The End of the Road in Michigan

Thumbwind Publications
  • 4.0 (13)
  • Places & Travel
  • Updated Semiweekly

This audio collection of amazing short stories is taken from the Great Lakes region and the Tip of Michigan’s Thumb. We love Michigan's history, places to see, and things to do in Michigan. Each episode is taken from feature articles from Thumbwind.com and Michigan4you.com. So, as a podcast, you can enjoy them anytime and anywhere. So sit back, relax, and enjoy this week’s tale from the End of the Road in Michigan. Thank you for taking the time to listen to check out and listen to our little podcast. If you like this kind of tale, you are invited to subscribe. Search for The End Of The Road In Michigan from wherever you're listening. Please watch for and download next week’s episode and take a moment to give us a review. We cover #Michigan, #MichiganThumb, #PureMichigan #Thumbwind #Caseville, #PortAustin, #BadAxe, #GrindstoneCity, #HarborBeach, #Kindie, #Elkton, #BayPort, #Sebewaing, #Verona, #Pigeon and #PortHope

  1. Pull Over, Kids: Michigan’s Roadside Tourist Attractions

    Jun 3

    Pull Over, Kids: Michigan’s Roadside Tourist Attractions

    Michigan’s roadside tourism boom turned two-lane highways into stages for bear camps, tourist towers, novelty buildings, tiny chapels, diners and roadside oddities. This episode looks at how the automobile reshaped travel from the 1920s through the 1950s, using Spikehorn Meyers, Hedges Wigwam, Michigan tourist towers and other quirky stops as examples of the era when a good sign could make a family pull over. The End of the Road in Michigan is a production of Thumbwind Publications

    12 min
  2. Apartment 211: How the Collingwood Massacre Ended Detroit’s Purple Gang

    May 31

    Apartment 211: How the Collingwood Massacre Ended Detroit’s Purple Gang

    During Prohibition, Detroit’s location across from Windsor helped turn the Detroit River into a major liquor-smuggling route. From that underworld came the Purple Gang, a violent criminal group tied to rum running, hijacking, extortion and murder. This episode follows the gang’s rise and decline through newspaper accounts, with the Collingwood Manor Massacre of 1931 as the turning point that helped break its power. The End of the Road in Michigan is a production of Thumbwind Publications

    14 min
  3. They Ran Like Mad: The 1908 Metz Fire and Northern Michigan’s Burning Year

    May 29

    They Ran Like Mad: The 1908 Metz Fire and Northern Michigan’s Burning Year

    In October 1908, northern Michigan burned. The Metz Fire destroyed a village, killed dozens and left hundreds homeless. At the same time, fires threatened communities near Alpena, Traverse City and Sault Ste. Marie, where ashes fell on the water “as if from a volcano.” This episode follows the fire through newspaper reports and the firsthand escape account of Mildred Swan, a Bay City teacher who ran through burning orchards and fences to survive. The End of the Road in Michigan is a production of Thumbwind Publications

    15 min
  4. The Day the Trolleys Stopped: Michigan’s Lost Interurban Age

    May 29

    The Day the Trolleys Stopped: Michigan’s Lost Interurban Age

    Michigan once had a broad electric interurban rail network that linked Detroit, small towns, farms, factories and lake resorts. By the late 1920s and early 1930s, that system was collapsing under pressure from private automobiles, buses, rising costs and court-approved abandonments. This episode follows the decline through newspaper accounts from Saginaw, Monroe and Berrien Springs, showing how electric rail gave way to Michigan’s road age. The End of the Road in Michigan is a production of Thumbwind Publications This episode includes AI-generated content.

