Erastus Hussey was an early pioneer in Michigan, originally from the New York.  He first came to Michigan in 1824, and settled in the Plymouth Township area.  He eventually married, and had a child, and then moved to Battle Creek in September 1838.  First he was in the shoe repair manufacturing business, and also owned a grocery store.  He later owned and operated a dry good store in downtown.

In 1840, he was approached by a man who asked him to serve as a station master on the newly formed Underground Railroad.  His station would be in Battle Creek, and his responsibility would be to feed, provide shelter for and help with safe passage fugitive slaves on their way to Canada.  He would work in this clandestine activity until 1865, and help over a thousand freedom seekers in twenty-five years.  

In this episode I cover some of his back story, as well as his own personal accounts given in his only known interview that he gave about his time in serving the underground railroad.  He also told the story about the group of 45 former slaves who came through all one night, following the Kentucky Slave Raid in Cass County.

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

The Haskell Home Orphanage was built in 1894 in Battle Creek Michigan, under the guidance of Dr. John Harvey Kellogg, and funded by Caroline Haskell, and widow who had visited the Sanitarium and wanted to contribute to the community.  The model for the building was featured at the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893 when it was being constructed.  

It was a beautiful three story building with an attic, basement and limestone and wood.  It had a 1/2 pitch Gothic roof, with a immense veranda that spanned the front of facade.  It became a home where an average of 100 to 150 children at a time would be housed, educated and nurtured into adulthood.  

In the early hours of a February morning in 1909, a fire broke out in the building which quickly spread to all three stories.  The tragedy would not only destroy the last orphanage that existed in Battle Creek, and likely Southwest Michigan, but also three children would perish in the fury of the blaze.  

In this episode I interview author Jim Jackson who wrote the book: The Haskell Home Orphanage Tragedy.

To get a copy of his book, click here: https://amzn.to/3zBwskL

To watch the video on the Haskell Home Tragedy by Michael Delaware: https://youtu.be/goAYl7wDTok

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

A forgotten and yet disturbing tale from the early history of Battle Creek was the Haviland Children Murders of 1865.  It was not the first crime in the community, nor would it be the last, but when it occurred, it sent shockwaves across the state of Michigan and even the nation.  Sarah Haviland, a mother of six, would decide to murder her own children so that she could be with a man she had fallen into a romance with.  She succeeded in killing three of her children, and the story is a strange tale which even today has many unanswered questions.  

Sarah Haviland would be the only woman in Jackson State Prison for almost three decades, and would eventually be released after serving only 30 years of a life sentance.  Her lover, Dr. Daniel Baker, would die in prison.  

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

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

The small village of Stevensville in Berrien County has a population of less than 1200 people.  It was originally platted by a man named Thomas L. Stevens in 1870.  He had purchased a large tract of acreage, and made an agreement with the Chicago and Went Michigan Lake Shore Railroad Company to allow them to lay a rail line through his land, and establish a train depot.  Another well known pioneer from the village was John Beers, who today still have a road named after him in area.  It is an interesting history of this small community on the shores of Lake Michigan. 

Grand Mere State Park is in close proximity to Stevensville, and is 1127 acres which has 91% of it identified as a Primitive Zone, and in 1968 was designated as a National Natural Landmark.  The park contains magnificent high-relief dunes formed approximately 12,000 years ago, and is managed by the State of Michigan under the Sand Dunes Potection Act of 1978.

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

The Bailey Museum and Gardens honors the life of Liberty Hyde Bailey, Jr, known as the father of modern Horticulture.  He was born in South Haven, and grew up on an 80 acre tract of land where his father had an orchard and a forest.  From an early age, his mother, teacher and other members of the community saw the potential in the young Bailey, and helped him overcome his obstacles to going to college in Lansing.

My guest in this interview is Dan Williamson who is with the Bailey Museum and Gardens, which is located at: 903 S Bailey St in South Haven.

To find out more abour the museum, visit: 

https://www.libertyhydebailey.org

For a copy of Liberty Hyde Bailey's book The Holy Earth, as mentioned in this interview, visit: https://www.libertyhydebailey.org/shop

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

John Nichols was the co-founder of the Nichols & Shepard Company in Battle Creek that became internationally known in their time for the production of agricultural threshing machines.  The company was founded in 1850, and by 1870 it had grown from a small shop on canal street to a manufacturing facility on the East side of Battle Creek which consisted of 40 acres and a dedicated railroad station.  His son Edwin C. Nichols would grow up in Battle Creek, and begin working for the company at young age learning every detail from the bottom up.  He would eventually take over as President of the industrial company, and would grow it further.  

Both men were charitable and honest businessmen what helped Battle Creek grow.  John Nichols built homes for each of the men who worked for him, and also established Nichols Hospital.  Edwin would have a reputation for years of not only supporting the hospital his father established, but also donate to every religious denomination in the city, as well as become the Mayor of Battle Creek for one term.

Both men have a fascinating story.

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

To find his YouTuber channel, visit: https://www.youtube.com/c/MichaelDelaware

In this episode I cover the early history of Kalamazoo Michigand the origins of the name Kalamazoo.  The town was originally named Bronson, after the first settler by that name.  In later years the town name was changed to Kalamazoo, after the river.  The area was once well known for celery as a crop, and it is the birthplace of the famous Gibson Guitars and the Checker Cabs, among many other industries.  

These and many other stories are covered in this episode of the city and county with the funny name, Kalamazoo.

For more information on the history of Kalamazoo, visit: https://www.kalamazoomi.com

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

In this episode I interview Julie Rathsack, who is the co-author of the book Ghosts of Grand Rapids which was released in 2013.  We cover a whole host of ghost stories about the Grand Rapids area, and also the historical backstories for many of the events and locations.  We discuss hauntings at the Michigan Bell Building, the Amway Grand Hotel, Phillips Mansion, St. Celia Music Center, the Morton House Hotel, the Trust Building and the Livingston Hotel, along with a few urban legends in the area.  It is a fascinating and often spooky time in this journey through ghostly Tales of Southwest Michigan's Past.

For more information Julie Rathsack tours, visit: https://www.paranormalmichigan.com

For a copy of Ghosts of Grand Rapids, visit: https://amzn.to/3vHPCDk

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

The great flood that occured primarily in Southwest Michigan between March 24th through March 29th in 1904 was the most unprecedented event in the history of the state up to that point in history.  On March 14th, a snowstorm dropped a record snowfall across lower Michigan averaging 10 inches in most areas.  Later in the month this ice pack would combine with heavy rains to create an unprecidented flood that raised the river levels across lower Michigan.  Lansing, Grand Rapids, Ionia, Battle Creek, Kalamazoo and many other communties saw the worst flooding in recorded history.  

What made this event so significant is that is not only caused flooding to levels never before seen, but the waters did not recede for four days due to constant rainfall in the region.  In this episode I explore some of the damage, destruction, stories of rescue and amazing history of the untamed nature of water which at times of abundance can know no bounds.

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

In this episode I explore the early history of South Haven, located on the mouth of the Black River, as a pioneer settlement, emerging as a lumber milling industry and later a productive farming community known for its blueberries, apples and peaches.  I also discuss its growth as a city for tourism during the 1920's through 1940's, which developed into a prospering entertainment and resort area for tourists from Chicago and Milwaukee.  It has a fascinating history, and the community is still a popular summer destination in Michigan to this day.

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