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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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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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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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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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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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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