Mich History 1/2-96
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Second-class postage paid at Lansing, MI ABOUT — AND A PART OF — MICHIGAN’S FASCINATING PAST SINCE 1917. $2.95 MAGAZINE JANUARY / FEBRUARY 1996 GIANTS OF THE PAST Michigan’s Worst Civil War Colonel Henry Bibb’s Flight to Freedom ABOUT — AND A PART OF — MICHIGAN’S FASCINATING PAST SINCE 1917. $2.95 MAGAZINE JANUARY / FEBRUARY 1996 FEATURES 10 Crafted with Good Intentions Although designed to help Michigan Indians support themselves during the Great Depression, the Michigan Indian Handicraft Project never dealt with the needs of the people it sought to help. by Patricia Dyer-Dechrow 17 Second to None in the World page 10 Since the Belle Isle Aquarium opened in 1904, it has entertained and fascinated the tens of thousands that visit each year. by Erik P. Bean 20 “Break Your Chains and Fly for Freedom” Slave Henry Bibb, after risking his life several times to escape the horrors of the South’s peculiar institution, came to Michigan and devoted his life to the abolitionist movement. by Janice Martz Kimmel 28 Backhoes, Bulldozers and Behemoths A window was opened to Michigan’s prehistoric past with the discovery of a mastodon that roamed the mid-Michigan area twelve thousand years ago. by Margaret M. Barondess 34 “The Worst Colonel I Ever Saw” Appointed a colonel of the Twelfth Michigan Volunteer Infantry for political page 34 reasons, Francis Quinn later lost his regiment, his reputation and ultimately, his life, due to his arrogance and incompetence. by Robert C. Myers 44 Remembering Harriet In October 1995 California writer Giacinta Bradley Koontz organized the first workshop devoted to the life and times of Michigan-born aviatrix Harriet Quimby. 47 The Grand Old Lady of the Lakes After ninety-seven years of service, the 428-foot-long freighter E. M. Ford, still plies the unpredictable waters of the Great Lakes. by William C. Kemp DEPARTMENTS 2 FROM THE EDITOR 7 DATEBOOK 53 MICHIGAN PROFILE Nancy Harkness Love 3 LETTERS 8 FROM THE CENTER by Carey L. Draeger 5 HISTORY HAPPENINGS 50 EDITOR’S BOOKSHELF 56 POSTSCRIPT ON THE COVER First discovered on a farm in 1947 by a University of Michigan Paleontology Museum team, this mastodon skeleton is one of the most complete ever found in Michigan. Scientists estimate this mastodon, a female, lived about eleven thousand years ago. Worn edges on her broken tusk reveal the breakage occurred during her lifetime. The Owosso mastodon resides at the University of Michigan Exhibit Museum of Natural History. For more information on Michigan’s mastodons, please turn to page 28. Photo: Duaine Brenner January/February 1996 page 20 1 FROM THE EDITOR LETTERS TO THE EDITOR MAGAZINE Volume 80 • Number 1 Secretary of State ancestor and how he was inspired to One of the rewards of being editor of this magazine is reading the letters—both positive and negative— Candice S. Miller Sundblom’s Santa Claus compose his well-loved poem. Michigan History Magazine is won- we receive from readers. Director, Michigan Historical Center Sandra Sageser Clark derful, a treasure of information about In the September/October issue I concluded my article about the visits of Theodore Roosevelt and Bill Clinton I enjoyed reading our heritage. to Michigan State University by observing how 1995 graduates—like their 1907 counterparts—could tell their Editor Mary Alice Rasmussen Dr. Roger L. Rosentreter “Michigan’s Coca-Cola Grosse Pointe children and grandchildren about their commencement speaker. I didn’t know if those early graduates took any lasting pride in TR’s visit, but I was confident they must have. Then Ruth Wright from Tryon, North Carolina, told Assistant Editors Santa Claus”and learning Carey L. Draeger Hemingway Story me how her father, who had received his diploma from President Roosevelt that day in East Lansing, “often spoke Sharon E. McHaney that Thomas Nast was not Sparks Memory of that experience.” I called Ms. Wright, who claims she reads the magazine “from cover to cover,” and told her Marketing Manager Mention of the now-vanished Walton that she had made my day. The rest of her charming letter is on page 4. Diana Paiz Engle the only artist to depict that Junction restaurant in Jack Jobst’s fine article on Ernest Hemingway, “Gone Not all readers are as pleased with what we do. Circulation portly elf in Clement Moore’s Fishin’,” (November/December 1995) After receiving the September/October issue, one reader wondered why President Clinton was on the cover? Carole Pope, Manager reminded me of my great-uncle L. W. Joni Russell, Clerk Griffin of Traverse City. His many tal- And why we ran an article about unions (John Beck’s piece on the Northern Mineral Mineworkers)? In her “ ’Twas the Night Before ents included a realistic-sounding horse opinion, neither piece had anything to do with Michigan history and she demanded