    14 min
  5. The Men Who Didn’t Want to Leave: German POWs in Michigan

    May 28

    The Men Who Didn’t Want to Leave: German POWs in Michigan

    During World War II, more than 6,000 German and Italian prisoners of war were held in Michigan. They cut pulpwood in the Upper Peninsula, worked in fruit orchards, harvested crops, and helped fill wartime labor shortages. This episode follows the final days of German POWs at Fort Custer and Camp Evelyn, using 1945–46 newspaper clippings and historical records to tell the story of enemy soldiers who came to Michigan as prisoners — and, in some cases, hoped to return one day as free men. The End of the Road in Michigan is a production of Thumbwind Publications

    13 min
  6. The Gogebic Michigan Highwayman - The Last Stagecoach Robbery in North America

    May 27

    The Gogebic Michigan Highwayman - The Last Stagecoach Robbery in North America

    In the summer of 1889, wealthy tourists stepped off Milwaukee, Lake Shore & Western Railroad trains bound for the White House Inn on Lake Gogebic. What began as a peaceful journey through Michigan’s deep north woods quickly turned into one of the Upper Peninsula’s most shocking crimes. A horse-drawn resort stagecoach carrying bankers and vacationers rolled along a lonely wilderness road when an armed gunman stepped from the trees. The robbery left one man dead, triggered fears of lynching in Gogebic County, and launched a manhunt that gripped newspapers across the Midwest. The suspect, Reimund Holzhey, became known as the “Gogebic Highwayman,” a mysterious figure whose courtroom testimony, claims of insanity, and strange later life only deepened the legend. Using original 1889 newspaper accounts, regional historical records, and local Upper Peninsula history, this episode reconstructs the dramatic story behind what many still call Michigan’s last great stagecoach robbery. Along the way, it examines the fading frontier era of Lake Gogebic’s grand resort hotels, railroad tourism, and the rough wilderness roads that once connected them. Was this truly the last stagecoach robbery in North America? The answer may surprise you. #MichiganHistory #LakeGogebic #UpperPeninsula #TrueCrimeHistory #MichiganMoments #StagecoachRobbery #OldWest #GogebicCounty #Marenisco #GreatLakesHistory The End of the Road in Michigan is a production of Thumbwind Publications This episode includes AI-generated content.

    9 min
  7. The Two Eras of Interlochen Michigan

    Mar 13

    The Two Eras of Interlochen Michigan

    Interlochen, Michigan was once a timber town on a narrow strip between two lakes. In 1917 the state bought a stand of white pines to create Michigan’s first state park, saving the forest and the town’s future. By 1928 conductor Joseph Maddy had brought the National Music Camp to Interlochen, and by 1962 the Interlochen Arts Academy opened as a boarding school for gifted artists. Interestingly, it all grew from that one decision to spare the pines – a logging-era move that paved the way for music. Thanks for listening, please follow us for future episodes. The End of the Road in Michigan is a production of Thumbwind Publications

    8 min
  8. Steam, Smoke, and Sunday Excursions: Newberry’s Turn of the Century Transformation

    Feb 27

    Steam, Smoke, and Sunday Excursions: Newberry’s Turn of the Century Transformation

    Newberry, Michigan rose with the railroads and the timber economy, then learned how to survive the long shift that followed. In this episode, we trace how a small Luce County town became both an industrial workhorse and a starting point for North Country travel. From charcoal iron and logging payrolls to the steady presence of the state hospital and the early pull of Tahquamenon country, Newberry’s story is about adaptation without pretense. It’s a place shaped by winter, work, and the people who stayed when the boom years cooled. The End of the Road in Michigan is a production of Thumbwind Publications

    8 min
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About

This audio collection of amazing short stories is taken from the Great Lakes region and the Tip of Michigan’s Thumb. We love Michigan's history, places to see, and things to do in Michigan. Each episode is taken from feature articles from Thumbwind.com and Michigan4you.com. So, as a podcast, you can enjoy them anytime and anywhere. So sit back, relax, and enjoy this week’s tale from the End of the Road in Michigan. Thank you for taking the time to listen to check out and listen to our little podcast. If you like this kind of tale, you are invited to subscribe. Search for The End Of The Road In Michigan from wherever you're listening. Please watch for and download next week’s episode and take a moment to give us a review. We cover #Michigan, #MichiganThumb, #PureMichigan #Thumbwind #Caseville, #PortAustin, #BadAxe, #GrindstoneCity, #HarborBeach, #Kindie, #Elkton, #BayPort, #Sebewaing, #Verona, #Pigeon and #PortHope

Information

  • Creator
    Thumbwind Publications
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    95
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Thumbwind Publications LLC
  • Show Website
    The End of the Road in Michigan

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