Michigan Minute

1857: Michigan Agricultural College, later known as Michigan State University, started with just 63 students focused solely on agriculture. 1925: Sophie Kurys, known as 'The Flint Flash,' made baseball history in the All American Girls Professional Baseball League, setting unmatched records for stolen bases while defying stereotypes on the field.

1950: Born Stephen Judkins Hardaway in Saginaw, Michigan, Stevie Wonder's musical journey began at an early age. Signed by Motown as a young talent, he quickly rose to fame with his socially conscious lyrics and chart-topping hits, becoming one of the most acclaimed artists in music history.

1891: Detroit's streetcar workers unionize, demanding a shorter workday. Picketing led to riots, but Mayor Pingree's intervention led to arbitration. On May 12, an agreement was reached, recognizing the new union.

1978: Margaret Brewer from Durand, MI, became the Marine Corps' first female brigadier general. Inspired by the flag-raising at Iwo Jima, she rose through the ranks, later serving as director of public affairs. 1875: Harriet Quimby, born in Arcadia, MI, became the first licensed American female pilot, flying solo over the English Channel in 1912.

1953: Christopher Paul Curtis was born in Flint, Michigan. Known for books like "The Watsons Go to Birmingham – 1963" and "Bud, Not Buddy," he highlights the Black experience. 1978: Michigan expelled Rep. Monte Geralds for embezzlement, the second such expulsion in its history.

Eliza Seaman Leggett, born in 1815, was a key figure in the Underground Railroad, offering refuge to many enslaved individuals in Michigan. She advocated for women's suffrage, public water access in Detroit, and supported American literature. Recognized for her humanitarianism, she was inducted into the Michigan Women’s Hall of Fame in 2003.

1959: Mike and Marian Ilitch launched Little Caesars in Garden City, MI. Mike, a former baseball player, redirected his career after an injury, investing $10,000 to start the chain. Little Caesars became the world's largest carry-out pizza chain, enabling the Ilitch family to diversify into sports and entertainment, owning entities like Olympia Entertainment and the Detroit Red Wings.

Sophie Lyons, once one of America's most notorious criminals, passed away in Detroit on this day in 1924. After a notorious career as a thief and conwoman, she transformed into a reformer, advocating for juvenile delinquency rehabilitation. Despite her criminal past, her estate revealed the spoils of her plundered wealth, including valuable jewelry and assets amounting to approximately one million dollars.

1898: Daniel Frank Gerber, born in Fremont, Michigan, pioneered the creation of Gerber Baby food. His innovative approach, supported by his wife Dorothy, led to the establishment of the Gerber Products Company, revolutionizing baby food consumption worldwide.

1903: Civil rights leader Booker T. Washington delivered an empowering speech at Detroit's Light Guard Armory, advocating for racial harmony. 1831: Michigan's oldest continuously published newspaper, the Detroit Free Press and Michigan Intelligencer, made its debut, starting as a humble four-page weekly publication.