Happy 4th of July, Michigan!

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

Lan July 4th parade 127e

Lan July 4th parade 127e, photo by indefinitejourney.

Fourth of July, July 4th, the Fourth or Independence Day – call it what you will, this is our day. John Adams wrote to his wife Abigail:

The second day of July, 1776, will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more.

I doubt Adams envisioned the star-shaped sunglasses, but bring on the pomp, the parades (the picnics!), the sports and games (best leave the guns at home), the bells, bonfires and brilliant, booming illuminations. Somewhere amidst all of that if you can, think about the acts of devotion that could be made towards making this nation and state ever more worthy of celebration and love.

I should point out that this photo is part of an awesome set of Lansing 4th of July Parade photos (slideshow!!)

Michigan Capitol, Michigan Governor, Michigan Week

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

Blair and the Capitol

Blair and the Capitol, photo by Apocaplops.

On the statue of Austin Blair “War Governor of Michigan” at the Michigan Capitol in Lansing it says “He gave the best years of his life to Michigan and his fame is inseparably linked with the glorious achievements of her citizen soldiers.” (check it out in the super-biggie-sized view and Michigan Governor Austin Blair on Wikipedia)

It’s hard to ask that anyone give the best years of their life to anything as large as a state, but it might be good to take a few moments sometime during Michigan Week (May 19 – 25, 2007) to consider the massive challenges that people of our state have fought through in the past. From hundreds of thousands of lives given to preserve the Union to hundreds of thousands of hours labored to carve farms from forest, Michiganians have a history of standing tall and staring down and battling through adversity.

While saving our state from today’s troubles is beyond any one of us, there’s little doubt that each one of us has some measure of the solution with our grasp.

of Heads, Hands and Frandor

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

self reflection, photo by Bridget Johnson

self reflection, photo by Bridget Johnson

Bridget relates that this photo was taken at the Frandor Mall in East Lansing … or Lansing … or right between the two. I am a bit depressed that there is no entry for Frandor at Wikipedia (yet at least). The Lansing entry says that in 1954, Frandor Mall was the first in the area and the second in the state.

On second thought, Joey Harrison’s photo of the old FRANDOR sign on Flickr is lots better than any Wikipedia entry probably would be because it has a bunch of people’s reflections on the history of the mall, including his mom, who says:

What I’m about to say can’t be certified, but this is what I seem to remember: Frandor was developed by Francis and Doreen Corr in 1954 from a former golf course. It was the second outdoor mall, the first being Northland in Southfield.

Bridget Johnson is a Traverse City based photographer who will be among the over 150 women artists of all media whose work will be on display at the 5th annual From Women’s Hands art show, sale and benefit for The Women’s Cancer Fund from April 27-29 at the Hagerty Center in Traverse City.

Lansing Photo: A new Lansing photo blog

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

Sun sets behind Ottawa Power Station

Sun sets behind Ottawa Power Station, photo by Apocaplops.

Erich Zechar, known as Apocaplops on Flickr, has recently started Lansing Photo. He says that after moving to the Capital City, he’s missed the community of photographers that he enjoyed in Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti. Rather than sit around and whine about it, he says he’s…

…creating this space to try to bring together people in the area who love Lansing, and love photography. Heck, loving Lansing is optional. Let’s just fill this void, and come together to create something new, something this area lacks and sorely needs.

Erich is featuring photos from area photographers and photo-related events in the Lansing area and also hopes to do photographer interviews and profiles in the future.

Check it out!

1890s View of Michigan’s Capitol from the Lansing Standpipe

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

STANDPIPE VIEW OF LANSING LOOKING WEST, C. 1890s.

These two photos are from the book Lansing: City on the Grand by James MacLean and Craig A. Whitford from Arcadia Publishing (book details & purchase online). The 128 page book features over 200 historical photos of Lansing. In addition to photos you’d expect (Lansing Olds, REO plant and the Capitol building) there are photos and stories you wouldn’t like Barnes Castle (torn down in 1957 for a parking lot) and Charlie Zmuda, the “Bat Man”.

