Michigan Minute

In 1913, John Bauer and Irv Giese opened The Garden Bowl, a 10-lane bowling alley on Woodward Avenue in Detroit. It has become America's oldest continuously operating bowling alley and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2008. Also today, Michigan-born Harriet Quimby, who became the first American woman to receive a pilot’s license and the first woman to fly across the English Channel, is celebrated for her pioneering achievements in aviation.

1911: The New York Stock Exchange listed General Motors Securities, marking a significant expansion for Detroit's burgeoning automotive industry. In a separate historic event, the Treaty with the Ottawa and Chippewa was signed in 1855, establishing land reserves and providing pensions for tribal veterans, guided by Andrew Jackson Blackbird, son of a chief who straddled both Ottawan traditions and Western education at what later became Eastern Michigan University.

1975: Jimmy Hoffa disappeared after a meeting with Detroit crime figure Tony Jack Giacalone and New Jersey Teamster boss Tony Pro, sparking a mystery that persists to this day. Despite numerous speculations, Hoffa's final resting place remains unknown. 1997: The Michigan Supreme Court legalized charter schools, a controversial educational model praised by some and criticized by others for its impact on public education.

1909: General Motors Corporation acquired Cadillac, the leading luxury automaker at the time, for $4.5 million. Founded from the remains of Henry Ford's second failed company, Cadillac was revitalized under Detroit machinist Henry Leland. By adding Cadillac to its portfolio alongside Buick and Oldsmobile, GM strengthened its position in the auto industry, paving the way for its future as a major automobile manufacturer.

1967: The Detroit race riot (or rebellion) came to a close after President Johnson deployed 2 US Army divisions to quell the violence. It was the deadliest incident of the 1967 summer unrest, resulting in over 43 deaths and nearly 1200 injuries. Comparable to the New York City Draft Riots of 1863 and surpassed only by the 1992 LA Riots in severity, the Detroit unrest spurred political changes under figures like Mayor Coleman Young. This event also contributed to the election of Erma Henderson in 1972 as the first Black President of the Detroit Common Council, leading efforts against racial discrimination in the city.

1818: Detroit enacted a law allowing public whipping for offenses including drunkenness, disorderliness, petty theft, and domestic violence. 1934: The first old-age pension checks, a precursor to Social Security, were mailed out to 100 applicants across nine Michigan counties, ranging from $5 to $12 in value. 1980: Michigan experienced the effects of an earthquake originating in Kentucky, with reports of shaking felt from Allegan to Mount Pleasant, causing disturbances like falling dishes in Detroit and swaying in Tiger Stadium's upper decks.

1917: Birth of Hollywood actress Lorna Gray in Grand Rapids, Michigan. She starred alongside Buster Keaton and The Three Stooges, and portrayed Gail Richards in the first film adaptation of Captain America in 1944. 1883: Grand Rapids experienced one of the largest log jams in U.S. history due to heavy summer rains. The jam on the Grand River reached 30 feet deep and 7 miles long, taking loggers four days and nights to clear. The incident partially destroyed two train bridges at Fulton and Wealthy streets in downtown Grand Rapids.

1974: The US Supreme Court ruled against the NCAA's lawsuit challenging Michigan Governor Milliken's busing practices in Detroit, which ultimately exacerbated racial segregation and spurred 'White Flight' to the suburbs. 1966: Michigan Secretary of State James Hare appointed 26-year-old Gordon Alexander as the state's second-ever Ombudsman. Alexander served as the liaison for addressing grievances against the state government, initially earning a salary of $10,500. His appointment was not publicly disclosed until three weeks later, as reported by the Cass City Chronicle newspaper.

1880: Grand Rapids Electric Light & Power Company launched the world’s first commercial central station hydroelectric power plant, powered by Wolverine Chair & Furniture Company’s water turbine. 1963: Julie Krone, born in Benton Harbor, Michigan, became the first woman to win a Triple Crown race in 1993 with Colonial Affair at the Belmont Stakes. Inducted into the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame in 2000, she overcame severe injuries to be hailed as one of USA Today’s toughest athletes and received the Wilma Rudolph Courage Award from the Women’s Sports Foundation.

On this day over 40 years ago, a major race riot erupted in Detroit. Triggered by a police raid on an illegal bar, the riot quickly escalated, leading to eight days of violence. Michigan Governor George Romney deployed State Police and later the National Guard to restore order. The riot left a devastating toll: 43 dead, 1,700 stores looted, over 7,200 arrests, and $50 million in property damage. President Lyndon Johnson responded by establishing the Kerner Commission to investigate the underlying causes of civil unrest in American cities.