The Rock Guardians of Rockford ~ July 2019

We drove through Rockford, Illinois on a road trip back in 2019.  These guys popped up as a roadside attraction and it was worth a quick detour but they were not that easy to find. Just off the Rock River bike path near the Nicholas Conservatory you will find them, serenely and sternly guarding the Rock River.

Made of granite boulders, the 12 foot figures are held together with cement and were created by Terese Agnew in 1987. Unique and original, the guardians will no doubt be here long after we are gone.

New Era Potato Chip Silo ~ 10189 E. Grand River Dr, Portland MI

Here is what might be the most distinctive silo in Michigan. It was painted in the 1950s when New Era chips were big having four plants in the Midwest. Founded in Detroit, the company was later bought by Frito Lay and then closed in 1981.

The silo is iconic and yet so misleading with the silhouette of a thin woman reaching up for those scientifically processed potato chips. But I'm happy it's still there. 😊

 

Henry's Hamburgers ~ 1832 M 139, Benton Harbor MI

This is the only remaining location of a franchise that used to extend coast to coast (founded by the Bressler Ice Cream people). The Benton Harbor location opened in 1959 and this is obviously not the original building. But it's still a nice piece of Americana. 😊

 

We took a drive through yesterday.

You may also pick up a $10 t-shirt when you're there 😀

Our first visit was back in August under blue skies.

 Take a ride through the next time you're in the area. 

 

Epaphroditus Ransom ~ March 24, 1798 - November 11, 1859

Here in Mountain Home Cemetery in Kalamazoo at the top of a hill lies the 7th Governor of Michigan (1848-1850) and the first to be inaugurated in the new Capital of Lansing. He also served as the Chief Justice of the Michigan Supreme Court from 1843-1847.

We found his gravesite yesterday and his tombstone is really hard to read but here it is.

A G.A.R. veteran marker was lying down and I propped it up but wondered why he has one considering that G.A.R. was founded in 1866 and Ransom died in 1859.

Kalamazoo has a Ransom historic marker that mentions how as judge he prevented the removal of Catholic Potawatomi Native Americans from their lands. Just the Catholics? More questions.

So here is just a small piece of Michigan history about a man with a really long first name who Kalamazoo remembers.

Del Shannon and Michigan ~ 12/30/34 - 2/8/90

Born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Charles Westover grew up in this house in Coopersville, Michigan.

His music is his legacy, and sadly he ended his own life in 1990 while living in California. His ashes may be scattered but the music world still remembers him and his music.

Del Shannon first performed "Runaway" in the Hi-Lo club that was located on this spot in Battle Creek.

The historical museum in Coopersville has a small collection of Del Shannon memorabilia.

I had hoped for more but still appreciated this museum with an alcove devoted to Del.

Coopersville remembers its favorite son with a huge car show every year. He probably would have liked that.