For many enslaved people during the 19th century, Michigan symbolized escape.

As the last leg of the Underground Railroad, the hundreds of stops within the state brought them one step closer to reaching legal freedom in Canada.

Many of those stops still exist to this day, standing as a testament to what is possible when people fight for what’s right.

Today, The ‘Gander’s Chaunie Brusie takes on a tour of some of these historic spots that you can still visit.

Plus: A new segment, Odds and Ends, where I bring you a collection of observations and findings that don’t really fit in any other part of this newsletter (but are guaranteed to entertain). ⬇️

Trump threatens opening of Gordie Howe bridge (Freep): President Donald Trump says he will block the opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge unless Canada makes concessions, arguing the US should own at least half of the Canada-funded project and accusing Canada of unfair trade practices. Michigan lawmakers, including Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, warned that the threat could hurt the state’s economy.

Ford worker who heckled Trump keeps job (The Detroit News): A Ford employee who heckled President Donald Trump during a January visit to the Dearborn Truck Plant kept his job with no disciplinary record, a UAW official confirmed Monday. Ford and the White House declined to comment.

Former Detroit Lions star dies (ClickOnDetroit): Former Detroit Lions linebacker Tracy Scroggins, who spent his entire 10-year NFL career in Detroit, has died at age 56. A second-round pick in 1992, Scroggins recorded 321 tackles and 60.5 sacks in 142 games before retiring in 2001.

Did you know that Michigan was home to over 200 stops on the Underground Railroad? We traced our state’s history in facilitating steps to freedom. (J.A. Dunbar/Shutterstock)

By Chaunie Brusie

In honor of Black History Month, we’re taking a closer look at Michigan’s history with the Underground Railroad. The Underground Railroad, which sounds like a physical path, was actually an extensive nationwide network of people and places that worked together to help enslaved people escape to freedom. Some people involved were standalone individuals helping, while others were part of a greater, deliberate, and coordinated effort.

The Michigan History Center explains that the term “Underground Railroad” developed because the people involved in helping enslaved people used code words that included railroad terms like “depot” and “conductor.” Because the ultimate goal for enslaved people was to escape to legal freedom in Canada, Michigan was a crucial “final stop” on the Underground Railroad, often nicknamed “Midnight” as enslaved people escaped through the night to find freedom in the dawn.

According to the Detroit Historical Society, while Michigan officially recognizes 24 Underground Railroad “stops” today, around 200 stops were utilized in Michigan between 1820 and 1865.

Random tidbits worth clicking on…

The Grand Castle in Grandville. (Karel Vega/The ‘Gander)

🏰 I joined my sister on a trip to Grand Rapids to cheer her on while she ran the Groundhog Marathon. We were astounded when we saw this gigantic castle next to our hotel. We looked it up, and it’s an apartment complex! If anybody lives there, is it as cool as it seems?

☕ Good news for people who drink a lot of coffee, a recent study found that daily consumption of two to three cups of caffeinated coffee was associated with a lowered risk of dementia.

🛷 How dangerous is sledding actually? That’s what I was asking myself after seeing the sticker on our newly purchased sled that encouraged helmet use. The number of injuries might shock you.

🧤 It was a big week for Michigan-shaped objects. Redditors shared pics of both a cloud formation shaped like Michigan and a tortilla chip.

Did you enjoy this new segment? Let me know by replying to this email. Do you have a cool picture, observation, or comment you’d like to share? Send it here.

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Thanks for reading. This newsletter was written by Karel Vega with a feature story from Chaunie Brusie. It was edited by Paula Solis.

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