Michigan Civil War Blog

Michigan veterans II

Regarding federal investment in Michigan lately, a sore subject for a donor State with such high unemployment, the public usually hears about stimulus money, roads money, Great Lakes clean-up money, and auto bail-out money. Not much is said about the federal parks, forests, shorelines, marine sanctuary, and historic areas that depend on the U.S. taxpayer for sustenance. That's too bad, for it means most folks aren't focused on these vital and life-affecting environmental/cultural assets that are critical to a well-ordered society.

Today, it's fitting and appropriate to think of one other federal installation, the Great Lakes National Cemetery in Holly MI. Opened in 2005, the 544 acres provide a suitable final resting place for the veterans who will always merit great respect and honor. Appropriate for the Great Lakes State, the cemetery borders a lake and is located on a portion of a land grant predating the Civil War (1836).

Would not have thought of this today, except that some friends recently buried a family member there, and they recounted how inspiring the place is with its tree-lined entrance, dignified grounds, active duty personnel who assist in making the ceremony so meaningful, and the quietude that should mark such hallowed ground.

The website [GLNC] is less than impressive -- at the very least, it should contain images of the place so that those of us who likely won't/can't pay our respects could envision the place -- and it has a curious section "Notable Persons" that says "Under Development". Are we to understand that the VA takes the position that it should call attention to only certain gravesites rather than honor/note all vets? From what I understand from the military, hearkening back to the GAR, they regard each other as brothers/sisters in arms and preferred not to denigrate the service of any.

It is altogether fitting and proper to hilite the GLNC this day of all days.

Event tonite

The Jewish Soldier from Michigan in the Civil War, Wednesday, November 11, 2009, 7pm.  The Rabbi Leo M. Franklin Archives presents this latest program in their

Miller-Bearman Jewish History Detective lecture by archivist Jan Durecki.  Free and open to the public; donation appreciated.  Reservations: 248-865-0628.  Co-sponsored by the Jewish Historical Society of Michigan.  The program takes place at the Temple Beth El, 7400 Telegraph Rd. at 14 Mile Rd., Bloomfield Hills.  http://www.tbeonline.org/education/archives/index.cfm

Michigan veterans I

A very special Veterans Day ceremony will be held at Detroit's Historic Elmwood Cemetery. The special service --in section S -- honors 18 members of the 102nd U-S Colored Infantry Regiment from the Civil War. Highlights of the program include a presentation of the American flag, a roll call for the 102nd Infantry and the two Native Americans, a gun salute by the 102nd U.S. Colored Troops Reenactment Group and more. The public is invited, and there is no charge. http://elmwoodhistoriccemetery.org/

New home for Michigan Historical Center

Now that HAL is gone and the MI Department of Natural Resources has folded the Center under its wing, the State's website gives it a new location, though with the same information as before:

MDNR

An explanation

It's been a week or so since anything new appeared here. Blogger slacking off? Lazy? Nothing to say?

No. The culprit is that Typepad no longer enables the version of Explorer that is embedded on my laptop to run. So why not simply download a later version? Because I have to go thru a system administrator, and that requires some stuff I don't have time for. So, I'm using spouse's laptop right now, which is obviously more up-to-date than that other one.

So, is there anything to say? Well, sure. The past week has seen October 1 come and go. With that date came the end of the Michigan Department of History, Arts, and Libraries. Did anyone notice? Should they have?

No doubt the Michigan Historical Center staffers noticed. They had come over from the Michigan Secretary of State a decade ago to headline the new agency. It was a fateful 10 years, in which HAL was launched, sailed out onto placid seas, began to encounter headwinds, then fought a full-fledged gale. Funding was cut and herculean efforts had to be engaged to keep serving the people of Michigan. Finally, a tsunami engulfed the organization when the '09 worldwide and national plunge hit. The Governor and Legislature faced an enormous budget shortfall, and HAL's days were numbered.

What happened to the Civil War Sesquicentennial in all this? After all, isn't that the point of this blog?

Nothing. The Michigan Historical Commission still exists, it still has the responsibility of implementing EO 2007-52, and plans are still underway. Just this week, Michigan participated in the quarterly AASLH CWS conference call in which participating states and organizations share ideas and information. It is hoped that the Commission will look at a plan that incorporates the public input from this summer's public hearings by the end of year. 

At any rate, there is still a history program in Michigan, the Michigan Historical Center continues to live (now in the Department of Natural Resources), and the CW 150th in Michigan continues to be under construction. Please continue to check in here for Michigan and the Civil War news and information.

Thanks so much!

Ernie Harwell gives props to Michiganders

Resuming, after a hiatus, since finally back in the great US of A...

...to be able to see and listen to Hall of Fame baseball broadcaster Ernie Harwell's remarks given last nite, a major highlight of which is this summary of the Great Lake State's folks:

"In my almost 92 years on this Earth, the Good Lord has blessed me with a great journey. And the blessed part of that journey is it's going to end here in the great state of Michigan.

I deeply appreciate the people of Michigan. I love their grit, I love the way they face life. And I love the family values they have."

