The Victorian Era was the period of the reign of the English Queen Victoria from 1837 to 1901.  It was a time period when the economies of both England and the United States went from predominantly rural economies to the height of the Industrial Revolution.  A middle class emerged and a middle class emerged.  The many changes in this era in Southwest Michigan were significant from industry, railroads and medicine.

I also explore the impact on Christmas celebrations that came from this era, and influenced the many traditions we still practice today.

For more information on Michael Delaware, visit: https://www.michaeldelaware.com

Ticket locations for the 'Tales of Christmas Past' program at the Battle Creek Regional History Museum on December 17th, 2022 are at: Honor Credit Union in Battle Creek (Beckley Road, Helmer Rd & Urbandale), Biggby Coffee on Hill Brady Rd & Dickman Rd, the Art Center of Battle Creek and the Battle Creek Regional History Museum located at 307 W Jackson St Battle Creek MI 49037.

In this episode I explore some history of Union City with the life of celebrated artist J.P. Palmer as well as the Hammond House Museum where people in search of history today in the area can see a lot of his famous work.  J.Pierpont Palmer was born in 1856 in New York, and moved with his parents to Union City when he was 10 years old.  Even as a young boy he was gifted as an artist, and he would eventually go on to study at Albion College, and later at the Chicago Art Institute.  

He passed away in 1948, and today his work is still sought by art collectors.  His work during his life time was sold all over the U.S., as well as England and Sweden.  

For more information on Michael Delaware, visit: https://www.michaeldelaware.com

Author T.R. Shaw joins me to talk about the history of Michigan Wine.  The Michigan wine industry began with the early settlers of Detroit, and as the population headed west in the state, the Lake Michigan Shore and surrounding countryside all the way to Travese City developed into successful vineyards.  

For more information on T.R. Shaw and his book, visit: https://amzn.to/3UkAogo

For more information or to contact Michael Delaware, visit: https://www.michaeldelaware.com

Lawler's Corners was once a small town consisting of a general store at a crossroads where the Fort Custer Military base now stands.  It was once a stage coach stop along the route between Detroit and St. Louis, and also a key delivery location for mail for the village of Augusta in the 1830's.  The cemetery was established in 1831 on a farm owned by a man named Lawler, hence the name.  A school existed in this area until 1941, when if was closed during World War II by Fort Custer.  The cemetery is all that remains of those who lived in this small community, and it is managed by Charleston Township, in Kalamazoo County.  The cemetery is located between the Fort Custer Recreation area and the National Guard military base, and requires permission to visit.

The story of this small community if covered in this episode, as well as some of the stories of people who rest in Lawler Cemetery.

For more information on Michael Delaware, visit: https://www.michaeldelaware.com

The Fort Custer Recreation Area is located off of Dickman Road between Augusta, and Battle Creek, Michigan.  It is a 3000+ acre park which originally was a military training area that was eventually turned over to the Department of Natural Resources in the State of Michigan to develop into a State Park.  It was an eleven year journey for the State to acquire the land, and also a long journey to make is a safe place for public recreation.  At one point there were over 2500 live and defunct military ordinances, along with old artillery shells removed from one of the lakes, and several others removed by metal detectors from another section, as the land had once been used for target practice on the military reservation. 

The history of the year the Fort Custer Recreation Area was written a book published in 1985 by Faye Clark.

For more information on Michael Delaware, visit: https://www.michaeldelaware.com

In this episode, blogger and author Peggy Reiff Miller joins me to discuss the history of the SS Battle Creek Victory, and other ships in its class.  She has spent twenty years calaloguing and researching the history of the Heffer Project and the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration (UNRRA) project to bring livestock over to Europe in the post years of World War II.  The SS Battle Creek Victory was delivered in the final days of WWII, and instead of serving as its intended use as a wartime cargo ship, it became part of the UNRRA efforts to bring livestock to war torn Europe.  

She has inteviewed hundreds of members of the Seagoing Cowboys who cared for the livestock on these voyages across the Atlantic to deliver over 300,000 animals to Europe.  It is a fascinating history.  

For more information on Peggy Reiff Miller and her book The Seagoing Cowboy, visit: https://seagoingcowboys.com/resources/books/picture-book/

For information or to contact Michael Delaware, visit: https://www.michaeldelaware.com

In this episode I explore what life was like at Camp Custer in Battle Creek in 1918.  It was a few weeks after armistance, and the soldiers were returning from the front, and others were stationed at Camp Custer awaiting discharge.  Thousands of soldiers were on the base, and much of what was going on that weekend was published in the Camp newspaper called 'Custer Life' which share some of the interesting stories.

For more information on Michael Delaware, visit: https://www.michaeldelaware.com

Andrew Rees settled on land establishing a farm west of Battle Creek in 1835, bringing with him his wife and nine children from New York.  He would live in this area until his death 40 years later, and he is buried at Reece Cemetery in Springfield, Michigan.  He was respected in his time as being a farmer of thrift and industry, as well as a patriotic and public spirited citizen.  

His story was recorded by historian A.D.P. Van Buren in 1875, the year that he passed away.  The message from that period, and the mutual respect and veneration for each other is an important lesson from history.

For more information on Michael Delaware, visit: https://www.michaeldelaware.com

Dave Eddy & Bobbie Mathis join me for a talk on Thanksgiving and Holiday Traditions.  We explore stories of Union City, Albion, Marshall, Battle Creek and much, much more.  Hear the story of Dave's first holiday away from family in the radio business broadcasting remotely in Marshall.  Hear stories of Union City and a Christmas where the entire village was snowed in, and the sleighs were pulled from old barns to get around.  

We share these, and many other fun and interesting Tales of Southwest Michigan's Past.  

The holiday events in Union City are:

Saturday, November 26th at the Hammond House from 3-6 PM

Sunday, December 11th - Christmas Tea Social at All Things Serenity

At the Battle Creek Regional History Museum:

Saturday, December 17th,  'Tales of Christmas Past' - Featuring Dave Eddy, Bobbie Mathis, Michael Delaware, Donna Rickman, Brian & Jill McCombs.

Two performances: 2-4 PM & 6-8 PM

Tickets are $10 and can be found on sale at the Battle Creek Regional History Museum, The Art Center of Battle Creek, Biggby's Coffee at Hill Brady Rd and all three Honor Credit Union locations in Battle Creek (Helmer Rd, Beckley Rd & Urbandale)

For more information, visit: https://bcrhm.org

In my recent explorations of the Harman Halladay Cemetery in Bedford, Township Michigan I came across a headstone that led me down a path of determined research find the story behind it.  I discovered a man who was lost to all but who knew him, and he had died from an apparent suicide in a nearby marsh.  His name was Svetco Stoyanovitch, and his headstone was crudely carved with misspelled words, along with other odd information.  It is a curious story from the 1930's in the Battle Creek area.

For more information on Michael Delaware, visit: https://www.michaeldelaware.com

To watch the video I made on the Harmon Halladay Cemetery, click here: https://youtu.be/hQSQacMsI_g