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PODCAST

Michigan Minute

WKAR Public Media

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?

history

All Episodes

1:00

Milestones in Mail Delivery, Labor & Civil Rights |...

Michigan Minute ·

2025/12/03

On this day in 1896, Michigan introduced its first Rural Free Delivery (RFD) service in Climax, with routes spanning 25-30 miles and carriers earning $45 a month while providing their own horses and buggies. In 1929, despite the stock market collapse, Ford Motor Company increased employee pay from $5 to $7 a day. Additionally, in 2003, Governor Jennifer Granholm signed a bill recognizing Cesar Chavez Day, honoring the labor leader and civil rights activist.

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1:00

Milestones in Anti-Slavery, Automotive Innovation &...

Michigan Minute ·

2025/12/02

On this day in 1830, Elizabeth Chandler established the Logan Female Anti-slavery Society, Michigan’s first anti-slavery group, supporting the Underground Railroad. In 1927, Ford Motor Company unveiled the Model A, a successful successor to the Model T, priced between $500 and $1,200. In 1975, President Gerald Ford was welcomed in China with the MSU Fight Song during his visit.

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1:00

Rosa Parks' Act of Defiance & Legacy in Michigan |...

Michigan Minute ·

2025/12/01

On this date in 1955, civil rights hero Rosa Parks was arrested in Montgomery, Alabama, for refusing to give up her seat in the "whites only" section of a bus, sparking a movement against segregation. For her defiance, she faced job loss and death threats. Two years later, she moved to Detroit, where she worked as a secretary for U.S. Representative John Conyers for 23 years. Parks remained a Michigander for nearly 50 years until her passing in 2005.

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1:00

Celebrating Alice Cook & Early Michigan Territory...

Michigan Minute ·

2025/11/30

Born in 1955 in Lansing, figure skater Alice Cook won silver at the 1976 U.S. Figure Skating Championships and represented the U.S. at the Innsbruck Winter Olympics. After retiring, she became a TV sports reporter and founded She’s Game Sports in 2011, focusing on women sports fans. On this date in 1815, U.S. Surveyor General Edward Tiffin described the Michigan Territory as unsafe and labeled it an "Interminable Swamp," hindering settlement efforts.

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1:00

Milestones in Communication & Women's Suffrage |...

Michigan Minute ·

2025/11/29

On this day in 1847, Michigan's first telegraph wire was completed along the Michigan Central Railroad Tracks, with early telegrams discussing the Mexican-American War and wheat prices. In 1870, Susan B. Anthony spoke at the Northwestern Woman’s Suffrage Association in Detroit, advocating for women's voting rights and highlighting the injustices faced by women without the vote. Her impactful speech was reported the next day in the Detroit Free Press.

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1:00

Celebrating Berry Gordy Jr. & the Legacy of the Big...

Michigan Minute ·

2025/11/28

Born in 1929, Berry Gordy Jr. founded Motown Records, launching the careers of artists like Marvin Gaye and the Supremes. He received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 1975 American Music Awards and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988. In 2016, Michael Jim Delligattie, creator of the "Big Mac Super Sandwich" and a Michigan State University alumnus, passed away; McDonald's sells an estimated 550 million Big Macs in the U.S. each year.

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1:00

Tragedy & Triumph: Thanksgiving in Michigan History |...

Michigan Minute ·

2025/11/27

On Thanksgiving Eve in 1901, one of Michigan's worst railroad disasters occurred in southern Lenawee County, with official reports citing 23 deaths, though on-site reporters estimated the toll was closer to 100. In 1924, the paper mache and wooden Big Head puppets debuted, becoming a staple of Detroit's Thanksgiving parade. Additionally, in 1960, Gordie Howe, known as Mr. Hockey, scored his 1,000th point, marking a career that spanned six decades since he debuted with the Red Wings in 1946.

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1:00

Honoring Sojourner Truth: Advocate for Freedom &...

Michigan Minute ·

2025/11/26

On this day in 1883, Sojourner Truth, the renowned abolitionist and advocate for civil and women’s rights, passed away in Battle Creek, Michigan. Born Isabella Bomfree, she escaped slavery in 1827 and fought for her son’s return from illegal sale. Later, she renamed herself Sojourner Truth and dedicated her life to helping enslaved people escape and promoting civil rights. November 26 is officially recognized as Sojourner Truth Day in Michigan.

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1:00

The Controversial 1973 Tie: Ohio State vs. Michigan |...

Michigan Minute ·

2025/11/25

The 1973 Ohio State vs. Michigan football game ended in a tie, leading to a notorious controversy in Big Ten history. With a conference championship and Rose Bowl appearance on the line, Michigan's quarterback broke his collarbone, and the Big Ten, concerned about its recent bowl performance, announced the next day that Ohio State would play in the Rose Bowl despite the tie.

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1:00

Celebrating Jim Northrup & a Feline Co-Author |...

