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Three MI Moments from February
1. The King of Motown is Born
On February 19, 1940, Detroit welcomed the man Bob Dylan would later call "America's greatest living poet."
William "Smokey" Robinson. A Northern High grad who wrote or co-wrote over 4,000 songs and served as the primary architect of the "Motown Sound."
He wasn't just a singer—he was the vice president. Smokey helped Berry Gordy turn a family home on West Grand Blvd into the global powerhouse "Hitsville U.S.A."
From writing "My Girl" to performing "Tears of a Clown," he earned 12 Top 10 hits as a solo artist and 26 with the Miracles, cementing his legacy as a music icon.
2. Michigan History Gone Forever
In February 1951, a 19-year-old clerk’s plan to dodge the Korean War draft by starting a "small" fire in Lansing spiraled into Michigan's worst archival disaster.
Richard Shay confessed to starting the blaze in a mezzanine wastebasket. The fire burned for four days, destroying the State Library and incinerating over 30,000 irreplaceable records.
The disaster served as a massive wake-up call, eventually leading to the construction of the modern, climate-controlled Michigan Library and Historical Center to protect the state’s remaining and future history.
3. The Little Giant of Detroit
In February 1906, the shortest Heavyweight Champion in history claimed the crown after rising through the boxing ranks in Detroit.
Standing at just 5'7", Tommy Burns defeated Marvin Hart in a grueling 20-round decision to win the World Heavyweight title.
After 13 successful title defenses against 11 different opponents, Burns did what no white champion before him would: he agreed to break the "Color Line."
While refusing the fight for years, Burns couldn’t turn down the $30,000 purse, the largest amount ever at the time for a single fight.
In 1908, Burns stepped into the ring with Johnson as the 3-1 favorite; though he ultimately lost the fight and his title, the sport was changed forever.
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MI History Photo of the Week
Breaking a Barrier, the World Heavyweight Fight
Tommy Burns vs Jack Johnson - circa 1908
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MI Trivia
On February 22, 1959, Detroit’s Olympia Stadium made television history by hosting the first-ever NHL game to be broadcast in color against which "Original Six" rival?
Tip: Click or tap on your guess to see if you got it right!
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MI History Spotlight
Black History Month at The Henry Ford
Throughout February, the Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation hosts its annual Black History Month celebration, featuring daily "Celebrate Black History" guided tours and live musical performances.
Visitors can explore the revolutionary legacy of the actual Rosa Parks bus or learn about the ingenious inventions of Michigan’s own Elijah McCoy, whose work helped drive the American Industrial Age.
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My Michigan Reflection
The 1951 State Office Building fire is a heartbreaking piece of Michigan history. It’s hard to wrap my head around the fact that 30,000 records are gone forever.
Thankfully, how we store and protect our history has vastly improved. Many records are now digitized, but millions more sit in boxes, waiting to be discovered.
That reality is exactly why I’m so passionate about making Michigan history accessible. It’s a reminder that we need to protect, share, and celebrate our stories while we can.
And speaking of stories, here are a few numbers that blew my mind this week:
The $30,000 purse that Tommy Burns earned for losing his heavyweight fight in 1908 would be worth ~$1,000,000 today.
Smokey Robinson is credited with 4,000 songs. To match that, you would have to write one song every single day for nearly 11 years straight.
Until next week, thank you for reading Michigan History Digest.
— Zac and the Welcome Home History Team.
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MI History Rewind
Our can’t-miss videos from the week
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