(above) STANDPIPE VIEW OF LANSING LOOKING WEST, C. 1890s.
A popular location for photographers to capture the city was the standpipe located on south Cedar Street. THE MYSTERIOUS STANDPIPE, C. 1890sThis view was taken prior to the construction of a new wide steel bridge on Michigan Avenue, crossing the Grand River. (FPML/CADL.)

(right) THE MYSTERIOUS STANDPIPE, C. 1890s.
The standpipe was constructed in 1885 and served as the city’s storage tank for water. The tower was located east of Cedar Street and south of Michigan Avenue, where the Board of Water and Light have their holding tanks today. The remarkable aspect of the standpipe was that you could walk to the top on the circular staircase that wraps around the tower. Many a photographer took advantage of this and quite a few panoramic photographs were taken. The standpipe was torn down in 1949. (FPML/CADL.)

Photos reprinted with permission from Lansing: City on the Grand by James MacLean and Craig A. Whitford. Available from the publisher online at www.arcadiapublishing.com or by calling 888-313-2665.

View other excerpts from Arcadia Publishing’s Michigan books at Michigan in Pictures!

Fast as you can

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

Fast as you can

Fast as you can, photo by MichSt.

Otto Eckert Power Station by night with a westbound train passing by.

Believe it or not, these are his first attempts at night photography.

Past and Present … and Panoramic

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

Past and Present

Past and Present, photo by O Caritas.

Patrick writes From Michigan Avenue, looking north… the idle Board of Water & Light building is on the left and Lansing Center is on the right. The walk bridge connects the Lansing Center with the Radisson Hotel.

This photo is part of a huge set of panoramas including shots of Spartan Stadium, the Red Cedar River, Magdalena’s Tea House and an amazing 72 shot Autostitched shot of the US-127 overpass.

Michigan State Capitol & other Michigan Landmarks

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

Michigan State Capitol

Michigan State Capitol, photo by Larry the Biker.

Of his set of 50-odd photos titled Michigan Landmarks, Larry the Biker writes: Si Quaeris Peninsulam Amoenam Circumspice — “If you seek a pleasant peninsula, look about you.” Things you will only see in the Great Lake State!

In addition to famous landmarks like the Mackinac Bridge and the Tahquamenon Falls, the set includes some lesser known landmarks like the Horton Bay General Store and the Pontiac Silverdome. With many of the photos, Larry also includes links to information about the subject. Click the barn to view the set!

Union Depot Michigan Historical Marker at Clara’s Restaurant

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

Union Depot Michigan Historical Marker at Clara's Restaurant

Union Depot Michigan Historical Marker at Clara’s Restaurant, photo by Kalamazoo Richard.

Today’s photo fits with Absolute Michigan’s latest Michigan Site of the Week: Michigan Historical Markers, a tremendous resource for Michigan history.
The marker reads:

The Union Depot began passenger service for the Michigan Central and Pere Marquette Railroads in 1902. The Detroit architectural firm of Spier and Rohns, which planned many Michigan Central stations, designed the building with Chateauesque conical towers and cut stone arches. The depot closed in 1972. Restauranteur Peter Jubeck bought the building in 1978 and transformed it into an eatery, retaining the quarter-sawn oak interior and installing locally crafted stained glass windows.

You may also want to check out Clara’s Restaurants web site (lots of history on the Lansing and Battle Creek train stations) and Flickr’s Historic Michigan group for lots more rail stations and other history.

Michigan’s Family Album

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

Photo from Michigan's Family Album

Michigan’s Family Album opens Aug. 5, 2006 and runs through Jan. 14, 2007 at the Michigan Historical Museum. The exhibit features more than 1,200 historical photographs from the collection of David Tinder that explore all aspects of Michigan life from the 1860s through the 1930s. Formats include daguerreotypes, tintypes, stereo views, cabinet cards, large-format photos (including panoramas) and a special display of postcards honoring every county in the state.

While most of the photographs in the collection were shot by professionals, the photo above was taken by an amateur, F. R. Oesterrich of Detroit. It shows a comfortably prosperous family (perhaps the photographer’s own) relaxing in the back yard, probably celebrating a child’s birthday. The ring toss game might be one of the gifts.

Learn more about Michigan’s Family Album from the Department of History, Arts & Libraries.