Michigan Trivia & Tidbits - Page 4

Looking for Michigan trivia? Try our list Michigan little know facts, tidbits and trivia.

—The state’s first surviving set of sextuplets was born January 2004 to Ben and Amy Van Houten of Hamilton. In September, the Van Houtens welcomed their seventh child, a daughter.

first appeared: 4/22/2007

—In 1928, Belgian immigrants Arthur and Julia VanHoutteghem couldn’t find darts and targets from Belgium, so they founded the Standard Target and Dart Co. Today, their grandchildren run the company in St. Clair Shores. The Belgian dart game originally was called Vogelpik.

first appeared: 4/8/2007

—Architect Elijah E. Myers won a national competition in 1871 to design the state Capitol in Lansing, which launched his career in public architecture. He later designed state capitols for Colorado and Texas. Myers died in 1909 and is buried in Detroit.

first appeared: 3/25/2007

—Ishpeming (pop. 6,686) in Marquette County is home to an outcrop of red jasper quartz, called Jasper Knob, which the city touts as the “world’s largest gemstone.”

first appeared: 3/11/2007

—Old truss bridges that no longer support vehicle traffic are restored and used on walking trails at Historic Bridge Park, located along the Kalamazoo River and Dickinson Creek, in Calhoun County.

first appeared: 2/27/2007

—The 1904 mansion of Shelly B. Hutchinson, co-founder of S&H Green Stamps, is in Ypsilanti (pop. 22,362). Established in 1896, S&H was among the first independent trading stamp companies, providing stamps and booklets to merchants who could redeem the stamps for merchandise at the S&H store.

first appeared: 2/11/2007

—In 1896, fisherman William Shakespeare Jr. developed a device to wind fishing line evenly back on the spool. He later patented the level-wind reel and founded what became known as The Shakespeare Co. in Kalamazoo. The fishing-tackle company moved its headquarters in 1970 to Columbia, S.C.

first appeared: 1/28/2007

One of the most influential labor leaders of the 20th century, Walter P. Reuther, moved to Detroit in the mid-1920s and served as president of the United Auto Workers from 1946 to 1970, helping develop the workingman’s benefits package, from health care to pensions.

first appeared: 1/14/2007

—“King of the Countdowns” Casey Kasem hosted Casey Kasem’s American Top 40 on the radio from 1970 to 2004. The Detroit native began his radio career as an actor on The Lone Ranger during his college years.

first appeared: 12/17/2006

—The world’s longest golf hole is 1,007 yards with a par 6 at Chocolay Downs Golf Course in Marquette (pop. 19,611).

first appeared: 12/3/2006

—Fennville (pop. 1,459) is nicknamed “Goosetown” because of the thousands of Canada geese that flock to the region each fall. Birdwatchers visit nearby Allegan (pop. 4,838) State Game Area for prime viewing.

first appeared: 11/19/2006

—Let it snow in Holland (pop. 35,048), which boasts the nation’s largest municipally run snow melting system. The system has about 60 miles of pipes that circulate warm water beneath downtown streets and sidewalks.

first appeared: 11/5/2006

—The largest free-range elk herd east of the Mississippi River roams in the aspen-filled Pigeon River State Forest in Otsego County (pop. 23,301), east of Vanderbilt (pop. 587). Motorists can see the herd from designated viewing areas.

first appeared: 10/22/2006

—The state is blessed with an abundance of cold-water trout streams and designates its finest as Blue Ribbon Trout Streams. The top-rated 868 miles of streams support excellent stocks of wild trout, permit fly casting and are shallow enough for wading.

first appeared: 10/8/2006

That lovable hunk of green clay, Gumby, was created by filmmaker Art Clokey, born in 1921 in Detroit. A photo of his dad sporting a wacky hairstyle inspired Gumby’s lopsided head. Gumby debuted on The Howdy Doody Show in 1956.

first appeared: 9/24/2006

The Michigan Walk of Fame in Lansing pays tribute to 12 famous Michiganians with bronze sidewalk plaques listing their names and achievements. Among those honored are automotive pioneer Henry Ford, musician Stevie Wonder and President Gerald R. Ford.

first appeared: 9/10/2006

Founded in 1852 as Stevens, the town's name was changed to Elk Rapids (pop. 2,741) six years later after a pair of elk horns was found in the Meguzee River rapids. Likewise, the river's name was changed to Elk.

first appeared: 8/27/2006

Linda Plyler, postmaster of Shaftsburg, stitched a quilt titled "488 Pride" with the histories or claims to fame of the 80 towns within the 488 ZIP code, including Gizzard Fest in Potterville (pop. 2,168) and Fireman's Field Day in Webberville (pop. 1,503).

first appeared: 8/13/2006

In 1942, mothers of U.S. servicemen met in Flint to organize the Blue Star Mothers of America, which became a national troop-support group. Participating mothers displayed flags with a blue star to indicate a child in service and a gold star to signify a casualty.

first appeared: 7/30/2006

Preston Tucker, who in the 1940s took on the Big Three automakers by launching the Tucker automobile, was born in 1903 in Capac (pop. 1,775). The innovative Tucker automobile boasted disc brakes, a pop-out safety windshield and padded dashboard.

first appeared: 7/16/2006

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