Michigan Minute

On this day, Gerald R. Ford's stepfather, also named Gerald Ford, was born in Grand Rapids. He raised the future president, instilling values like honesty, hard work, and punctuality. In 1972, Grand Rapids also became the first Michigan city to feature a Black Santa Claus in its Christmas parade. And in 2011, Mittengate occurred when Wisconsin claimed the mitten state title, sparking a Michigan rivalry.

Born on this day in 1886, Mexican artist Diego Rivera's Detroit Industry Murals, painted in 1933, depict the Motor City and Ford Motor Company, and are still on display at the Detroit Institute of Arts. On this day in 1956, Central Michigan University dedicated the Clarke Historical Library in Mount Pleasant, housing extensive collections on Michigan's history, including the state's first people.

Born on this day in 1932 in Detroit, Ellen Burstyn went on to win the Triple Crown of Acting (Oscar, Emmy, Tony) after starting her career as a dancer and model. On December 7, 1941, Ensign Francis Flaherty of Charlotte, Michigan, was awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions during the attack on Pearl Harbor, sacrificing his life to save his crew aboard the USS Oklahoma.

On this day in 1881, the initial meeting to establish the Detroit Institute of Arts took place, led by Detroit Evening News founder James Scripps. A year later, the museum opened its first exhibit. On December 6, 1928, the University of Michigan became the first Big Ten school to have an indoor hockey rink. Additionally, in 1973, Gerald Ford was sworn in as the first non-elected vice president after being appointed by President Nixon to replace Spiro Agnew amid scandal.

On this day in 1858, Chief Okemos died near Portland, prompting the Michigan legislature to rename Hamilton in his honor and dedicate a historical marker to his legacy. Additionally, on this day in 1843, the USS Michigan was launched, patrolling the Great Lakes primarily against timber pirates. After 62 years of service, it was renamed the USS Wolverine, and the prow of the original ship is now displayed at the Erie Maritime Museum in Pennsylvania.

On this day in 1844, Michigan Central College opened in Spring Arbor, becoming the first college in Michigan to offer degrees to women. It later moved to Hillsdale and was renamed Hillsdale College, the first American college to ban discrimination in its charter. In 1908, Dr. Alfred Day Hershey was born in Owosso; he won the Nobel Prize in 1969 for his groundbreaking work on DNA, having studied at Michigan State Agricultural College (now MSU).

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.

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.

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.

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.