President Gerald Ford at Concord Bicentennial Celebration Postcard.

"April 19, 1975 Concord Bicentennial Celebration at the Old North Bridge.  On the podium (L-R) Reverend Dana McLean Greeley, John B. Finigan, President Gerald Ford, and Philip H. Suter.
'...We mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor.'  Declaration of Independence."
This old postcard is unused and undated.

True Crime: Michigan by Tobin T. Buhk

I have been rereading books lately.  I keep a lot of good books around, and its been nice going back to look through a volume that I enjoyed before.

I read "True Crime: Michigan" by Tobin T. Buhk several years ago.  I thought it would be enjoyable to check  it out again for our recent Michigan road trip.

Michigan has had some strange crimes, and the oddest and scariest ones are documented here.  Buhk collects 10 of the most intriguing ones here.

Most were new to me.  The only one that I was familiar with was the disappearance of Jimmy Hoffa.  Well, the author really gives a quick but thorough summary of that one.

Other crimes are very dark..... in fact, one involves young children.  There is a Joseph Smith link in another.  Another case involves meeting victims through personal ads.

The easy to read book is a little over 130 page and I found it interesting to read again.

 

"Lansing and the Civil War" by Matthew J. VanAcker

 While recently visiting Michigan, and touring their State Capitol building in Lansing, I found a signed copy of "Lansing in the Civil War" by Matthew J Van Acker and I knew I had to pick this one up!  The kind lady in the office asked me if I was able to meet the author (Matthew) who was giving tours!  I had not, but I probably passed him.  

Still, I was excited to find a book about the Civil War in this northern town.

Of course, Lansing itself did not see any action during the Civil War, but it was involved.  This volume talks a lot about locals who volunteered to fight for the Union.

Books about northern towns sending their sons to fight in the Civil War can be a bit dry at times, sometimes serving as a document of names and battles they were in.

"Lansing in the Civil War" does more than that, and I really enjoyed reading this one straight through.

The book kind of starts with a man telling about his brother being one of the first in town to sign up to fight, as others followed.

There are many great stories about the basic Billy Yank.  VanAcker talks about one who was at Ford's Theatre THAT night.  Another young Michigander is told he cannot serve because of a defect with his little finger.  To show his desire to fight, he asks that his finger be cut off.  

Another great story involves John Broad, who was declared dead, but "came back to life".

The author talks about a Lt. Whitman, whos remains would lay in state in the House of Representatives in the Old Lansing State Capitol- the only documented time this happened there.

There are other strange tells.  The "war comet" is mentioned.  There is also a dark mention of a portrait studio encouraging business with a line about the soldiers and how "Many of them we may never see again".

This is just a really nice book and I am glad I found it in Lansing, especially a signed copy.

John Ball Zoo Grand Rapids Michigan 2023

We stopped by the colorful John Ball Zoo in Grand Rapids Michigan.  They were doing their lantern exhibit and they had amazing huge animal themed lanterns all over!

Unfortunately, we did not get to visit during the night to see the lanterns lit up, but we thought the lantern art was spectacular to see during the day!  And we saw a lot of critters!

Grand Traverse Pie Company in Michigan

The Grand Traverse Pie Company is a great small chain mostly in Michigan (their web site notes one location in Terre Haute Indiana....  I see a road trip to Terre Haute in my future).  Anyway, this IS my favorite small chain that I wish had locations in Kentucky.

I would compare this to some of the soup and sandwich chains that are pretty big these days.... but GTPC is better. 

We have stopped at some of the locations in our travels up north, and I cant get enough of it.  Oh, and their "Michigan Sweet Cherry" coffee is some of the best coffee on the planet...   I talk about coffee a lot so you know that means something.  Seriously, it is special.

On our most recent trip to Michigan, we stopped at the Kalamazoo location for a late lunch one day.  I had the tomato soup (excellent) and a turkey Rueben (unbelievable).  My wife had a great salad that she was equally impressed with....  Yeah, they are known for pies, but their basic menu items are flawless too. 

Of course we had some pie and it was great.

The restaurant was clean and the young staff was friendly and helpful.  I honestly can't wait to get back to Michigan to eat here again.

 

"Outlaws of the Lakes: Bootlegging and Smuggling from Colonial Times to Prohibition" by Edward Butts

I always love to read up on an area before a trip and, at the recommendation of a friend, I picked up "Outlaws of the Lakes: Bootlegging and Smuggling from Colonial Times to Prohibition" by Edward Butts before our trip through Michigan.  I knew we would be spending a lot of time around Lake Michigan, so this book just felt right.

And it was.

The book is far from being a complete guide to bootlegging and smuggling, but it does tell a nice, easy to understand story about outlaws and smuggling in the vast area of the Great Lakes.

