Ready Reference

The Information and Reference Desk at the St. Clair County Library maintains a file of frequently asked questions and popular topics.  This page represents a partial transcription of that file.

There are two ways to search this page.  You may click on the first letter of the topic you are interested in and jump to a list of topics that begin with that letter.  Or you may use the "Find in Page" function of your web browser to search the page for an occurrence of a particular word.

Please notify the Reference Department if you find any inaccurate or outdated information here.  Remember, however, that we are not responsible for the accuracy and currency of information contained on other websites.

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Abbott and Costello--"Who's On First?"

Abortion. National Abortion Federation.

Adoption.

Aged--Insurance information. St. Clair County Council on Aging Insurance Specialist.

Aging. Progeria, a disease of premature aging.

Airlines--Complaints. Federal Aviation Administration FAQ.

Airplane Crash--Lake Huron. See Times Herald, April 11, 12, and 14, 1944.

Alcoholics Anonymous--Port Huron contact number: 810-987-8884.

Algonac Boardwalk. Length: 2,568 ft. Source: Marilyn Manning, Algonac City Manager. See also St. Clair Boardwalk.

Alzheimer's Disease. Alzheimer's Association.

Amateur Radio Examinations. Contact person: Bob, 810-982-1561.

American Association of Retired Persons. Legal hotline for Michigan residents age 60 and over: 800-347-LAWS.

American Friends Service Committee.

American National Standards Institute (ANSI).

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.  Also known as  ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease.

Animals, Wild--Injured. Contact: Tiger Bunny Acres (sanctuary), Jeddo MI; or Dr. Barton Meadows, DVM, 810-385-3515.

Anniversaries. See Wedding Anniversaries; Holidays.

Anthems--Canada. "O, Canada," the Canadian national anthem.

Arbor Day

Area. Formulas for computing the areas of geometric figures: Dave's Math Tables.

Attention Deficit Disorder.

Automobiles--Defects.  Search the Recalls Database at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.  Use the NHTSA's Complaint Form to report a vehicle safety problem.

Automobiles--Consumer Information.   Michigan's "Lemon Law."

Automobiles--Price Guides.

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Baseball--Spring Training Camps.

Beauty Pageants--Directories.

Better Business Bureau--Detroit.

"Big Apple"--New York City.  Nickname originated in 1930s to mean a city full of opportunity, "ripe for plucking."  Source:  Flexner, Stuart, I Hear America Talking.

Bill Collectors--Complaints.

Birth, Marriage, and Death Records.  See Public Records.

Birthday Greeting from the White House.  For those turning 80 or older.

Birthdays--Celebrities.

Birthdays--Days of the Week.  "Monday's child is fair of face . . ."

Birthstones.

Blood Alchol Levels--Legal Limits for Driving (Michigan).

Blood Alcohol Chart.  Shows blood alcohol levels as a function of time, number of drinks, and body weight..

Blue Water Bridge.

Book Donations--Tax Deductions.  IRS Publication 526 contains information about the recordkeeping requirements for donations of books and other noncash charitable contributions.  For donations less than $250 in value (which applies in most cases), you should make a list of the items and their approximate value, taking into account depreciated values of used items.  You should also obtain a receipt from the library that includes your name, the date of the donation, and the number of books donated.

Bookbinding Service.

Books, Used and Rare.

Books, Used and Rare--Appraisal.

Borthwick, Mamah Bouton.  See Also Times-Herald, August 17, 1914, or Michigan Room pamphlet file "Biography--B".

Boxing Day.  Ordinarily observed on the day after Christmas, Dec. 26, it is a legal holiday in Canada, the United Kingdom, and many other countries.  Formerly a day when Christmas gift boxes were given to postmen, lamplighters, dustmen, and other public functionaries who did not receive payment directly from the people they served.

Bradford Exchange.  Collectible plates.

Building Codes.  See Construction Codes.

Bullet--Speed.  "Faster than a speeding bullet."  According to the National Rifle Association, a standard 150-grain bullet fired from a 30-06 rifle travels at 2,900 feet per second, almost three times the speed of sound.  Source:  Detroit Free Press, July 19, 1978.

Bus Schedules--Port Huron.  Call Blue Water Area Transit at 987-7373.  This is for local bus service.  There are no regular inter-city bus lines servicing the Port Huron area.  Charter service is available.  Detroit Metropolitan Airport shuttle service is available through several local companies.  See your telephone book's yellow pages under "Buses" and "Airport Transportation."

