Michigan Minute

On this day in 1847, Michigan's first telegraph wire was completed along the Michigan Central Railroad Tracks, with early telegrams discussing the Mexican-American War and wheat prices. In 1870, Susan B. Anthony spoke at the Northwestern Woman’s Suffrage Association in Detroit, advocating for women's voting rights and highlighting the injustices faced by women without the vote. Her impactful speech was reported the next day in the Detroit Free Press.

Born in 1929, Berry Gordy Jr. founded Motown Records, launching the careers of artists like Marvin Gaye and the Supremes. He received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 1975 American Music Awards and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988. In 2016, Michael Jim Delligattie, creator of the "Big Mac Super Sandwich" and a Michigan State University alumnus, passed away; McDonald's sells an estimated 550 million Big Macs in the U.S. each year.

On Thanksgiving Eve in 1901, one of Michigan's worst railroad disasters occurred in southern Lenawee County, with official reports citing 23 deaths, though on-site reporters estimated the toll was closer to 100. In 1924, the paper mache and wooden Big Head puppets debuted, becoming a staple of Detroit's Thanksgiving parade. Additionally, in 1960, Gordie Howe, known as Mr. Hockey, scored his 1,000th point, marking a career that spanned six decades since he debuted with the Red Wings in 1946.

On this day in 1883, Sojourner Truth, the renowned abolitionist and advocate for civil and women’s rights, passed away in Battle Creek, Michigan. Born Isabella Bomfree, she escaped slavery in 1827 and fought for her son’s return from illegal sale. Later, she renamed herself Sojourner Truth and dedicated her life to helping enslaved people escape and promoting civil rights. November 26 is officially recognized as Sojourner Truth Day in Michigan.

The 1973 Ohio State vs. Michigan football game ended in a tie, leading to a notorious controversy in Big Ten history. With a conference championship and Rose Bowl appearance on the line, Michigan's quarterback broke his collarbone, and the Big Ten, concerned about its recent bowl performance, announced the next day that Ohio State would play in the Rose Bowl despite the tie.

Today marks the birthday of Detroit Tiger outfielder Jim Northrup, born in Breckenridge, MI, in 1939. He was key to the 1968 World Championship team, leading in hits and RBIs and clinching the title with a triple in Game 7. On this date in 1975, Michigan State University professor Jack H. Hetherington humorously credited his Siamese cat, F.D.C. Willard, as a co-author in his paper on atomic exchange effects, delighting the academic community.

Born on this day in 1864, Henry Bourne Joy envisioned uniting the coasts through the automobile. As the son of a Michigan Central Railroad president, he championed the creation of one of America's first coast-to-coast concrete roads, which became the Lincoln Highway in 1913. Joy also brought the Packard Motor Car Company to Detroit, where it thrived for nearly 50 years before merging with Studebaker in the 1950s.

Born on this day in 1893, Harley J. Earl became the first head of design for General Motors, introducing the concept car as a vital design tool and marketing strategy. In 1976, the comic strip "Cathy" debuted, created by Midland, Michigan's Cathy Guisewite. This pioneering strip humorously depicted the title character's struggles with love, work, and her overbearing but caring mother, running for 34 years.

On this day in 1945, UAW workers began a 113-day strike against General Motors, advocating for wage increases in the wake of World War II. Fast forward to 2005, when hockey took a backseat as Detroit Red Wings player Jiri Fischer collapsed on the ice with a heart rate of 300 beats per minute. Team doctors performed CPR, reviving him after his heart flatlined for 24 seconds, ultimately saving his life.