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Category Archives: people

The Strange Story about The Rise and Fall of the House Of David

Posted on January 2, 2023 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Iconic Buildings, people .

Near Benton Harbor is this massive palatial looking building. It was part of the Israelite House Of David a religious commune that was started by Benjamin and Mary Purnell in 1903. The members of the commune were prohibited from alcohol, tobacco, meat, owning property, and having sex. Their belief in not cutting their hair made the members of the commune stand out with their long hair flowing down to their waist, including the men.

Members of the House Of David band

To occupy their time when they were not out working in the farm fields or doing chores they played music and sports and even built an amusement park called Eden Springs which was known for its miniature train. The House of David opened their park up to the community and became very popular with people traveling for miles to visit it. The members played a lot of baseball to occupy their time, and because of that, they excelled at the sport. The House of David baseball team began traveling the country playing teams in exhibition matches defeating some of the best teams in the country. They were never allowed into the major league because of the rule banning facial hair. Their musicians traveled the country playing music to audiences in the vaudeville circuit. By 1916 the commune had more than  1000 members and attracted over half a million visitors to their amusement park. The House of David owned over 1000 acres and they had their own hotel, cannery and operated a power plant to supply electricity.

The group became rather wealthy and well liked by the public until the 1920s when 13 young women confessed to having sex with the group’s leader Benjamin Purnell when they were minors. Purnell died in 1927 before he was convicted. The accusations caused the commune to split with Benjamin’s wife Mary Purnell taking half it’s members and creating a new commune down the street known as Mary’s City Of David. Over time the membership declined in both communes and the amusement park closed. Today there are a few members left. The Eden Springs Park has reopened restoring one of the trains. The park is not what it used to be but the train still gives rides to passengers.

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The Sit Down Strike

Posted on September 4, 2022 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in people .

A few blocks northeast of the Flint Truck and Bus assembly plant is a small park with a memorial to the Sit Down Strike. On December 30th, 1936 the workers at General Motor’s Fisher Body Plant stopped production and barricaded themselves inside the plant. They learned the company was going to move the dies that stamp out most of the body parts for GM’s cars. Rather than picketing outside, they occupied the plant so GM could not move the stamping dies or bring in scab workers to break the union strike. Without the body parts, most of General Motor’s production came to a halt.  Governor Murphy sent in the Michigan National Guard, not to help one side or the other, but to keep the peace. After 44 days the United Auto Workers of America and GM came to an agreement and production resumed.

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D-Day and Fishing in Michigan with Eisenhower

Posted on June 6, 2022 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in people .

Eisenhower michigan
On the eve of D-Day (June 6th 1944) general Eisenhower was talking to a group of paratroopers from the 101st Airborne, and an unknown army photographer captured this iconic image of the general talking with the Screaming Eagles.  It was not until 1984 that an employee at the war department saw the photo, and realized that the Lieutenant with the #23 was Wally Strobel from his hometown of Saginaw Michigan. ( My hometown too) When Mr. Strobel was asked about the photo, he said that the general asked him where he was from ” Michigan Sir” he replied, and Ike asked how the fishing was, “great sir” then the general said that Michigan was a beautiful state and reminisced about fishing in the state for a few minutes with the paratroopers. I guess now I know why “we like Ike”.

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The Pattengill Monument

Posted on May 24, 2022 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in people .

Pattengill monument Ithaca michigan

This stone monument stands next to the old fire station in downtown Ithaca. A historical monument gives some history of the man it memorializes.

Henry R. Pattengill began his career as the superintendent of St. Louis schools, and later of Ithaca schools. His experiences in rural Michigan education led him to advocate for its improvement during his tenure as Michigan Superintendent of public instruction. In 1924 his formal pupils and admirers donated 510 stones from around the world to construct this monument next to the Ithaca fire station as a memorial to their beloved teacher, colleague, and friend.

Henry R. Pattengill (1852 – 1918) was Michigan’s Superintendent of public instruction from 1893 to 1897. As a textbook author, an orator and editor of Moderator-Topics, a journal for educators, he shaped Michigan’s education system. He championed the creation of rural district libraries, free textbooks, and teacher certification. Running as a Progressive, he lost his bid for governor in 1914.

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The Sign Next To The Expressway

Posted on May 23, 2022 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in people .

Living in Saginaw I travel I-75 frequently. Near Birch Run is a sign in honor of John Wayne “Dusty” Marcum. I have seen it for many years but wondered about him.

After graduating from Flushing High School in 1991 John Wayne “Dusty” Marcum joined the Navy.  and became part of the Navy SEAL’s Naval Special Development Warfare Group known, otherwise known as SEAL Team 6 and took part in 12 overseas missions. He reached the rank of senior chief petty officer and earned several medals and ribbons including two Silver Stars, four Bronze Stars with Valor, and a Purple Heart for his service

On September 11, 2008 Marcum was wounded in Afghanistan in a battle with heavily armed militants and died the following day. A section of I-75 near his hometown of Flushing is named in his honor. From now on, whenever I see that sign, I will remember the sacrifice he and so many others, including their families, have made for my freedom.

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The Memorial at the Bridge

Posted on May 13, 2022 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Bridges, people .

When I am traveling along US-2 heading west from St. Ignace I like to stop at the Cut River Bridge for a break and stretch my legs. Between the bridge and the parking lot is a plaque in honor of  Heath Michael  Robinson.

The plaque reads:

Senior Chief Special Operator Heath Michael Robinson was born June 5, 1977 in Alma, Michigan. He later graduated from Petoskey High School in June 1995. In June 1993, after the downing of a Black Hawk helicopter in Mogadishu Somalia Heath was inspired to become a Navy SEAL. Immediately following high school in January 1996 he enlisted in the United States Navy.