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Campgrounds--Michigan.

Cancer Information

Census, Michigan.  The St. Clair County Library has copies of portions of the Michigan state censuses of 1845, 1884, and 1894.  Call the Library for more information: 810-987-7323.

Census, U.S.  The St. Clair County Library has copies of U.S. Census records from the decennial national censuses of 1830 through 1920, except for the 1890 regular census schedules, which were destroyed by a fire in Washington, D.C., in 1921.  Call the Library for more information: 810-987-7323.

Centennial Farms.  Michigan Centennial Farm Program.

Charities.

Child Abuse.

Chinese New Year.

Christmas.

Civil War Re-enactment Group.  The 10th Infantry, an area Civil War heritage group,  meets at the Library.  For more information, contact Dave Rawlings at 810-359-8852.

Color Tours--Michigan.

Compass Deviation--St. Clair County.  According to the United States Coast Guard, compass readings in this area deviate 2 degrees from true north.

Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (COBRA).   Provides  employees and eligible dependents the right to continue group health care coverage for a period of time following certain events that would otherwise result in loss of coverage.  COBRA  was modified and supplemented by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996.

Construction Codes.  Local governing bodies may have their own building codes or ordinances.  The cities of Port Huron, St. Clair, and Marysville use their own building codes.  Others may apply a standard code such as BOCA or the Uniform Building Code.  Check with the applicable municipal office to find out which building code applies in your particular case.  Addresses and phone numbers for many municipal offices in St. Clair County may be found here.   For State of Michigan guidelines, visit the state Bureau of Construction Codes.

Consumer Complaints.

Consumer Price Indexes.

Cooperatives.

Copyright Information.

Corruption in Government.  Use GAO FraudNet to report fraud, waste, abuse, or mismanagement of federal government funds.

Credit Counseling Services.  American Bankruptcy Institute (Consumer Corner) assists consumers with information about bankruptcy, how to gain control over finances, credit card advice, how to file for bankruptcy, and what other options are possible.

Crisis Intervention Services--Port Huron.

Cubit.  Based on the length of the arm from elbow to fingertip.

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Daughters of the American Revolution.  Ottawa Chapter: Mrs. Cornelius Gruben, 810-982-3107.

Day, Length of.  At 40 degrees north latitude, the longest day of the year is June 21 (14 hrs., 30 min.); the shortest day of the year is December 21 (9 hrs., 9 min.).

Days of the Week--Origin of Names.

Death Records.  See Public Records.

Detroit Tigers (Baseball Club)--Schedule.

Detroit Times (Newspaper).  The Detroit Times ceased publication in 1960 when it was sold to the Detroit News.  The full run of the Detroit Times was from Oct. 1, 1900 through Nov. 6, 1960.

Dillinger, John.  See Youngblood, Herbert.

Disappearances--Port Huron.  See Lebert, William; Nash, Jay Robert.

Distances.  (Sources: World Almanac and Book of Facts, 1999; World Book Encyclopedia, 1998)


Divorce--Michigan--Forms.  Forms for filing your own divorce action are available at the Library.  Call 810-987-7323, or visit the Library for details.

Dodge Reports.  If you belong to a labor union, these reports should be available to you through your union.  These are not job listings, but descriptions of construction and other types of jobs to bid on.

Domestic Violence.

Donations of Books.  See Book Donations--Tax Deductions.

Drinking Age--Michigan.  The legal drinking age in Michigan was lowered from 21 to 18 in 1972, then raised back to 21 on December 22, 1978.

Driver's Licenses--Michigan.  The first  Michigan driver's license was issued on July 1, 1919, to Governor Albert E. Sleeper.  The first driver's license with a photograph was issued on July 1, 1965.

Drunk Driving Laws--Michigan.

Dudley Do-Right.  His horse was named "Steed."  For other notable horses, see Horses, Famous.

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E=mc2.  Formula developed by Albert Einstein relating matter and energy.  E stands for energy, M for mass (of matter), and c2 is a constant factor equal to the square of the speed of light.  The formula indicates that very large emissions of energy result from tiny masses of matter being converted into energy in processes such as thermonuclear reactions.  Source:  World Book Encyclopedia, 1998.

E Pluribus Unum.  Motto on the Great Seal of the United States.  Latin, meaning, "out of many, one."  Since 1873, the law has required that this motto appear on one side of every U.S. coin that is minted.  Source:  World Book Encyclopedia, 1998.

Earth Day.