her money back. Secretary Mary Jo Remensnyder Christmas.” whinny—a treat for us young nephews The other day I received a letter from a more loyal subscriber critical of the article about Leon Czolgosz who plagued him for it everytime we Contributing Editors Mary Alice Rasmussen saw him. (President William McKinley’s assassin) that appeared in the November/December issue. Describing it as Dr. LeRoy Barnett, Dr. John R. Halsey, Grosse Pointe L. W. was a conductor on the Penn- “outrageous” to attempt to “justify the murder,” Gordon Helmbold of Brownsville, Texas, saw Jeremy Kilar’s Laura Rose Ashlee and Scott M. Peters sylvania Railroad during the early twentieth century and often ate at this The Michigan Historical Commission—Ann Preston Koeze, president, piece as “a gross insult to the other members of the Czolgosz family—and to millions of other immigrant families Robert J. Danhof, Susanne M. Janis, William C. Whitbeck and Samuel Logan Jr.—provides advice on historical activities of the Department of Walton Junction restaurant during his from many nations—who overcame severe adversities in their lives bravely and sanely in [the] true American State, including the publication of this magazine. Ft. Wayne-Mackinaw City run, when Manuscripts for publication review, books for review and notices to be included in History Happenings should be sent to Editor, Michigan History the train paused for switching (part of manner.” Mr. Helmbold observed, “Surely there must be many happenings and people who contributed to our Magazine, Michigan Department of State, Lansing, MI 48918-1805. While Michigan History Magazine makes every effort to care for all materials the train went to Traverse City, the rest sent to us, the Michigan Department of State assumes no responsibility for state’s greatness, the records of whom have not yet been presented in the pages of this magazine. Surely articles unsolicited photographs, manuscripts or books. The Michigan Department to Mackinaw City). of State does not assume responsibility for statement of fact or opinion about them would be more representative of our state, and more worthwhile reading, than any record about a made by contributors. One morning he was walking toward Publication of Michigan History Magazine provides matching funds for grants from the National Park Service, United States Department of the the restaurant when a fellow railroad murdering anarchist.” Interior. The opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of the Interior. Regulations of the U.S. Department of the Interior man said, “Come on, Griff, whinny for strictly prohibit unlawful discrimination in departmental Federally Assisted Mr. Helmbold is correct. There are numerous little-known and interesting stories about Michiganians who have Programs on the basis of race, color, national origin, age or handicap. Any per- your oats.” L. W. replied with a loud son who believes he or she has been discriminated against in any program, activity or facility operated by a recipient of Federal assistance should write: whinny. Then the restaurant door made contributions to this state, country and world. In this issue these include pieces on Nancy Harkness Love, Director, Equal Opportunity Program, U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Box 37127, Washington, DC 20013-7127 opened and a fellow nicknamed Swede Henry Bibb and William Graves Quinn. Copyright Michigan Department of State 1996 came out, looked around, scratched his Mr. Helmbold concluded by telling me he has “long been proud of Michigan History Magazine, and want[s] to head and declared, “Ay tought ay SUBSCRIPTION PROBLEMS heeard a horse outside!” continue to be so.” I want him to remain a proud subscriber. Neither we nor Professor Kilar intended to embarrass If you have questions about your subscrip- tion, have missed issues, have a change of L. W. Griffin began working on the immigrants (which includes my grandparents) or praise Leon Czolgosz’s misguided actions. However, the warts address, are receiving duplicate issues or railroad at age nine, when he carried want to place gift subscriptions or purchase I enjoyed reading about “Michigan’s water for a narrow-gauge logging loco- and blemishes of society are part of our history, and historians must include them when recording the past no back issues, please call us toll-free at 1-800- Coca-Cola Santa Claus” (November/ motive at the Lower Chicago Camps matter how unattractive or discomforting they may be. 366-3703 (Lansing-area residents please call December 1995) and learning that near Big Rapids, Michigan, where his 373-1645). Operating hours: Monday through Thomas Nast was not the only artist to father was a blacksmith. Friday, 8:00 A.M. to Noon and 1:00 to 5:00 P.M. (EST). depict that portly elf in Clement How he got his whinnying skill, I Moore’s “’Twas the Night Before don’t know.