This is the part where I’m supposed to say something so … I agree that this Ford looks totally tough.
The Enrico Fermi Nuclear Power Plant
Nuclear Wetlands, photo by mandj98.
James writes that the Enrico Fermi Nuclear Power plant is located on Lake Erie about six miles from Point Mouillee.
The Department of Energy’s page on the Enrico Fermi plant says that it was named for the first physicist to split the atom. The prototype Fermi 1 unit operated at the site from 1963 to 1972 and is now mothballed. The current 1,111 MW Fermi 2 unit is operated by Detroit Edison Company. It’s a boiling water reactor that ranks as Michigan’s 9th largest nuclear reactor.
Wikipedia’s entry for Fermi notes that plant suffered a partial meltdown on October 5, 1966, an event that inspired the Gil Scott-Heron song We Almost Lost Detroit. There was no reported release of radiation or injury.
Here’s an aerial view of Fermi Nuclear Power plant and you can also check out this satellite view of the Enrico Fermi Nuclear Power plant on the Absolute Michigan map of Michigan.
Chromatic: Gilmore Car Museum
Chromatic, photo by pairadocs.
Vince made his first visit to the Gilmore Car Museum in Hickory Corners. He says that he spent so much time drooling over the pretty cars, that didn’t stop to take note of what all of them were.
It looks like that would be easy to do:
The Gilmore Car Museum began in 1963 as the hobby of Donald S. Gilmore when his wife, Genevieve, gave him an antique car for his birthday – a 1920 Pierce-Arrow “project car”. With the help of some friends, the auto was placed under a tent and a full restoration followed. The hobby soon grew into a collection of over 30 automobiles. Mr. Gilmore purchased 90 acres of farm property and had several historic barns dismantled piece by piece and moved to the site. It was Mr. Gilmore’s wife who suggested the idea of turning the collection into a museum where future generations could enjoy the restored cars for years to come…
Today, the site includes eight historic barns, a re-created 1930s service station, a small town train station, and nearly three miles of paved roads. It isn’t uncommon for guest to catch a glimpse of one of the vintage cars or the authentic London double-decker bus in motion. And if you visit on a weekend or special show, don’t be surprised if the driver asks you to hop in for a nostalgic road trip!
Today the Gilmore Car Museum houses almost 200 cars, from a 1899 Locomobile to the classic Duesenberg and Tucker ’48 and all the way up to the muscle cars of the 60s and 70s. museum is located between Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo & Battle Creek and is open daily from 9 AM – 5 PM (6 on weekends), May through October and hosts a number of great events throughout the summer and fall.
Be sure to view the above photo larger and here’s a bunch more photos from the Gilmore Car Museum on Flickr (slideshow).
Cherry Blossom Time in Michigan
Cherry Blossom Time, Benzie County Michigan, photo by John Clement Howe.
The photo is part of John’s amazing Benzie County! photo set (slideshow) and it’s no coincidence that the next photo is a tasty looking morel mushroom – both cherry blossoms and morels are found at the same time of year!
Every May, the cherry trees of Michigan burst forth in white clouds of splendor, and dwelling as I do in the heart of Michigan’s cherry country, I am lucky enough to have a front row seat. I was struck by how little presence Michigan has in the cherry blossom information that can be found online. We’re just an afterthought on Wikipedia’s Sakura (cherry blossom) entry and event a search for Michigan cherry blossoms yields mostly Japanese restaurants.
I suppose that the fruit has become the bigger deal, but it wasn’t always that way. In their History of the National Cherry Festival, the Agile Writer notes that the Festival began in 1910 with a prayer ceremony for a good cherry crop. It was formalized in 1925, when the cherry growers partnered with Traverse City merchants to create the “Blessing of the Blossoms Festival” to promote the region and the cherry business.
- The annual Blossomtime Festival takes place this weekend (first weekend of May) in Southwest Michigan.
- A search for “blossom” at the Leland Report finds a lot of photos including this beauty of a White Barn, White Blossoms & White Clouds.
- On Saturday, May 10th Leelanau County will host a Cherry Blossom Tour with free bus rides to orchards – a great photo outing!
- The Wineries of Old Mission host their annual Blossom Days May 17th & 18th.
- Here’s a Blossom slideshow from the Absolute Michigan pool that’s heavy on cherry blossoms!
- There’s got to be more! Post anything you know or questions you have below!
skateboardingrevised: jack steezattack
jack steezattack, photo by evan mckendry.