Easter--Dates.

Earthquakes--St. Clair County.

Edison Day--Port Huron.  Thomas Edison's birthday, February 10, is observed in the Port Huron area with special events and festivities, and the occasion is informally known as "Edison Day."  The most noteworthy celebration was in 1940, when about 75,000 people gathered in Port Huron on Edison Day.  The big drawing card that year was the presence of several Hollywood stars, including Mickey Rooney, who came to town for the premiere screening of Young Tom Edison, a feature film in which Rooney played the title role.  The premiere was shown at the Desmond Theatre.  Source: Times-Herald, February 11, 1940.

Edison, Thomas A.  The famous inventor lived in Port Huron from ages 7 to 16.  At age 12, he went to work as a trainboy on the Grand Trunk Railway line between Port Huron and Detroit.  He also sold newspapers and candy, and composed, typeset, and circulated his own newspaper, the Weekly Herald.  Edison took telegraphy lessons through the railroad company and worked occasionally as a telegrapher in the railroad depot in Port Huron.  In 1863 he began his first regular job as a telegraph operator with the Grand Trunk at Stratford Junction, Canada.  He never returned to Port Huron except for one brief visit.  The site of his boyhood home is located at Thomas and Erie Streets near Pine Grove Park.  Archaeological digs began there in 1976 and were completed in 1991.  Sources: "Thomas A. Edison," circular published by Blue Water Convention and Tourist Bureau; "Edison's Hometown," Times Herald, Dec. 10, 1995.

Eldercare Locator Service.  This is a toll free hotline to provide assistance to seniors and to those who care for them:  800-677-1116.

Electrical Codes.  National Electrical Code Internet Connection.

Energy Conservation.

Erin Go Bragh.  "Ireland Forever."

Euthanasia.

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Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993.

Family History.  See Genealogy.

Farmland and Open Space Preservation Act.  Michigan Public Act 116 of 1974.  Provides tax relief to farm owner if land is kept substantially undeveloped.

Fathom.  A measure of length  based originally on the span of a mariner's outstretched arms.  1 mile = 880 fathoms.

Federal Reserve System.

Financial Aid.

Firearms--Laws and Regulations.

Fireworks.  National Council on Fireworks Safety.

Fiscal Year.  A fiscal year is designated by the calendar year in which it ends.  Following are the fiscal years for various governmental entities:

Flags--Michigan--Pledge.  The Pledge to the Flag of Michigan:

Flowers of the Month.

Foot (Unit of Length).  Its length was derived in ancient times from the length of the human foot.  In 1305, England standardized the foot and defined it as equal to 12 inches, where an inch equaled the length of three barleycorns laid end to end.  Source:  World Book Encyclopedia, 1998.

Fort Gratiot Lighthouse.  The original lighthouse at Fort Gratiot was built in 1825 by Daniel Warren of Rochester, N.Y.  It was severely damaged by a storm in 1828 and collapsed before it could be repaired.  The present lighthouse was erected in 1829 at a cost of $4,445.  It was renovated in 1861.  Source:  Times-Herald, June 27, 1945.

Fort St. Joseph.  Built by Dulhuit in 1686 on the St. Clair River, near the present Fort Gratiot, it existed only a few years.

Furlong.  Originally defined as the length of a furrow a team of oxen could plow before resting.  Standardized as 220 yards.

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GED Tests.  General educational development (GED) tests, also known as high school equivalency exams.  These tests are offered on an irregular basis in the Port Huron area.  For a schedule of upcoming GED test dates and sites, contact the Jefferson Adult Learning Center, 810-984-6552.

Genealogy.

Genetic Counseling

Geographic Centers.  Source: World Almanac and Book of Facts, 1999.

Gifted Children--Michigan.

Ginkgo Tree at City Hall.  The ginkgo tree that was located at the old City Hall building was moved to the front of the St. Clair County courthouse.  It is not a ginkgo tree, but a camperdown elm (Ulmus glabra camperdownii).  It is not native to America but is a grafted variety of the wych elm, a native of Europe and western Asia.  The camperdown elm is also known as the umbrella elm.

G.O.P.  Members of the Republican Party in the United States began referring to their party as the "Grand Old Party" in the middle 1880's.  The term seems to have been an adaptation of "Grand Old Man," which was at that time the admiring nickname applied to British prime minister William Ewart Gladstone.

