MICHIGAN TRAVEL TIPS
FROM
THE HOLOGLOBE PRESS
(The 9th Edition)by
Victor Edward Swanson,
Publisherwww.hologlobepress.com
RULES OF USE
The material contained within this page is derived from my "fabulous files" of places that vacationers can see in Michigan and Wisconsin, and, in fact, my fabulous files contain information about hundreds of things to see. The material provided is as a public service of Victor Swanson and The Hologlobe Press. Almost all persons and entities, such as radio stations, may freely use the material; neither AAA Michigan nor any employee of AAA Michigan may use, distribute, download, transmit, copy, or duplicate any of the material presented on this page in any way or through any means.
- - - Travel Thoughts for Everyone - - -
In the winter, a basement of a house can be a cozy place, even when snow piles up in drifts against the outside of the basement windows or especially when snow drifts collect against the basement windows and make it impossible to see the ever-swirling new snow of a current snowstorm. What is good about a basement is no gust of wind can sneak in from underneath any door and make a body shiver. And with walls made of cement block or poured concrete, a basement is a quiet place.
In the northeast corner of this basement is a mini-workshop. This workshop has a workbench, mostly made up of two-by-sixes, painted brown. Next to the workbench is a small drill press. Right before the drill press and the workbench is a simple bicycle stand, made to hold one bicycle straight up and down at about two feet in the air. One light mounted in the ceiling between two joists is on and shines down on the bicycle stand, and, right now, the stand does hold a small bicycle, mostly painted light blue.
In the southeast corner of this basement are an old wooden desk and a fairly new wooden tray table, both of which are used to hold what parts make up the main desktop computer of the house, and this place has an old wooden roll-around chair. Close to the desk is a small light-brown couch. A floor lamp with three low-wattage bulbs light the space.
At the bottom of the stairway, which leads up to the first floor, stands a woman with wavy brunette hair. Although she is wrapped in a heavy wool sweater and is not cold, she has her arms folded across her body. To the left is one of her babies, her fourteen-year-old daughter, Lacey. To the right is her other darling, Robert. In no hurry for anything, she drifts off to the left. She is able to go unnoticed all the way to the workshop area. "Comfortable?" she whispers.
Lacey's brown eyes go wide, as she looks up. "Oh. Hi, mom." She rubs her nose up and down twice with the palm of her left hand. "I'm fine."
Eight dollars--that is the amount it cost to buy the bicycle stand at a garage sale held on the weekend that followed the Memorial Holiday weekend this year, and she now smiles to herself, remembering how she had to be persuaded by her husband to buy it. "Before you go bed, we'll put a new Band-Aid on that finger."
"Okay."
"So you're done with the front wheel?"
"All greased. Dad showed me. Too bad I can't go riding for months and months and months."
"You only have about ten weeks to wait really."
With a light touch, Lacey spins the front wheel. "Still a long time." The wheel is spinning silently.
The woman glances over to her husband. The expression of heavy concentration on his face could hint to someone it would be possible to cross over to him unnoticed, but she knows better. It might be possible to get near him, though. It might be fun to see how close she could get to him, she thinks. Racing through her mind is a thought--he knows, he knows. And, indeed, she does not get to the point where she might grab his shoulders and startle him.
"Take a look at this," he says, not looking away from the computer monitor. "I downloaded a couple files. Stuff to read."
She leans over his left shoulder. "'Writing Advice for Everyone.'"
"'From the Publisher of The Hologlobe Press.'"
"What's that?"
"It's some type of publishing company."
"No. What's a 'hologlobe'?"
There is no reason for him to formulate a long answer that might give a good description of what such an object might be. "No idea. I have no idea."Welcome, to another edition of Michigan Travel Tips. The introduction to this edition of Michigan Travel Tips might make you think about how someone you know might spend a winter evening inside while reading an edition of Michigan Travel Tips, or it might make you think about how you spend a winter evening. This edition of Michigan Travels Tips has information about things and places that I have added to my files of places and things to see in Michigan since 2004 started. You may or may not have heard some of the information or all the information. Whether or not you have heard the information, the information is presented within this edition of Michigan Travel Tips "for the record."
