Muskegon History and Beyond with the Lakeshore Museum Center

The Industrial Bonus Fund provided money and incentives for business to relocate to Muskegon. This fund was very successful at this goal and managed to propel Muskegon forward going into the 20th Century after the decline of lumbering.  

A visit to the beach 100 years ago in Muskegon would have been a very different experience. With a roller coaster, Ferris Wheel, stage, and many more amusements, a trip to the beach and Lake Michigan Park was like going to an amusement park that had a water park the size of Lake Michigan. Today we examine the spectacle that was the beach escape, Lake Michigan Park.  

The youngest brother of famous lumber baron Charles Hackley, Porter Hackley was also involved in the lumbering business. He served many years as bookkeeper for the family firm and taught Thomas Hume the ropes. However, his fortune would never grow vast like the other two as he lived a tumultuous life full of booze and run-ins with the law. 

Albert Mears was the younger brother of the much more famous Charles Mears. While he does not have the fame of his brother today, Albert was vital in the success of Whitehall and the White Lake area.

Helen Hume was the daughter of lumber baron Thomas Hume. She was also an avid traveler and writer. Her letters home contain insight into various sights around the world but also let us look at what was going on with the Hume family as she response to various letters sent to her. Join us to hear more about Helen's adventures and what was happening in Muskegon. 

Chauncey Davis would not only be Muskegon's first mayor but he was also instrumental in the creation of Muskegon County itself. Known as a honest man and respect by all, this is the story of his life. 

The Hackley Manual Training School would be the first of its kind in Michigan and would train generations of youth on manual skills. Learn how this great school got its start and what it taught its students. 

In 1891 Shaw Electric Crane opened in Muskegon Heights, it would stay in that location for 119 years. During that time it produced cranes, hoists, and lifts that were used in many keystone building projects throughout the world. 

Edward Gifford Crosby started out working in a sawmill and saving his money until he managed to purchase his own tugboat. From there he formed a partnership that would led to him owning a shipping line and becoming exceptionally wealthy.  This wealth would play a part in his death however, as Captain Crosby would die in the most famous shipwreck 108 years ago today.

Before electricity and refrigerators keeping food cool was a tough task. One of the main ways this was achieved was by using blocks of ice. That ice though had to come from somewhere and had to be available all year long. Listen in as today's podcasts explains how this was done.