Grain of Salt.  Before you decide to "take it with a grain of salt," you should know that a grain is a measure of weight.  There are 7,000 grains to a pound.  The Salt Institute says that Americans consume over 84 billion grains of salt per year.  Source:  Detroit Free Press, July 19, 1978.

Grand Trunk Railroad.  Double tracks were laid from Port Huron to Chicago beginning in 1890, completed in 1904.  Double tracks from Port Huron to Montreal were begun in 1881 and completed in 1905.

Grandparents Rights.

Great Lakes Maritime Academy.

Groundhog Day.

Guy Fawkes Day.  An English holiday commemorating the failure of a band of conspirators led by Robert Catesby to blow up King James I and his Parliament on November 5, 1605.  Fawkes was caught in the cellars beneath Parliament as he was about to light the fuse.

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Hazardous Substances.  For information on the possible toxicity of various substances, call the Chemical Referral Center at 1-800-CMA-8200.

Hazardous Waste.  If you suspect the presence of hazardous waste, or have questions about hazardous waste disposal, call the EPA's Hazardous Waste Hotline at 1-800-424-9346.

Hemlock Society.  See Euthanasia.

Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village.

Herpes.  Herpes Questions and Answers.

Hiccups, Cures For.  These are just a few of the many remedies proposed for hiccups:

Holocaust Memorial Center (West Bloomfield, Mich.).

Home Schooling.

Homework Assistance.

Homonyms.  Words alike in pronunciation, but different in meaning and usually in spelling.  Examples: Ewe and yew, dear and deer, etc.

Horoscopes.

Horse Racing.  Horse racing's "triple crown" consists of the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes, and Belmont Stakes.

Horses, Famous.

Hospice--Port Huron.  Blue Water Hospice, 1013 Lincoln Ave.  810-982-8809.

Houses, Repossessed.  For a list of foreclosed VA and HUD homes, drug seizures, and tax-delinquent foreclosures in your area, call 1-800333-3737, extension H-1919.

Housing, Low Income--Port Huron.  Contact the Port Huron Housing Commission, 810-984-3173, for information about subsidized housing for seniors and low-income households.

Humane Society - St. Clair County Humane Society 

Humanism.  The word "humanism" has many different meanings.  It often refers to Renaissance-based movements in the arts, sciences, and literature which emphasized independent research,  a rediscovery of Latin and Greek history and literature, and an exploration of non-Christian themes in art.  Occasionally it is used to refer to a family of religious and philosophical movements  throughout Western history  that stress the importance of the individual, the achievements of the human race, and a commitment to seek knowledge for its own sake without dependence on religious doctrines.  Sometimes "humanism" is used in a strict sense, especially by evangelical Christians, to refer to "secular humanism," a more or less formal philosophical system that espouses atheism, materialism, and the pre-eminence of the scientific method in acquiring knowledge.

Hunger Relief Organizations.

Huron Lightship Museum.  810-982-0891. This will connect you with the Port Huron Museum with which the Lightship is affiliated.

Hyperactivity in Children.  See Attention Deficit Disorder.

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Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS).

Indian Tribes--Michigan.  Several tribes have websites.  See the last link in this list for a complete list of tribes with mailing addresses and phone numbers.

Inflation, Rate of.  See Consumer Price Index.

Insurance Companies--Ratings.

Insurance, Social.  See Social Security.

Internal Revenue Service.

International Symphony Orchestra of Sarnia and Port Huron.
774-C London Rd., Sarnia, ON N7T 4Y1
Anne Brown, Manager
Phone: (519)337-7775
Box Office/Phone 2: (810)984-8857
Fax: (519)337-1822

Internet Service Providers--St. Clair County.  This is a link to a list of ISPs that service the 810 area code in Michigan.  Not all of these companies have local-access numbers for the Port Huron/Marysville/St. Clair exchanges.  Check with the individual ISP for details.  Also, be aware that companies offering "toll-free" phone numbers for Internet access often levy surcharges based on usage.  Ask questions and read the fine print.

Iwo Jima.  These are the names of the soldiers who appear in a famous photograph of the American flag being raised on the island of Iwo Jima during World War II:

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Jewish Synagogue--St. Clair County.  There are no synagogues in St. Clair County.  The Ahavas Isaac synagogue is located at 202 Cobden Rd. in Sarnia, Ontario.  Ph. 519-337-9281.

Jobs--Federal Government.

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Kidney Disease.

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La Leche League.

Landers, Ann.

Landlord Associations--Port Huron.

Law--International.  United Nations International Law Commission.

Law--Michigan.