This photo is part of Evan’s skateboardingrevised set (slideshow).
…and because Michigan in Pictures is nothing if not slightly random, here’s a slightly random link to the world’s largest skateboard from Bay College in Escanaba (complete with “Bigfoot quality video”).
MayDay!
Straight Out Of The House, photo by SNWEB.ORG Photography
This photo is part of SNWEB’s Detroit Fire Department set (slideshow). He says that you can buy a print of this photo with one click but that if you are a DFD member and would like a print, please contact him directly!
I’m featuring this photo because I was tipped off (from a fan of the Michigan archives) that the Society of American Archivists recognize May 1st as MayDay. They say:
Protecting our collections is one of our fundamental responsibilities as archivists. The Heritage Health Index, released in 2005 soon after hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Wilma struck the Gulf Coast, reported that few institutions have disaster plans and for those that do, often the plan is out of date. It’s easy to put off emergency response planning as we devote our attentions to tasks with more immediate “payback”
But on May 1 – this year and every year – you can do something that will make a difference when and if an emergency occurs. That’s the purpose of MayDay – a grassroots effort whose goal is to save our archives.
MayDay is a time when archivists and other cultural heritage professionals take personal and professional responsibility for doing something simple – something that can be accomplished in a day but that can have a significant impact on an individual’s or a repository’s ability to respond.
Reading through their recommended activities made me think that all of us could take a few minutes today to think about a preservation plan for our photos and other historical records.
Why Stop To Think Of Weather
Why Stop To Think Of Weather, photo by jbnuthatch.
jbnuthatch offers an excerpt from I’m In The Mood For Love that I everyone in Michigan probably needs to hum one day or another.
Why stop to think of whether
This little dream might fade
We’ve put our hearts together
Now we are one, I’m not afraidIf there’s a cloud above
If it should rain, we’ll let it
But, for tonight, forget it
I’m in the mood for love
I think it’s also pretty obvious that I have some sort of thing for ducks
Tulip Time Two Thousand (and Eight)
Growing UP, photo by luna.nik
Despite the best efforts of a seemingly endless winter not to end, the bulbs are once again bursting forth with colorful goodness, to be celebrated most especially in Holland this weekend ( May 3-10, 2008 ) with the annual Tulip Time festival.
Much more today (including a tulip slideshow) on Absolute Michigan: Tulip Time in Holland, Michigan.
Fiddlehead Forest
Fiddlehead Fern Forest, photo by otisourcat
While morels get the most love at this time of year, fiddleheads are another tasty treat that’s popping up in the woods of Michigan. Wikipedia of course has a fiddlehead entry, Michigan-based food grower Earthy Delights has better info. They say:
A Fiddlehead is a fern so young and new that it hasn’t yet “unfurled” and opened its leaves. The end is still curled in a tight spiral, ready to unroll as the sun warms it and it gathers strength and size. This spiral shape reminds many people of the end of a violin, hence the name “Fiddlehead.”
Early Spring signals the arrival of “Fiddlehead season,” when aficionados begin combing the riverbanks and forest floor.
The flavor? It has been described as similar to green beans with a hint of artichoke. But descriptions do not begin to capture the flavor. You must try them to know the wonderful flavor and delightful crunch of Fiddleheads.
Earthy actually grows and ships fiddleheads, and they have several recipes including Sauteed Fiddlehead Ferns with Parsley and Garlic, Steamed Fiddleheads With Wild Leek Greens and (my favorite) Spring Wild Harvest Ragout With Fiddlehead Greens & Morels.
otisourcat took this photo at the Muskegon State Park and got this tasty shot as well!
quincy karma on US 12
quincy karma, photo by buckshot.jones.
This colorful capture is part of Scott’s A trip down historic US 12 set (slideshow). He writes:
I turned off the Interstate and took US 12 on my way back to Dearborn. Lots of small towns and rural scenes.
You can follow US 12 all the way to the Pacific ocean. In Detroit and Chicago, US 12 is known as Michigan Avenue. From the Water Tower to old Tiger Stadium, this route has lots of history.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/US_12 (and also see the US 12 in Michigan entry!)
Here’s Quincy, Michigan and US-12 on the Absolute Michigan Map of Michigan.
Nothing more I can say except “Thanks Scott for posting these in big, beautiful, background-sized glory!”
…and have a great weekend everyone!
Michigan in Pictures 
