MASON – Mike DeGrow displayed a map that appeared to show four major islands in Lake Superior.
“As you can see it wasn’t easy to be specific back then,” DeGrow told a crowd that assembled at the Mason Historic Museum’s meeting room.
The map was from the 1700s and was one of the earliest maps of Michigan. It also depicted the state’s “mitten” lower peninsula as a slanted rectangle.
“They didn’t have GPS back then,” he said.
DeGrow presented historic maps and spoke about them at the Mason Area Historic Society’s March 5 meeting. He said maps can also help tell the history of the state and how it developed from a piece of the Northwest territory.
He said the geography of Michigan was a big point of contention, which almost led to a war with Ohio in 1836. as Michigan was trying to become a state of the union. Although there wasn’t a battle, land called “The Toledo Strip” was at stake, and the territory was ceded to Ohio in return for land for the Upper Peninsula.
“As a territory, those that governed Michigan didn’t have the privilege of states that had already been admitted,” DeGrow said. “So it would make sense to want to become an official state.”
DeGrow, from Eaton Rapids, said he donated his maps recently to Michigan State University Library because he wanted to make sure they cared for and would help tell the story of Michigan for years to come.
It was one of many monthly presentations for the historical society. Those interested are asked to mail the school story of 300 words or less to MAHS, P.O. Box 44, Mason, 48854. For questions, call Shirley 676-5698 or 676-5314.
“As you can see it wasn’t easy to be specific back then,” DeGrow told a crowd that assembled at the Mason Historic Museum’s meeting room.
The map was from the 1700s and was one of the earliest maps of Michigan. It also depicted the state’s “mitten” lower peninsula as a slanted rectangle.
“They didn’t have GPS back then,” he said.
DeGrow presented historic maps and spoke about them at the Mason Area Historic Society’s March 5 meeting. He said maps can also help tell the history of the state and how it developed from a piece of the Northwest territory.
He said the geography of Michigan was a big point of contention, which almost led to a war with Ohio in 1836. as Michigan was trying to become a state of the union. Although there wasn’t a battle, land called “The Toledo Strip” was at stake, and the territory was ceded to Ohio in return for land for the Upper Peninsula.
“As a territory, those that governed Michigan didn’t have the privilege of states that had already been admitted,” DeGrow said. “So it would make sense to want to become an official state.”
DeGrow, from Eaton Rapids, said he donated his maps recently to Michigan State University Library because he wanted to make sure they cared for and would help tell the story of Michigan for years to come.
It was one of many monthly presentations for the historical society. Those interested are asked to mail the school story of 300 words or less to MAHS, P.O. Box 44, Mason, 48854. For questions, call Shirley 676-5698 or 676-5314.
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