Senior Chief Robinson reported to Naval Recruit Training Command Great Lakes, Illinois on January 24,1996. On March 29, 1996 he completed Basic Training and reported to A School at Dam Neck for four months. On July 19, 1996 he entered Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL BUD/S training in Coronado, CA. He was unable to complete due to unfortunate circumstances. After a two-year tour in Okinawa, Japan he return to Coronado and entered BUD/S Class 226. After six months of the most grueling and demanding training in the military, he graduated then reported to Basic Airborne School in Ft. Benning, GA.

He was assigned to SEAL Team Three from March 6, 2000 to April 12, 2002. After completing one tour, he transferred to SEAL Team Seven from April 12, 2002 to April 2, 2004. Senior Chief Robinson began a rigorous selection and training course with Naval Special Warfare Development Group (NSWDG). Nine months after beginning the training process, Senior Chief Robinson was selected to be a NSWDG operator and reported to Tactical Developments and Evaluation Squadron (TACDEVRON) Three where he completed numerous deployments.

Senior Chief Special Warfare Operator (SEAL) Heath Robinson was a highly decorated combat veteran with numerous awards including four Bronze Star Medals, three with ‘V’ for valor; Joint Service Commendation Medal; three Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals, two with ‘V’ for valor; Joint Service Achievement Medal; three Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals; Combat Action Ribbon; two Presidential Unit Citations; Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation; five Navy Good Conduct Medals; Navy Fleet Marine Force Ribbon; National Defense Service Medal; Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal; two Afghanistan Campaign Medals; Iraq Campaign Medal; Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal; Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; six Sea Service Deployment Ribbons; NATO Medal; Navy Expert Rifleman Medal and Navy Expert Pistol Shot Medal.

Heath was a member of Extortion 17. On August 06, 2011, thirty-one Operators were lost, the single largest loss of life to Naval Special Forces.

Senior Chief Heath Robinson is survived by his wife, a beautiful daughter (his princess), his loving parents and brothers, teammates, family and friends. He is laid to rest in Section 60 at Arlington National Cemetery. – Submitted by his family

“Long Live the Brotherhood”

 

After reading the plaque I will think of Senior Chief Robinson and the sacrifice he and his family has made every time I cross over the Cut River Bridge.

 

 

 

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What In The Sam Hill

Posted on April 27, 2022 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in people .

You have probably heard the phrase ” What in the Sam Hill ” It is a euphemism for what in the hell or other possible curse words. Interestingly, Sam Hill was a real person who lived in Michigan. The origin of the saying is unknown but a possible theory is for Samuel W. Hill who was a surveyor in the Upper Peninsula.  Hill was a geologist, surveyor, and mining engineer in the Keweenaw Peninsula area. He was well respected in copper country for his skills and kindness in helping the community.  Hill was also know to use foul language and when stories were told about him his name was used in place of curse words and that his how his name supposedly became a euphemism for swear words.

Hill was twice elected to the state legislature, and retired to this house in Marshall in 1875 where he died in 1889. The home is now used as a doctors office. A historical marker for Sam Hill stands next to it and gives a little info about the man, but does not mention his propensity for swearing.

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Chief Noonday

Posted on April 22, 2022 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Cemetery, people .

In a rural area between Plainwell and Battle Creek is the grave site for Chief Noonday. Marked by a simple wooden sign a a stone marker next to a farm field the great Indian Chief Noahquageshik ( known as Chief Noonday by europeans ) is laid to rest.

During the War of 1812, Noahquageshik was allied with the Shawnee chief and warrior Tecumseh during the Battle of the Thames. Tecumseh was killed in this battle, and Noahquageshik inherited his tomahawk and hat.

In 1836, after an especially harsh winter and a year-long outbreak of smallpox, Cheif Noonday signed the treaty, in which the Ottawa agreed to sell the Grand River lands to the United States in exchange for five-year reservations in west and northwest Michigan.

Noahquageshik died in 1855, and he was laid to rest in this spot in southwestern Michigan.

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The Cross on the Hill

Posted on April 15, 2022 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in people .

Across from the Rock for Fort St Joseph is a stone cross that stand up on a hill that overlooks the river. At the bottom of the cross is carved the word Allouez.

The stone cross marks the location where Father Jean Claude Allouez is buried after his death in 1689. Born in France in 1622, Father Allouez was ordained in 1655, and then sailed to Quebec. He travelled the area by land and canoe and established several missions in the western Great Lakes region. He was fluent in Native American languages and after the death of Father Jacques Marquette he was assigned to continue Fr. Marquette’s work.

Allouez came to Fort St. Joseph where he died. His final resting place was marked with a simple wooden cross. In 1918, the Women’s Progressive League marked the site with a stone cross bearing his name.

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Parady Park

Posted on December 2, 2021 by Mike Sonnenberg Posted in Parks, people .

Parady Park sits in downtown Nashville Michigan located somewhat between Lansing and Kalamazoo. The park is named in honor of Emory Parady. He was born in New York in 1844 and was one of twenty-seven men from the 16th New York Cavalry Regiment who rode with the two detectives tracking John Wilkes Booth after the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln. On April 26, the patrol found Booth hiding at a Virginia farm. Two days later a fire was started to force Booth from the barn. Dring the fire one of the men had shot Booth in the neck. He was pulled from the barn and died a few hours later.  In 1866, Parady received a $1,365.84 reward for his role in Booth’s capture. In 1880 Emory Parady and his family moved to Nashville. He eventually moved to Oregon where he died in 1924

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