The book starts with Cadillac (the man, not the car) and how a bit of a liar sells himself as something very special.  The author directs the stories of  some of the early shysters in the area working his way up to the gangers of the late 1920s (the book ends with the St. Valentines Day Massacre).  Pirates, timber, the underground railroad and other events relating to the Great Lakes are covered on the way.

The book is over 250 pages, but it is written like a well flowing story, and it is easy to read in no time.  I appreciate how the author makes the characters and events understandable.

 

Uranus Fudge Factory Indiana 2023

The Uranus Fudge Factory in Anderson Indiana.....  the jokes pretty much write themselves.

Diana of the Dunes Dare Indiana Dunes National Park 2023

While on a recent roadtrip through Michigan, we slipped away from the Great Lakes State to visit the Indiana Dunes.  This is one of the closest National Parks to us that we had yet to visit.

And, they have incorporated a cool ghost story into a trail!  If you do the trail, they will give you a cool sticker!

You know I am up for that!

So, just a couple dozen miles outside of Chicago, we stopped by and completed the "Diana of the Dunes Dare"!

"Pioneer Playhouse: A Kentucky Treasure" by Robert A Powell

I found the great little volume, "Pioneer Playhouse: A Kentucky Treasure" by Robert A. Powell recently for a few bucks!  It was a great find!

I have talked a lot about my love of Pioneer Playhouse in Danville Kentucky many times.  The place has been around for well over half a century, and it is a real treat to get out and see a play there!

LEGENDS have started out at Pioneer Playhouse- Lee Majors, John Travolta, AND Jim Varney.

This book is a nice, quick to read volume about the theater, and how the Henson family has kept the scrappy tradition of founder Eben Henson going.

 

Bethel Ohio

Had a great time in the perfect little town of Bethel Ohio!

Grant's Tomb- New York City- Old Postcard

 This great old postcard of Grant's Tomb is unused and undated.

Georgetown Ohio May 2023

We enjoyed a nice visit to Georgetown Ohio!  Boyhood home of US Grant!

Grant Boyhood Home Georgetown Ohio

US Grant grew up in Georgetown Ohio.  The town has a lot of sites relating to POTUS 18.  We stopped by to check it out, and do do a tour of Grant's Boyhood Home.

Hammersville Ohio May 2023

We recently drove through Hammersville Ohio!

Luckman Coffee Company Ohio

Check out Luckman Coffee in southern Ohio!

Little B's Pizza Calhoun Kentucky

 

I was able to visit Little B's Pizza in Calhoun recently!

Ben Franklin Crafts Bethel Ohio May 2023

We came across a wonderful Ben Franklin store in Southern Ohio!  

Plane Street Coffee House and Cafe Bethel Ohio May 2023

We stopped by the cozy, clean and delicious Plane Street Coffee House and Café in Bethel!

Hillbilly Hot Dogs Lesage West Virginia May 2023

Yeah, I know I have covered Hillbilly Hot Dogs in West Virginia A LOT, but I was there again not too long ago...  so here is another video.

Billy Bob's Wonderland Barboursville West Virginia

Getting to visit Billy Bob's Wonderland in Barboursville West Virginia is such a treat.  I LOVE Showbiz Pizza when I was a kid, and this is pretty much the last of its kind.

I filmed the old "Rock-afire Explosion" band jamming out on some great tunes, some relating to pizza.  Check out the video!

Postcard: The Giants Coffin Mammoth Cave KY

 I may have posted a similar postcard to this one before....  but its a great old card showing people on top of the Giants Coffin inside of Mammoth Cave.  They dont give you this kind of access anymore.

The postcard is unused and undated.

Outlaw Cave at Jesse James Riding Stables Kentucky June 2023

Here is the complete tour video I made of our tour of Outlaw Cave near Mammoth Cave here in Kentucky!

Great Saltpetre Cave Livingston Kentucky May 20 2023

ONE weekend a year, Great Saltpetre Cave is open to the public, AND they give free tours on that day!

We had a great time, and I am very fascinated with this place after visiting.

Twisted Stache Coffee & Creamery in Mount Vernon Kentucky

Oh man, we stopped by the new coffee place, "Twisted Stache Coffee and Creamery" in Mount Vernon and we really love this place.  Its around an hour south of Lexington and it is just a nice, calm, relaxed place.  They have a bit of a steampunk theme going on, which is nice.

We had some nice dessert items and drinks and they were all great!

7 Brew Coffee Drive Thru Lexington Kentucky June 2023

You know I love coffee....  and I am a devoted fan of cozy coffee shops......but Seven Brew has come to town and quickly grown on me.  They gave away free t-shirts on their opening day.  We went, and we have been back several times.  They have friendly staff and their drinks are great (this is probably my new favorite place for iced coffee).

Sure, it is a drive thru place but they have super friendly (and fast) staff, and I really like their drinks.