Law--United States.   U.S. House of Representatives Internet Law Library.

Lawyers--Complaints.  Michigan Attorney Grievance Commission, 243 W. Congress, Detroit MI 48226.  Ph. 313-961-6585.  Investigates allegations of unethical or incompetent legal practices.

League of Women Voters.  Blue Water Area League of Women Voters: Contact Terry Gill, 8168 Bricker Rd., Greenwood MI  810-387-3379.

Lebert, William.  Port Huron man who disappeared in 1922 after arguing with his wife, Adelaide.  A nationwide search ensued.  On July 28, 1925, an unknown man committed suicide by leaping into the furnace stack of the Imperial Oil Company in Sarnia.  A coroner's jury concluded that it was Lebert, and he was declared officially dead.  Lebert's wife used the insurance money to build an apartment house which she named after her husband.  She then married William Manley.  Later in the year, Lebert returned, alive.  He sued his wife, her new husband, and the members of the coroner's jury who had declared him dead.  Lebert never explained his mysterious disappearance.  Source:  Nash, Jay Robert, Among the Missing: An Anecdotal History of Missing Persons from 1800 to the Present

Left-handedness.  alt.lefthanders Frequently Asked Questions.

Legal Aid.

Legislation--Michigan.

Legislation--United States Congress.

Lemon Law--Michigan.

Letters (Postal)--Size.  U.S. Postal Service Rate Calculator.

Leukemia.  Children's Leukemia Foundation of Michigan.

Licenses (Professional and Occupational)--Michigan.  The state's Consumer and Industry Services Department operates a 900 number to check the licensing status of anyone who works in a profession or occupation required to be licensed or registered under state law.  Information on whether a person has a valid license, when the license expires, and whether any disciplinary action has been taken or is pending may be obtained by using this number:  900-555-8374.  This is not a free call. The fee as of April 1999 is $1.50 per minute.  The websites below are maintained by the CIS, but many of them consist simply of contact numbers, and many others are under construction as of this writing (April 1999).

Liquor.  There are 25.6 ounces in a "fifth" of liquor.  The "fifth" refers to one-fifth of a U.S. gallon.

Literacy.

Lottery.

Lou Gehrig's Disease.  See Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.

Loyalty Day.  May 1st was declared "Loyalty Day" in the U.S. by Presidential Proclamation in 1959.  Many communities feature Loyalty Day activities.

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Maccabees (Fraternal Organization).  St. Clair County is the birthplace of the Knights of the Modern Maccabees, instituted in 1881 with headquarters in Port Huron.  It was an offshoot of the Supreme Tent of the Knights of the Maccabees of the World, first organized in 1878 in Ontario.  The Ladies of the Modern Maccabees was organized as an auxiliary to the Knights in Muskegon in 1886, and its headquarters were moved to Port Huron in 1903.  The Maccabee Temple was built in 1892 and dedicated in 1893.   It later became the Algonquin Hotel.  In 1907 the Temple was moved into a building that later served as the original Port Huron Junior College.  Source:  Jenks, St. Clair County, Michigan.

Mackinac Bridge.

McMorran Place Sports and Entertainment Complex.

Magi.   The Three Wise Men who came to Bethlehem to visit the infant Jesus, as related in the gospel of Matthew.  The gospel does not identify them by name, but a tradition arose in the Middle Ages that their names were Gaspar, Mechior, and Balthasar.  The word "magi" derives from the name of the priestly caste of the Medes, or the six tribes of Media, which was later assimilated into the Persian empire after Persia conquered the Medes.  Source:  New Westminster Dictionary of the Bible.

Man Without a Country.  A short story by Edward Everett Hale, which appeared in the December 1863 issue of the Atlantic Monthly. Although it is often assumed to be "based on a true story," the piece was entirely fictional, intended to inspire patriotism during the Civil War.  The title character, "Philip Nolan," was not connected in any way with an actual  Philip Nolan who fought in the war between Texas and Mexico.  To add to the confusion, Hale later wrote a story called "Philip Nolan's Friends," which was based on the real Philip Nolan.  Source:  Benet's Readers Encyclopedia of American Literature.

Maple Syrup.  How to Make Your Own Maple Syrup.

Maps.

Marriage Records.  See Public Records.

Mass Murder.  Mass murder is to be distinguished from serial murder.  A mass murder is generally defined as an isolated event in which a large number of people are killed at one time, while serial murder involves a long period of time, months or even years,  during which consecutive murders are perpetrated by the same individual.

