Michigan Minute

Today in 1925, Dr. Ossian Sweet and his family were attacked by a white mob in Detroit after moving to a neighborhood considered beyond the color line. In self-defense, shots were fired, resulting in the death of a mob member. The Sweet family was arrested and tried, with Clarence Darrow ultimately securing their acquittal. It took over three years before Dr. Sweet reclaimed his home, which still stands today.

Today in 1885, Eleanore Hutzel was born in Ann Arbor. She became a pioneering advocate for women's and children's rights, leading the Women's Division of the Detroit Police Department. On this day in 1974, President Gerald Ford issued a controversial pardon to Richard Nixon.

Today in 1956, Michigan's Iven Kincheloe set a record altitude of 126,200 feet in his X-2 plane, becoming known as America's first spaceman. Kincheloe’s career was cut short by a tragic accident, but he was honored with full military rites at Arlington National Cemetery.

On this day in 1898, Sarah Emma Edmonds, a Civil War veteran who served disguised as a man in the Union Army, passed away. Also, in 1964, Beatlemania hit Detroit's Olympia Stadium with two concerts during the Beatles' North American Tour. Fans could buy tickets for just $2 to $5, and a local radio station sold squares of the band's bedsheets to eager fans.

On this day in 1881, a massive firestorm in Michigan's Thumb burned over a million acres, killing at least 282 people. In 1959, the Mackinac Bridge Walk was moved to Labor Day, with Governor G. Mennen Williams leading the 4.5-mile walk across the "Mighty Mac."

On this day in 1838, over 850 Potawatomi, including 150 from Michigan, were forced west on the "trail of death," though some in Dowagiac resisted thanks to leader Leopold Pokagon. In 1891, Felix Schlag, the designer of the U.S. nickel used from 1938 to 2004, was born. His initials, FS, appear under Jefferson’s bust on nickels from 1966 onward. Schlag spent his final years in Owosso, Michigan.

Today in 1783, the U.S. Revolutionary War officially ended with the signing of the Treaty of Paris by future president John Adams and Benjamin Franklin, among others. Thanks to Franklin's insistence, Isle Royale, despite being closer to Canada, became part of the U.S. due to rumored copper deposits. Britain’s Prime Minister even remarked, "Mr. Franklin, I don’t give a damn if that island is solid copper," highlighting Franklin’s determination. Today, you can hike Mount Franklin in Isle Royale National Park, a nod to his legacy.

On this day in 1902, Detroit recorded its first automobile fatality when businessman George W. Bissell was thrown from his horse-drawn carriage after it was startled by a speeding car, leading to his tragic death. In 1977, Mary Livingston from Manistique, Michigan, made history as one of the first women to become an Air Force pilot, marking a significant milestone for women in aviation.

Born in Detroit on August 31, 1939, Lily Tomlin began her career in stand-up comedy before earning acclaim in film, television, and theater. Known for her Oscar-nominated role in Nashville, her iconic part in 9 to 5, and voicing Ms. Frizzle in The Magic School Bus, Tomlin also won a Tony Award for a play written by her longtime partner, Jane Wagner. After 42 years together, they married in 2013. Happy Birthday, Lily Tomlin!

Today in 1809, the first and possibly only issue of "The Michigan Essay or The Impartial Observer" was published by Father Gabriel Richard in Detroit. The four-page paper, printed by James M. Miller, promised weekly issues but never saw a second volume. A subscription cost $5 for Detroit residents and $4 for others—a steep price for its time.