Walking Mighty Mac on Labor Day

Nothing beats walking the five miles across Mackinac Bridge on Labor Day. We started at dawn and the entire experience was exhilarating. Tens of thousands of people gathered up north to join Governor Rick Snyder as he led the way.  You even get a nifty certificate to honor the occasion. It is very, very well organized with everyone starting off in St Ignace. Buses are available in Mackinaw City to take you across the bridge to start the walk, or to take you back once you have completed it. What a way to end the summer.

Hazen S Pingree

When driving through Grand Circus Park in downtown Detroit, you can't help but notice this statue of Hazen S Pingree.  Did you ever wonder who he was? Born in Maine, he fought in the Civil War and then moved to Michigan and worked as a cobbler (shoemaker for you young readers). His sales eventually grossed over a million dollars a year! He was elected mayor of Detroit in 1889, promising to end corruption in city paving and sewer contracts and the school board. He was known throughout the country for initiating the "potato patch plan" of using vacant lots for local vegetable gardens to help feed the poor. He became governor of our state in 1897, and he is the guy credited with the 8-hour work day. He was "The Idol of the People" like it says on the statue above.