Michigan Minute ·

2025/11/24

Today marks the birthday of Detroit Tiger outfielder Jim Northrup, born in Breckenridge, MI, in 1939. He was key to the 1968 World Championship team, leading in hits and RBIs and clinching the title with a triple in Game 7. On this date in 1975, Michigan State University professor Jack H. Hetherington humorously credited his Siamese cat, F.D.C. Willard, as a co-author in his paper on atomic exchange effects, delighting the academic community.

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1:00

Pioneering the Lincoln Highway: The Legacy of Henry...

Michigan Minute ·

2025/11/23

Born on this day in 1864, Henry Bourne Joy envisioned uniting the coasts through the automobile. As the son of a Michigan Central Railroad president, he championed the creation of one of America's first coast-to-coast concrete roads, which became the Lincoln Highway in 1913. Joy also brought the Packard Motor Car Company to Detroit, where it thrived for nearly 50 years before merging with Studebaker in the 1950s.

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1:00

Celebrating Design & Humor: Harley J. Earl & Cathy...

Michigan Minute ·

2025/11/22

Born on this day in 1893, Harley J. Earl became the first head of design for General Motors, introducing the concept car as a vital design tool and marketing strategy. In 1976, the comic strip "Cathy" debuted, created by Midland, Michigan's Cathy Guisewite. This pioneering strip humorously depicted the title character's struggles with love, work, and her overbearing but caring mother, running for 34 years.

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1:00

Labor Strikes & a Life-Saving Moment in Michigan...

Michigan Minute ·

2025/11/21

On this day in 1945, UAW workers began a 113-day strike against General Motors, advocating for wage increases in the wake of World War II. Fast forward to 2005, when hockey took a backseat as Detroit Red Wings player Jiri Fischer collapsed on the ice with a heart rate of 300 beats per minute. Team doctors performed CPR, reviving him after his heart flatlined for 24 seconds, ultimately saving his life.

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1:00

A Pioneering Personal Ad: Margaret Ealy's Quest for...

Michigan Minute ·

2025/11/20

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1:00

Legendary Games: Tie & Turmoil in Michigan Sports |...

Michigan Minute ·

2025/11/19

In 1966, the MSU Spartans faced Notre Dame in a highly anticipated college football showdown, which ended in a 10-10 tie as the Fighting Irish opted to run out the clock. Fast forward to 2004, when a fight erupted between the NBA’s Detroit Pistons and Indiana Pacers. After a fan threw a cup at Pacers forward Ron Artest, he charged into the stands, igniting a chaotic melee that led to suspensions for nine players and criminal charges for several individuals.

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1:00

Time Zones & Musical Milestones in Michigan |...

Michigan Minute ·

2025/11/18

On this day in 1883, railroads established American time zones, assigning Michigan to central time, although Detroit resisted until 1900. In 1931, the state legislature adopted eastern time to provide more evening daylight. Additionally, 1927 marked the birth of Detroit’s Hank Ballard, an early rock and roller whose song “The Twist” gained worldwide fame after being re-recorded by Chubby Checker in 1958.

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1:00

Remembering Bo Schembechler: Michigan Football Legend...

Michigan Minute ·

2025/11/17

In 2006, Bo Schembechler, the winningest coach in University of Michigan football history, passed away at 77 while filming a segment for an upcoming Michigan-Ohio State game. With a record of 194 wins, 48 losses, and 5 ties, Schembechler left a lasting legacy, famously summarized by player Andree McIntyre after their 1986 Big Ten Championship: “Those Who Stay Will Be Champions.”

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1:00

Celebrating Donna McKechnie & Cesar Chavez's Advocacy...

Michigan Minute ·

2025/11/16

Born on this day in 1942, dancer Donna McKechnie from Pontiac rose to fame on Broadway, winning a Tony in 1976 for her role as Cassie in A Chorus Line. In 1979, activist Cesar Chavez addressed the Michigan Legislature, advocating for migrant farm workers during a UFW boycott of “Red Coach” Lettuce. His impact was later honored in 2019 when a road in Old Town Lansing was renamed in his honor.

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1:00

Milestones of the Ambassador Bridge and Unabomber...

Michigan Minute ·

2025/11/15

On this day in 1929, the Ambassador Bridge opened as the longest suspension bridge in the world at 7,490 feet, built with 21,000 tons of steel. On November 15, 1985, a bomb from the Unabomber injured a research assistant at the University of Michigan. Theodor Kaczynski, known for his bombing campaign against modern technology, killed three people and was captured after his manifesto led to his identification by his brother.

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1:00

The Birth of Dodge Cars, Gas Lights & MVP Glory |...

Michigan Minute ·

2025/11/14

In 1914, John and Horace Dodge produced the first Dodge automobile, the four-cylinder Model 30, known as “Old Betsy,” at their Hamtramck facility. In 2013, Detroit Tiger Miguel Cabrera was named back-to-back AL MVP, overcoming numerous injuries in the final months. Additionally, in 1857, Francis B. Gilbert inaugurated Grand Rapids' first gas street lamp, leading to significant gas sales in its first year.

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