Since the 1970s, I have known the Detroit Public Library system has had what is called the "National Automotive History Collection," which has all types of materials related to the automobile, and, from time to time, I have used materials in the National Automotive History Collection, the most recent time of which was in the late 1990s when I was doing research about automotive paints. Between 1953 and 2003, the collection was housed at the main library of the Detroit Public Library, which is along Woodward Avenue in the campus area of Wayne State University. Today, the National Automotive History Collection is at the Rose and Robert Skillman Branch Library of the Detroit Public Library system; in December 2003, the collection was opened to the public at the Rose and Robert Skillman Branch Library, which is informally called the Skillman Branch Library. On August 10, 2004, the Detroit Public Library issued a press release, and the press release began with these sentences: "You received this letter because you have a Detroit Public Library (DPL) non-resident card issued when all Michigan residents had free access to DPL's Main Library services. We know you understand the value of one of the nation's libraries and the largest public library in Michigan. We invite you to continue making it 'Your Information Destination'...." Before I received this press release, I was aware I could use materials within the confines of the National Automotive History Collection for free. Later in the press release, there were these sentences: "...On August 2, 2004, DPL instituted fees for non-resident use of some DPL services: * Non-Residents may pay an annual fee of $100 per person or household for a library card. Benefits include borrowing privileges in Main Library, 24 neighborhood branches, the bookmobiles and staff assistance in the following DPL Special Collections: Burton Historical Collection, Hackley Collection and National Automotive History Collection...." After I read the press release and then read information on a Web page about the National Automotive History Collection, I got the impression every nonresident of Detroit who enters the area of the Skillman Branch Library that is the National Automotive History Collection has to pay a fee. Recently, I talked with a staffer of the National Automotive History Collection who told me that fees are not charged every nonresident. For instance, a nonresident who wants to use automotive repair manuals within the library need not pay any fee. Generally speaking, fees are charged nonresidents who need research assistance, which is help from the staffers of the library. I will say that, if you are a nonresident of Detroit and if you wish to use materials in the National Automotive History Collection, you may or may not have to pay a fee. If a staffer says that you will have to pay a fee, you may pay either $10.00, which pays for your being allowed to use the collection and receive assistance for one day, or $100.00, which pays for a one-year membership to the Detroit Public Library system--a membership that gives you access to all library services. And that is news about the National Automotive History Collection of the Detroit Public Library.
Note: The Rose and Robert Skillman Branch Library is at 121 Gratiot Avenue and is near the "Compuware Building." In addition, the library is near Farmer Street. Yes, the library is in the true downtown area. The telephone number to the main desk of the National Automotive History Collection is 1-313-628-2851.I first learned that Ferris State University, Big Rapids, had a museum through an article in the Detroit Free Press (the edition for April 12, 2004); I had already been aware of museums at such other universities of the state as Wayne State University, the University of Michigan, and Michigan Tech University, which has the A.E. Seaman Mineral Museum. The museum at Ferris State University is called the Jim Crow Museum of Racist Memorabilia, and it is a museum that was created by Professor David Pilgrim, who, today, is the curator. Material obtained from the Web page associated with the museum notes: "The name Jim Crow is often used to describe the segregation laws, rules, and customs which arose after Reconstruction ended in 1877 and continued until the mid-1960s...." The museum contains "objects and collections related to racial segregation, civil rights and anti-Black caricatures," such as Mammy figurines, and, in fact, the museum is made up of about 4,000 items. The museum has no regular hours. To see the materials and objects, a person must set up an appointment, and that is done by calling 1-231-591-5873 and speaking with Dr. John Thorp, who heads the Social Sciences division of the university. No fee is charged anyone who wishes to see the Jim Crow Museum, which is in the Starr Building.
This past summer, an old structure associated with Mackinac State Historic Parks was reopened to tourists, and that old structure is the Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse, which is near the southern end of the Mackinac Bridge in Mackinaw City. The Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse was used as a true lighthouse from 1892 to 1957. The building is like a castle of sorts with only one tower and spire, which make up the lighthouse proper. Near the lighthouse building is a former Fog Signal House, which is now the home of a Lighthouse Information Center. Because of winter, the lighthouse is closed to visitors, as are the other attractions associated with the Mackinac State Historic Parks system, some of which are Historic Mill Creek and Colonial Fort Michilimackinac. The Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse is scheduled to be open to visitors next year from May 16 through October 9.
So, Robert says, "And that's much of this Michigan Travel Tips page, Sharon." He starts to scroll down to the bottom of the page. "Those are PSAs. What do you think?"
"It's different." At the bottom of the page are clickable links to other Web pages. "Did you download the catalog page?" She is aware the clickable links are useless now.
"Yes. Let me bring it up." He wipes the page off the screen. "I also got a catalog page for something called T.H.A.T. It's got television stuff."
"Oh."
A few moments later, another Web page shows up on the monitor. Robert begins to scroll down the screen, moderately fast, making it impossible to read everything that flashes by. "See. A bunch of stuff."
Lacey, now standing to the right of her father and behind him, says, "See if they have the Velodrome."
"When did you get here?" Sharon asks.
"Oh, ah, a bit ago."