It's most definitely a reciprocal thing. Full coverage is at Freep and News.

Has it really come to this?

Here's a story from one of the Lansing political trade publications (MIRS) that is a real head-shaker.

Despite Deficit, Capitol Not For Sale

Desperate times call for desperate measures, which is why at least four states are trying to sell state buildings to balance their budgets.

But while Arizona is trying to unload two of its Capitol buildings to bridge a multi-billion dollar budget gap, don't look for that to happen in Michigan.

"Never say never in government," said Steve Benkovsky, executive director of Michigan's Capitol Committee, "but of all the buildings the state owns, this would be the hardest to put up for sale."

No one from state government -- including Gov. Jennifer Granholm and Senate Majority Leader Mike Bishop (R-Rochester) -- seem interested in getting rid of the Capitol or other state buildings, even though Michigan is facing a $2.7 billion deficit for Fiscal Year (FY) 2010.

Arizona's hole is $3.4 billion and it's looking to sell and then lease back buildings for its state House and Senate. Connecticut, Pennsylvania and California also are all weighing building sales, according to ABC News.

"Maybe they haven't been addressing their budgets as long as Michigan has," said Bishop spokesman Matt Marsden. "We've taken a more realistic approach to addressing our budget deficit."

Benkovsky said it would be difficult to assess Michigan's Capitol, which was designed by Elijah Myers and dedicated in 1879, noting its ornate, historic features. For instance, the sandstone and marble quarries used for the floors and façade have long since closed. And the nine acres of decorative painting would probably have to be done by artists from out East. All told, he said the building might be worth $2 billion. The Capitol also underwent a $156 million renovation 20 years ago, Benkovsky added.

Although selling and leasing the building back could provide a cash infusion for up to five years, Benkovsky said, paying rent would mean it would cost the state more in the long run.

"We'd really have to do some studies to see if it was worth it," he said.

The Capitol Committee is composed of four members from the executive branch, four from the House and four from the Senate. The Capitol is under the Legislative Service Bureau's budget.

Granholm spokeswoman Megan Brown said selling the Capitol "hasn't been considered." That was echoed by Marsden.

"The cuts proposed by the Senate and passed earlier this session represent a realistic approach to bringing government spending under control," he said. "Far be it for us to even consider selling buildings the government works in before looking at numerous programs costing the state far too much money in a time of a downturn in revenue."

There are 36 state buildings under the budget of the Department of Management and Budget, said spokeswoman Kassie Kretzschmar.

"We are not considering selling or leasing any buildings," she said. "What we are doing is utilizing space more efficiently and increasing occupancy at all buildings owned and leased."

Selling the House Office Building isn't an option since there are years left on the lease, Benkovsky said. Marsden said the Farnum Building, which is under the Senate's budget, is not being considered for sale either.

Oh my, Ohio!

From our next door neighbors comes a story about severe cuts in Ohio's history program, including impact on the Sesquicentennial. From the Cleveland Plain-Dealer, and the opening sentence couldn't have been written more pointedly:

A limping economy already clouds Ohio's future. Now the state's budget crisis is threatening its past.

The Ohio Historical Society, the official repository of the state's recorded history, faces a 42 percent drop in state funding -- from $13.5 million last year to $7.9 million in 2010 -- in the budget signed by Gov. Ted Strickland last week.

The society reported this week that it will trim hours and scale back plans for Civil War sesquicentennial observances. It also will cut pay and reduce to less than half the staff of 400 it had in 2001.

"While we foresaw tough times ahead, we were stunned to receive this magnitude of a cut in state funding," executive director Bill Laidlaw said. "But with challenges come opportunities."

Laidlaw said the organization will make better use of holdings by placing more of its currently warehoused collections on display and creating more small-scale exhibits for local historical societies and libraries.

The society also will accelerate the transfer to local management of most of its 58 state historic sites, which include historic homes and museums, roadside parks and monuments and archaeological sites.

The society's flagship museum in Columbus will open only on Saturdays starting Jan. 1, though schools and other groups can arrange visits by appointment. The archives and library will be open only on Thursdays.

Established in 1885, the society was designated 50 years ago as the state archive by the General Assembly. It preserves the working papers of all three branches of state government and is a magnet for genealogical research. With 2 million objects in a wide-ranging collection, the society is known as "Ohio's Attic."

"We have to protect the collections first. That's why we were founded," Laidlaw said. "We would never sell anything to cover basic operating costs. Never have, never will. If you lose it, it's gone forever."

The society gets the rest of its revenue from government grants and contracts, private contributions and admissions and parking.

Harold Holzer Michigan appearance

It's a ways off, but here's a flyer with info about an interesting lecture he'll do in September hereabouts: View this photo

Executive Order on Dep't of History, Arts, Libraries

Following up the State of the State speech in February and the executive budget proposed later that month to deal with Michigan government's budgetary difficulties, the Governor today issued an Executive Order abolishing the Michigan Department of History, Arts & Libraries. It can be found here: EO 2009-36

Press release associated with the announcement is here: MCIR