Captain Ward

Posted on Wednesday, November 28, 2007 @ 11:02 pm
Filed Under History, Michigan
One response

Eber Brock Ward was Michigan's most famous and most innovative Rich Man for much of the 19th century; his best comp is certainly Henry Ford, who flourished about 75 years later. I don't think anyone's written a full-blown biography of Ward, but there are pieces of him all over my library.

Full Posting →

Railroad Fever

Posted on Wednesday, October 17, 2007 @ 7:45 pm
Filed Under History, Michigan, Railroads, Stories
One response

The entire nation had the Railroad Fever in 1869. Michigan was nursing two outbreaks: Promoters were raising money to build a more direct line (an "air line") between Detroit and Chicago which would roughly follow the route of the Chicago Road, and actual construction was occurring for a line connecting Jackson and Grand Rapids. Both remain interesting, for different reasons.

Full Posting →

Autumn, Mulliken Road

Posted on Wednesday, October 10, 2007 @ 6:50 pm
Filed Under Eaton County, Picture Show
No responses

Took this on yesterday's lunch break. Colors are finally changing....

Full Posting →

Engineer’s Day

Posted on Saturday, June 25, 2005 @ 9:08 am
Filed Under History, Lakers, Sault Ste Marie
No responses

In June of every year the Corps of Engineers holds an open house at the Soo Locks, and thousands of fans show up to explore the grounds, view the passing ships from an unusual perspective, and look over the exhibits. Yesterday was that day, and Joan and I were among the crowd. Here we see some of the visitors crossing the massive gate which holds back Lake Superior at the the downriver end of the 105 foot wide Poe Lock.

Full Posting →

Stopgap Solutions

Posted on Wednesday, July 28, 2004 @ 9:57 am
Filed Under Michigan, Political Process, Readings
No responses

While I really dislike the short term limits we've put on the legislature, I don't see this connection.  Methought one purpose of the term limits was to reduce the proportion of career politicians in office, thus reducing those officials' institutional commitments and freeing up the creative juices.  That objective was certainly worthwhile, and ought to still apply.

Full Posting →

keep looking »