Are you a Michigander or a Michiganian?

The newest poll here at the All Things Michigan blog deals with how we Michigan natives refer to ourselves. Michigander started out as a disparaging remark about then Michigan governor, Lewis Cass, by future president Abraham Lincoln. Basically, Lincoln compared Cass to a foolish goose by combining Michigan and gander [goose]. Here's a snippet of that Lincoln speech:

But in my hurry I was very near closing on the subject of military tails before I was done with it. There is one entire article of the sort I have not discussed yet; I mean the military tail you Democrats are now engaged in dovetailing onto the great Michigander [i.e. Lewis Cass].

So, what do you refer to yourself as? I prefer Michigander as it doesn't sound as highfalutin' as Michiganian.

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November 10th is the 34th Edmund Fitzgerald Memorial Service

On November 10, 1975, the Edmund Fitzgerald sank to the bottom of Lake Superior taking the lives of all 29 crewmen. One week from today, the 34th service honoring the crew will be held at River Rouge. From SSEdmundFitzgerald.com:

. A memorial service for the men lost on the Edmund Fitzgerald will be held on November 10 at Dr. Henri Belanger Park in River Rouge, Mi. The service will be held near the Mariners Memorial Lighthouse beginning at 6:00 p.m. The tug boat will be on hand to take out a wreath to be placed on the river. The service will feature a plaque presentation, bell ringing, lantern lighting, and refreshments will be served. For more information call Roscoe Clark at 810-519-2148 or Dolores Swekel 313-842-7822.

The service will be at River Rouge Michigan on the Detroit River next to where the ship was built at the slips and on the other side is where Zug Island is located.

The service will also be broadcast online via a free stream at SSEdmundFitzgerald.com. You can find all the details at their site.

The daughter of the "Old Cook" from the Gordon Lightfoot song left this comment on my tribute page for the Edmund Fitzgerald:

I am honored and excited to be invited to attend the upcoming service held this November 10th in River Rouge. I will be coming from Kansas to honor my dad and the other 28 crewmen. My father was the " Old Cook" referred to in the Gordon Lightfoot song.

There will be so many events having to do with the FITZ I hope to be able to fit it all in. I think it's great to include the school kids learning about the Great Lakes and the ships that have sailed on them.

I grew up in Toledo, Ohio and watched from many ports my dads ship sail off with a load of iron ore or coal. Those good memories never go away. Hope to see you there. All are welcome to honor and remember that fateful night.

Pam Johnson Daughter of ROBERT C. RAFFERTY

Two Michigan towns make list of 50 Scary Halloween City Names

The National Association of Realtors has compiled a list of the Top 50 Scary Halloween City Names and Michigan is home to two of them. Coming in at Number 23 is Hell (no surprise this made the list) and Number 2 is Bad Axe. I've always loved the name - Bad Axe. I vividly remember it when I was in my 8th grade Michigan History class and we had to memorize all of the Michigan counties and county seats. Bad Axe is the county seat for Huron county by the way. Honorable Mention for the list (in my opinion anyway) would be the following:

Crow Island (The Birds anyone?) Devils Elbow Erie Mohawk Rattle Run (picturing hordes of skeletons noisily chasing villagers) Salem Skookum Sleepy Hollow Witch Lake Wolf Crossing

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