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🗓️ This Week’s MI Moments
Monday: 🥤 America’s Oldest Surviving Soda Brand
Tuesday: ⛪ 13 Former Slaves Built a MI Sanctuary
Digest Exclusive: In the secret language of the Underground Railroad, Detroit was given the code name "Midnight." Because the Second Baptist Church was the final stop before crossing the river into Canada, it was the literal gateway between the darkness of slavery and the light of freedom. Legend has it that leaders like Frederick Douglass and John Brown met here to plan the movement.
Wednesday: 🌳 How Ann Arbor Got Its Name
Bonus: When the town was first plotted in 1824, it was recorded as "Annarbour"—a name chosen after the founders rejected "Allensville" and "Annapolis."
While many towns carry female names, most are named for foreign Queens or Saints. Ann Arbor is one of the few major American cities named specifically for "commoner" pioneer women. It’s a rare instance where the women of the frontier got top billing on the map.
Thursday: 🏙️ Celebrating Detroit History: 313 Day
Friday: 🪣 The Only Floating ZIP Code in the U.S.
Bonus: While other boat services exist, the J.W. Westcott II is the only one with an official U.S. Postal Service ZIP code. It functions as a contract post office, meaning you can address mail directly to a sailor on a specific ship via '48222' and the USPS will get it to the boat for delivery.
The Westcott isn't just for mail—it's essentially the river's convenience store, taxi, and sometimes, rescue boat. They’ve delivered everything from fresh pizzas and flowers to emergency engine parts, and they even operate as a water taxi for ship pilots. And in 2023, they heroically rescued a construction worker who fell 150 feet from the Ambassador Bridge into the Detroit River!
Tip: Click the underlined title for any day to watch on YouTube for free!
💬 MI Community Spotlight
The 1837 Club: Member Recognition
A special shoutout to four of our Founding Members of The 1837 Club for helping us preserve Michigan's history: Alan S., Emily A., Heidi F., and Marsha Q. Your support helps make this all possible, including our March is Reading Month initiative!
Want to see your name featured and support Michigan history? Become a Founding Member today. Click here to learn more about The 1837 Club.
📸 MI Photo of the Week
Delivery on the Detroit River
The J.W. Westcott II delivering mail to a freighter
Photo credit - John from TikTok
📍 MI People & Places
The Legend of the Olympia: Gordie Howe
On March 12, 1972, the Detroit Red Wings retired Gordie Howe’s iconic number 9 jersey during a historic ceremony at the Detroit Olympia, aka the “Old Red Barn”.
Known as "Mr. Hockey," Howe played 25 seasons in Detroit, winning four Stanley Cups and setting nearly every scoring record of his era.
He remains the ultimate symbol of Michigan’s competitive spirit and the foundation of Detroit’s enduring identity as "Hockeytown".
🔎 MI Local Spotlight
Michigan Small Business Spotlight
A community driven media platform dedicated to telling the stories of the local businesses, entrepreneurs, and people who make Michigan worth living in.
Every week they publish editorial features, a newsletter, and video content that puts real Michigan businesses in front of a real engaged Michigan audience.
✍🏼 My Michigan Reflection
I’ve been drinking Vernors for as long as I can remember, but I never realized it was America’s oldest surviving soda brand. I always thought it was Dr. Pepper!
I also lived in Ann Arbor for a few years and never actually learned how it got its name until after I moved away. As a history buff, I couldn’t believe these facts slipped past me for so long. But it’s a great reminder that history is truly all around us—in the products we use, the places we live, and the people we meet.
That’s exactly why I made sure to go to Detroit on Friday to experience 313 Day in person. Even though the wind was strong enough to literally blow you away, it was awesome to see so many businesses taking part and so many people coming out to celebrate the 313.
Until next week, thank you for reading Michigan History Digest.
— Zac and the Welcome Home History Team.
🎓 MI History Trivia
In March 1961, President John F. Kennedy officially established which global service organization, an idea famously inspired by a 2:00 AM speech he gave to students at the University of Michigan?
Tip: Click or tap on your guess to see how you did!
P.S. You can leave us any feedback you may have after making your guess or replying to this email.