Muskegon History and Beyond with the Lakeshore Museum Center

Born in Italy, Peter Spaniola immigrated to the United States and made his way to Muskegon. Eventually he and his family would run a local grocery store, but not without many trials and tribulations including a robbery gone wrong, a rabid dog attack, and a terrible family tragedy.

Located in the Northeast corner of Muskegon County, Holton and Holton Township have a long history. Much of the area was included as reservation land in the Treaty of Detroit and it would become mixed up in various land claims. Eventually a small community would grow and flourish there.

From 1943-1954, the United States saw its first professional women's sports, notably in the form of baseball. This episode will look at how the women's league got its start and why it ended. There will also be talk of Muskegon's own team, the Lassies and their history.

During World War II the Muskegon chapter of the Red Cross was looking for a new home. They found a home at the old Hackley House, which was donated to them by Erie, daughter of Charles and Julia. Listen in as we talk about how the Red Cross operated in this historic house and what services they provided during wartime.

Nestled in a small lot in downtown Muskegon, the Monet Garden is a piece of tranquility in a busy city. This garden is a tribute to Claude Monet the famous French impressionist painter and his garden in France. This episode will explain how this local garden came to be and what existed on that spot before it was transformed.

Lakeshore Garden Masters Website:

https://www.lakeshoregardenmasters.org/

To donate to the garden:

https://cffmc.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/create/fund?funit_id=2081

Did you know that Muskegon in the 1880s had a mini salt boom? Always trying to diversify their business and the towns industry, many lumber barons followed the suit of Saginaw area barons who had great success drilling brine wells to produce salt. Today we look at where this salt came from, how it was produced, and why it ultimately never gained any long term footing in Muskegon.

Millions of years ago much of Michigan was covered in a shallow salt water sea. This sea would shape Michigan in many ways including what bedrock, fossils, and resources we would have. Today we learn all about this sea and the basin it created.

The Michigan Irish Music Festival occurs every year in Muskegon in September, and has become one of the largest Irish music festivals in the United States. In this interview we discuss the festivals history, how it operates, and how you can get involved.

To find out more information, purchase tickets, or to volunteer check out: https://michiganirish.org/

Did you know that during WWII German prisoners worked on Muskegon farms? On this episode we will look at the reasons why they were here, and the lifelong connections that formed between the prisoners and farmers.

What began as Deer Park, a petting zoo with deer being a main attraction, would eventually add various rides and become the top attraction in West Michigan. Today we trace the history of Michigan's Adventure from its early days to today.