Co., Stationers' Hall Court.

Within its pages lie some very interesting tidbits of advice which offer an interesting and unique insight into railway travel and society in 1862. This book was used also in the United States, and was a popular manual for many years for travelers.

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In this episode I explore some of the history of flooding in Southwest and other parts of Michigan, and some of the legislation that came into existence over the years to prevent some of the historic tragedies.

In this episode, I explore the formation of the railroads on michigan, beginning with the history behind the first charters, and the central line, which became the Michigan Central Railroad.

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In this episode I explore the history of Wildcat banking in Michigan, and relate a story that happened in Jonesville during that era. I also talk about the Panic of 1837.

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In this episode I explore some interesting history in Albion, Michigan surrounding a grove of trees once owned by William H. Brockway. The location became known as 'Brockway Woods' or 'Brockway Grove', and lasted until 1905.

There were two tragedies, and one train accident at Brockway Grove each happening almost two years apart from 1899 - 1903 until the grove was harvested for timber in 1905.

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This is the last episode of Season 4, in 2025.

In this episode, I look back at the top stories in Michigan during World War II from 1941 - 1945, including stories from across the state as well as Southwest Michigan.

I also review my year in 2025 as a podcaster and author.

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In this episode, I explore the early pioneer life and history of Leslie, Michgan located in the southern part of Ingham County, north of Jackson.

The publication used as reference was 'History of the Early Life and Business Interests of the Village and Township of Leslie, Ingham County Michigan' published in 1914 by the Elijah Grout Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

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In this episode, I explore the early establishment of Calhoun County as written by author Charles A. Weissert in his book 'An Account of Southwest Michigan and Calhoun County: With special matter relating to Calhoun County' published in 1924.

I also give details on the early naming of the counties in this area.

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In this episode I explore the story behind Oak Hill Cemetery in Battle Creek, Michigan.

I also have an exciting announcement about preserving history in the region.

In this episode, I explore a memoir published in 1905 by Francis Hodgman (1839-1907). He tells stories from his childhood as a boy in Climax, Michigan.

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In this episode, I explore the history of Dutch emigration to Kalamazoo and Holland, and the history behind the movement in the 1800's.

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In this episode, I explore the history of ice harvesting in Michigan between 1880 - 1950. This was the industry before the era of refrigeration.

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In this episode I explore news articles during the Great Depression around the time of Thanksgiving from different cities in Southwest Michigan.

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In this episode I explore some early history of Albion, Michigan. I also cover early railroad history and a riot.

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In this episode, I explore an early history of Tekonsha, Michigan referring to a Calhoun County Directory from 1869-70.

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In this episode I cover some of the early history of the stagecoach roads, the early hotels, railroad and interurban in Marshall, Michigan.

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In this episode, I explore some of the early history of Galesburg, Michigan named after George L. Gale.

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In this episode, I explore the origins of some unusual street names in Battle Creek, Michigan. The information is taken from articles in a book published by Elizabeth Neumeyer entitled 'What's in a Name?'

To get a copy of the book, visit the Battle Creek Regional History Museum at 307 W Jackson St, Battle Creek, MI on weekends 10-4PM, or at the same address visit the Historical Society of Battle Creek archives on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 12-4PM.

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In this episode I explore the history of the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Railway. It was the principle route for travelers coming from New York to Chicago, and it connected Lake Michigan with the East Coast.

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In this episode I explore the history of Interstate 94, and the Interstate Highway system. I-94 is unique as it is the only Interstate that has a numbeer not divisible by 5, and it is also the only one running West to East that connects with another country, Canada.

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In this episode, I explore the history of assassinations in America covering Abraham Lincoln, James Garfield, William McKinley, John F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King, Robert F. Kennedy and Charlie Kirk, along with several other cases of attempted assassinations.

I also discuss the changes I have observed as a historian with the American education system which has disconnected present day youth from understanding history.

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In this episode, I conclude the three part series on the story of Sarah Haviland.

In this final segment, I explore what happened to Sarah after she was sent to prison in 1966 at the Michigan State Prison in Jackson, Michigan. I also cover what her experience was, compared to other prisoners, and carry her story all the way through to her pardon by Governor Treadway Rich in 1896.

I also cover the research I conducted on where her three murdered children are buried, and what I was able to uncover on the lives of her surviving children.

I further discuss my two years of research on this story, which led to it being a major story in the book Victorian Southwest Michigan True Crime, which was published in 2024.

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This is part 2 of the three part story on Sarah Haviland, a woman who murdered her three children in 1865 in Battle Creek, Michigan.

In this episode, I cover her sinister plan that she created with Dr. Daniel Baker, and how it unfolded, resulting in the death of three children. Her plans were foiled by the innocence of one of her surviving daughters, Phoebe.

Sarah Haviland and Daniel Baker are charged and convicted on three counts of murder in 1866.

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