Dulcenia (also spelled Dulcina) Daily was a woman who had endured a lot of loss and hardship in her life.  She was widowed at young age when her husband died just three years into their marriage, and she raised her son on her own, only to have him die in the Civil War.  She worked for years in a department in Washington D.C. helping people overcome their struggles following the war, and later in life she became world traveled.

She left an estate behind with specific instructions to establish a home for aged women in Michigan, and in doing so, set in motion changes in state law after her death.  This is the story of Dulcenia Home that she established.

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

Many people are familiar with the tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington, Virginia.  Not everyone is aware there are unknown soldiers buried in many cemeteries across Michigan.  In Southwest Michigan there are gravesites for these men in Calhoun, Kalamazoo, Allegan, Ottawa and Lake Counties to name a just a few.  Many are from the Civil War when as many as 40% of the dead soldiers were not identified in that conflict before burial.  There are also unknown soldiers from other wars buried in cemeteries across the state.

In this episode I explore not only the history of the Unknown Soldiers, but also the history of the dog tags and when they came into existence and why. 

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

To watch some of Michael Delawares videos on YouTube, visit: https://www.youtube.com/c/MichaelDelaware

Dennis Skupinksi from Michigan's Military Heritage Museum joins me for an interview on the subject of the Toledo War.  The historic boundary dispute between Michigan and Ohio, which was a complicated test for the growing Republic of the United States.  Mr. Skupiniski explains the events that led up to the territorial dispute which almost became a military conflict, but was ultimately settled.  Hear about this important chapter in Michigan history, which resulted in statehood.

For more information on Michigan's Military Heritage Museum, visit: https://mimhm.org

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

Lake Odessa is a small village of a little over 2000 people on the southern edge of Ionia County in Michigan.  It has an interesting history, as it was once about 1/2 mile North of its present location and known as Bonanza.  When the railroad came through, the entire village moved, including entire merchandise stores and goods to establish themselves closer to the train depot and railroad.  Bonanza was eventally lost to history, and Lake Odessa was born.

This area once had a German POW camp outside of the village during WW II.  These and other interesting stories are explored in this episode.

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

Camp Custer just west of Battle Creek was built in 1917 in just six months to provide comfortable quarters for 36,000 who were being trained to go over to the war in Europe.  The camp was built on the site of the village that was once known as Harmonia, and stretched its length of over four miles of territory. It was an incredible undertaking that had never been done before in the history of the U.S., and this episode covers the details of how the camp was built which would later become known as Fort Custer.

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

Follow Michael on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/MichaelDelaware

In this episode Bobbie Mathis from the Union City Society for Historic Preservation and Andrew Noland from Silent Cities Restoration join me to talk about cemetery headstone restoration.  Both have restored over 2000 headstones in various cemeteries across Michigan.  We discuss types of material historically used in headstones, the process used to level and repair headstones, as well as advice on how to prevent them from tilting.  The guests also give great advice on how to properly clean headstones, and what materials to use and which ones not to use.  

We also go into stories of cemeteries in Southwest Michigan and other areas of the state, and how some historic cemeteries have been ruined or lost, and how many others are being restored through the hard work of volunteers.  The episode also includes information on upcoming events to learn how to headstone restoration, and so much more!

For more information on Saving Graves, visit: https://www.facebook.com/groups/270307273437214

Andrew Noland's Silent Cities Restoration: https://www.silentcitiesrestoration.com/

Cemetery Conservators of United Standards: cemeteryconservatorsunitedstandards.org

Association of Gravestone Studies: https://www.gravestonestudies.org/

Friends of Lansing's Historic Cemeteries: https://folhc.wildapricot.org/

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

There was once a small community in Leroy Township known as Dogtown.  Today you would not even know this community every existed.  How did this community which was originally known as Fiddler's Grove become Dogtown?  These are the questions I asked myself when I first discovered the title of the little village marked on an 1894 Atlas of Leroy Township.  I began searching newspaper archives and history books and began to piece together the interesting history of this lost community just south of Battle Creek.

In my search, I discovered some interesting stories!  The oldest man to possibly ever have lived in Calhoun County once lived in Dogtown.  It once had a general store where the owner was arrested for selling alcohol during prohibition.  These and many other interesting stories are covered in this story which is rich with dogs and fiddle players.

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

Follow Michael Delaware on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/MichaelDelaware

Battle Creek Michigan has been the home to many music legends.  Some have been forgotten with time, and others still have their music played today in popular culture.  Del Shannon was famous for his #1 song 'Runaway', as was Junior 'Shotgun' Walker and the All Stars had several hits on the R&B Charts.  Much of their music is still popular, and some of their songs are still used in television shows and movies today.

Other artists have great stories such as Enos Wanzer who wrote for Mo-Town, and played with Stevie Wonder and the Supremes.  Melvin James 'Sy' Oliver who played with Tommy Dorsey, Frank Sinatra, Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald.  Then there is the break out story of Wade Flemons whose hit 'Here I Stand' went to #19 on the charts while he was still at the Battle Creek Central High School.  These and many other interesting stories are covered in this episode.

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

To watch the video on the Hamblin Opera House, click here: https://youtu.be/4AHZWSRCyTc

Author Amberrose Hammond joins me on the podcast to talk about her book that will be released in August: Mysterious Michigan.  We discuss Michigan legends, ghost stories, the Spiritualism movement, and some other tales of the macabre.  She gives us insight into some of the interesting stories in her new book, as well as some from here other published works.  It is a fun and interesting journey into some very old tales of yesterday.

For a list of books by Amberrose Hammond, visit her author profile on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3xYg24Q

To order her new book, Mysterious Michigan: https://amzn.to/3zFIbPl

The author's website: http://amberrosehammond.com/

To contact Michael Delaware, visit: https://michaeldelaware.com/

John Stewart Barry was elected the State of Michigan's 4th Governor in 1842, and served until 1846.  He was again elected in 1850 where he became the 8th Governor.  He is the only one in state history to serve three terms, and he is most noted for the expansion of the railroad, as well as the opening of the University of Michigan during his term.  He was also very interested in the cultivation of sugar beets in the state, and even visited Europe during his first term to obtain information on this crop.  

He was a successful businessman in the merchantile business in White Pigeon and later Constantine, when Michigan became a state.  He has served in the state constitutional convention, and was elected as the first Senator.  His story is quite an interesting one.

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