"You're getting like your father."
Lacey squints, trying to see better. "Is the Three Oaks Spokes Bicycle Museum there?"
Your travel tips are:
The A.E. Seaman Mineral Museum, Michigan Tech University, Houghton, Houghton County, the Upper Peninsula.
The Jim Crow Museum of Racist Memorabilia, Ferris State University, Big Rapids, Mecosta County, the Lower Peninsula.
The National Automotive History Collection of the Detroit Public Library, Detroit, Wayne County, the Lower Peninsula.
The Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse, Mackinaw City, Emmet County and Cheboygan County, the Lower Peninsula.
And your additional travel tips--real places mentioned in a fictional story--are:
The Three Oaks Spokes Bicycle Museum, Three Oaks, Berrien County, the Lower Peninsula.
The Velodrome, Rochester Hills, Oakland County, the Lower Peninsula.
- - - Public Service Copy for Broadcasters (four pieces) - - -
Number One:
The reason that a vehicle has lights is to allow the driver of the
vehicle to see and be seen in darkness, rain, fog, or snow. The
state of Michigan has a number of rules about what lights a
passenger vehicle must have, where lights may be located, and
where lights may not be located. A passenger vehicle is required
to have two or more headlights, and such a vehicle may have not
more than two fog lights. Fog lights may be set no lower than 12
inches from the ground and no higher than 30 inches, and no more
than four lights may be lighted on the front of a vehicle at the
same time. The "Michigan Vehicle Code" requires a vehicle to
have a light that can illuminate the rear license plate, and the light
must make it possible to read the plate from fifty feet away. Of
course, a vehicle must have red or amber stoplights. And The
Hologlobe Press urges you to stay back from those taillights
ahead to enjoy your safe traveling.
###
Number Two:
In 1953, the National Automotive History Collection of the
Detroit Public Library was opened to the public, and from 1953
to late 2003, the collection was located at the main library of the
Detroit Public Library and attracted all types of people who
wanted information about the automobile. Today, the collection
is housed at the Rose and Robert Skillman Branch Library, which
is at 121 Gratiot Avenue. Since mid-2004, a special policy has
been in effect for nonresidents of Detroit--nonresidents may be
charged fees for receiving assistance from staffers and gaining
access to some types of materials of the National Automotive
History Collection. A fee could be a day-use fee of $10.00, or a
fee could be the annual library-membership fee of $100.00. Yet,
today, nonresidents may use some materials, such as repair
manuals, of Skillman Branch Library for free. And that is a
"Michigan Travel Tip" from The Hologlobe Press.
###
Number Three:
Here is another "Michigan Travel Tip" from The Hologlobe
Press. Michigan has a number of universities that have museums.
Ferris State University, for instance, has a museum, and that
museum is the Jim Crow Museum of Racist Memorabilia. The
museum was created by Professor David Pilgrim, and it has about
4,000 items that relate "to racial segregation, civil rights, and
anti-Black caricatures." The objects range from ashtrays to salt
shakers and pepper shakers, from dolls to fishing lures, and from
notepads to children's books. This museum at Ferris State
University has no regular hours during which a person may tour.
Tours must be arranged through Professor John Thorp, who heads
the Social Sciences division of the university. Besides being a
true museum, the Jim Crow Museum is also a virtual museum on
the Internet, which is found at the Web site for Ferris State
University--www.ferris.edu. Take a look!
###
Number Four:
This year, a number of new tourist attractions were opened in
Michigan, and it is possible you have not heard about many of
them, so I now have information about one such place--
information provided by The Hologlobe Press. In June, the Old
Mackinac Point Lighthouse at Mackinac City was opened to
visitors again, having not been open to visitors since 1988. The
lighthouse, which is like a castle that has only one tower and
spire of sorts, is near Old Fort Michilimackinac of the Mackinac
State Historic Parks system. The lighthouse is closed for the
season, of course, but you now have the lighthouse in mind, and
it is something you can keep in mind while, over the next few
months, you talk about plans for vacation trips for the summer.
While you plan, keep in mind you will be able to see the Old
Mackinac Point Lighthouse next year on any day from May 16
through October 9. Till then, enjoy your safe traveling in Michigan!
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- - - Contact Information - - -
The Hologlobe Press
Postal Box 5455
Dearborn, Michigan 48128-0455
The United States of Americacopyright c. 2004
File date: 10 December 2004
To see the next edition of Michigan Travel Tips,
click on: Travel #10
To see the previous edition of Michigan Travel Tips,
click on: Travel #8
To see the catalog page for Michigan Travel Tips,
click on: Travel
To go to the main page of The Hologlobe Press,
click on: www.hologlobepress.com
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