July 3, 2009
July 3, 1919
The first veterans of the Polar Bear expedition return to Michigan.
The 339th Infantry Regiment, made up of men from Michigan and the Midwest, returned after serving on the Murmask front in northern Russia. Under European command, they continued to fight the Bolsheviks after World War I ended in November 1918 and soldiers from the western European front started coming home. Petitions by family members, appeals by newspaper editors and pleas to Congress, the war department and the president had kept the “Polar Bear” soldiers in the public’s attention and eventually helped bring them home.
Thank you Michigan History Magazine for this glimpse into our past. See more at www.michiganhistorymagazine.com.
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July 2, 2009
Uncle Goose was founded by William Bultman in 1983 and the tradition of these fine wooden blocks has been continued by William’s sons, Pete and Scott. Today, Lindenwood Inc. manufactures the blocks in Michigan and distributes the Uncle Goose line around the world.
The Bultman brothers have expanded their father’s vision from ABC blocks to include over a dozen foreign languages, American Sign Language, Braille, nursery rhymes, bugs, and math. Lindenwood also accepts custom orders.
The 1.75” cubes are handcrafted from Michigan basswood that is farmed – planted and harvested on industry-managed land around the Great Lakes. Lindenwood’s manufacturing process minimizes waste, both in production and packaging. They use only child-safe, non-toxic inks.
Ninety-Nine percent of everything used is local to West Michigan and all of the production is done in Grand Rapids.
The Uncle Goose brand has been honored with Parent Choice Awards, Dr. Toy’s “100 Best Toys” award, and Oppenheim Toy Portfolio awards.
For more information or to order a set of Uncle Goose blocks, visit Lindenwood’s website at: www.lindenwoodinc.com
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Michigan, Michigan Companies | Tagged: Blocks, Building Blocks, Built in Michigan, Childrens Toys, Grand Rapids, Lindenwood, Lindenwood Inc, Michigan, Michigan Companies, Michigan Company, Michigan Toys, Toys, West Michigan, West Michigan Company | 
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July 2, 2009
July 2, 1942
Max Stephan of Detroit is found guilty of treason for assisting a Nazi prisoner.
A German prisoner-of-war escaped from Canada to Detroit in April 1942 and was introduced, by a former American pen pal, to Max Stephan, a leader in Detroit’s German community. Stephan gave the Nazi POW a several-day tour of Detroit’s evening entertainment spots and then sent him by bus to Chicago.
Convicted of aiding and abetting the enemy in wartime, Stephan was the first American sentenced to execution since George Washington’s administration. President Franklin Roosevelt commuted Stephan’s sentence to life in prison.
Thank you Michigan History Magazine for this glimpse into our past. See more at www.michiganhistorymagazine.com.
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July 2, 2009
When French fur traders first founded the city of “Détroit” (day-twa), naturally, they brought their French heritage with them. Today, many native Detroiters get in touch with their inner-Frenchman by playing pétanque.
Pétanque (pronounced “pay-TONK”) is a Provençal French game that has been played for nearly 100 years. Members of the Detroit Pétanque Club, from kids to seniors, can be found in Campus Martius Park throwing small metal balls around sand-covered wooden courts. The game is very similar to Italy’s bocce, England’s lawn bowling, and Belgium’s feather bowling.
The game is played by two, four or six people. In the singles and doubles game each player has three boules (which are the balls used); in triples they only have two. A coin is tossed to see which side goes first. The starting team draws a circle on the ground which is 35-50 centimeters (remember this is a French game) in diameter: all players must throw their boules from within this circle, with both feet remaining on the ground. The first player throws out the cochon (commonly called the “jack”) 6-10 meters away; it must be one meter from the boundaries.
The player that threw the jack then throws their first boule. Then the other team throws. Play continues with the team that is not closest to the jack having to continue throwing until they either land a boule closer to the jack than the opposition or run out of boules.
Points are scored when both teams have no more boules. The winning team receives one point for each boule that it has nearer to the jack than the best placed boule of the opposition.
If one team has boules and the other does not then the team with boules receives one point for each of the boules they have left to play.
The first team to reach 13 wins.
For more information visit www.detroitpetanque.com.
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July 1, 2009
July 1, 1863
Michigan infantry suffered the greatest loss of any northern regiment in Civil War fighting.
The Twenty-Fourth Michigan Infantry regiment of the Iron Brigade engaged advancing Confederate forces at Gettysburg, PA, during the Civil War. The Twenty-Fourth Infantry suffered 80% casualties (400 of 500 men) on the first day of the three-day Battle of Gettysburg.
Thank you Michigan History Magazine for this glimpse into our past. See more at www.michiganhistorymagazine.com.
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June 30, 2009
June 30, 1953
America is introduced to the Corvette.
The nation’s first sports car with a fiberglass body, the Chevrolet Corvette, rolled off the assembly line in Flint, Michigan. Impressed with other sports cars, General Motors’ design guru Harley Earl began work on the Corvette in 1951. Today, the Corvette remains one of the nation’s most popular sports cars. It even has its own museum in Bowling Green, Kentucky.
Thank you Michigan History Magazine for this glimpse into our past. See more at www.michiganhistorymagazine.com.
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June 30, 2009
Downtown Detroit June 24th Fireworks
It’s that time of year…time to celebrate the Fourth of July. Everyone knows what that means…FIREWORKS!!!
The Fourth of July weekend brings many events along with the fireworks too; check out www.michiganfireworks.com for information on the happenings in your area.
Thanks to Jason Simcoke for the picture of the fireworks in downtown Detroit on June 24th.
If you have any special Michigan Fourth of July memories, stories or pictures, please send them to michiganisamazing@michaelflora.com
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Posted by michiganisamazing
June 30, 2009
Did you know…
Michigan became the 26th state on January 26, 1837
Lansing became Michigan’s State Capitol in 1848
The American Robin is Michigan’s state bird
The apple blossom is the state flower and the dwarf lake iris is the state wildflower
The Chlorastrolite or “green star stone”, which is found in the Upper Peninsula, is Michigan’s state gem
Our state song is “Michigan, My Michigan”
The origin of the state’s name is based on the Chippewa Indian word “meicigama” meaning “great water” and refers to the Great Lakes
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June 29, 2009
June 29, 1863
George Armstrong Custer is appointed to command the Michigan Cavalry Brigade.
George A. Custer was raised in Monroe, MI and graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in 1861.
Custer received command of the Michigan Calvary Brigade, which included four regiments of Michigan cavalrymen. Several days later, Custer and his command played a key role in stopping Rebel efforts to break the center of the Union line in the third day of the Battle of Gettysburg.
Thank you Michigan History Magazine for this glimpse into our past. See more at www.michiganhistorymagazine.com.
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June 29, 2009
As born and bred Michiganders, the negative stories about this state and the cities within have finally gotten to us. We love Michigan! It’s a great state, with a rich history, outstanding citizens and plenty of positive events and stories.
We have taken to the internet to spread the word about everything AMAZING in Michigan!
Please join us by sharing any stories, information, pictures, videos or events that highlight this AMAZING state! Please send them to michiganisamazing@michaelflora.com. Join the community and tell your friends.
Let’s show the world that Michigan is Amazing!!!
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