Maternity Leave.  See Family and Medical Leave Act.

Mathematics--Tables, Formulae, Etc.  Dave's Math Tables.

Mayflower--Passengers.

Mayo Clinics.

Measures.  See Weights and Measures.

Mediation.  Michigan residents may call the Michigan Community Dispute Resolution Program at 800-8-RESOLVE for assistance with cases involving property damage, neighborhood disputes, consumer/merchant disputes, landlord/tenant disputes, family disputes, and business and contractual disputes.

Medicaid.  Medicaid Consumer Information from the U.S. Health Care Financing Agency (HCFA).

Medicare.  Official U.S. Government Medicare Site.

Mensa.

Mental Illness.

Michigan Unemployment Agency.  Michigan Works!

Metric Conversions.

Michigan--Capitol Building.  The cornerstone for the Michigan State Capitol building was laid in 1873, and the building was constructed under the architectural design of Elijah E. Myers. The Capitol Building was built using Illinois limestone, Ohio sandstone, and Vermont marble. It was dedicated on January 1, 1879. Over the years, the building fell into disrepair and a major restoration and refurbishment project was undertaken by the Legislature beginning in 1987. The Capitol was rededicated on November 19, 1992.  Source:  Lansing Regional Sister Cities Commission.

Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

Michigan--Legislation.

Michigan--Lottery.

Michigan Self-Help Clearinghouse.  Call for information about individual and group resources available for a variety of concerns:  1-800-777-5556.

Michigan--Archives.

Michigan--Employment Law.  The Michigan Fair Employment Practices Act was repealed and replaced by Act 453, P.A. 1976, which is popularly known as the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act of 1976.  For information on filing complaints of violations of this law, see the Michigan Department of Civil Rights Complaint Page.

Michigan--Law.

Michigan Sex Offenders Registry.

Michigan--Taxation.

Midwifery.

Mile.  Ther term "mile" comes from milia passuum, the Latin words for "a thousand paces."

Military Records.

Military Street Bridge (Port Huron).  The original wooden bridge spanning the Black River was built in 1833.  A new wooden bridge was constructed in 1854 after the original bridge was deliberately rammed and destroyed by an irate steamer captain after the draw of the bridge failed to open.  The first steel bridge was built in 1886, and replaced by the a new steel span in 1913.  This bridge was refloored in 1950.  The Military Street Bridge was demolished in 1992 and a new bridge opened in August, 1993.  Source:  "Military Street Bridge" file, Michigan Room, St. Clair County Library.

Mill.  A "mill" is one-tenth of a cent, and is used to compute property tax amounts.  One mill represents one dollar of tax on each $1000 of equalized property value.  A one-mill levy on a $60,000 home, for example, results in a $60 tax assessment.

Minimum Wage.  Currently (April 1999), the federal minimum wage is $5.15 per hour.  The minimum wage for employees who receive gratuities is $2.13 per hour.  Employees under the age of 20 may be paid a "training wage" minimum of $4.25 per hour during the first 90 days of their employment.

Miss America Pageant.

Miss Michigan Pageant.  Contact the Miss Michigan Scholarship Program, 5154 McDowell St., Muskegon MI 49441-5750.  Ph. 616-798-4272.

Missing Children.

Money--United States.   The U.S. began withdrawing bills of $500 and larger from circulation in 1969.  Source: World Book Encyclopedia.

Moon.  Diameter: 2106 mi.  Distance from Earth--Average, 238,857 mi.  Least: 221,463 mi.  Most: 252,710 mi.  Source: World Almanac and Book of  Facts.

Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD).  The local chapter is MADD of St. Clair/Sanilac Counties, 5149 Gratiot, St. Clair MI 48079.  Ph. 810-364-9919.

Multiple Sclerosis.

Museum of Arts and History (Port Huron).  1115 6th Street.  Ph. 810-982-0891.  Hours: Wed. through Sun., 1-4:30pm.

Music--Publishing.

Music--Song Lyrics.

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Narcotics Anonymous.  St. Clair County Narcotics Anonymous: 810-989-1627.

National Business Employment Weekly.   This link is for subscription information only.

National Labor Relations Board.    Local office (Region 7):  Patrick V. McNamara Federal Building, 477 Michigan Avenue, Room 300, Detroit, MI 48226-2569.   Ph.: (313) 226-3200.

National Organization for Women (NOW).

Naturopathy.

Naturalization Records.  See Public Records.

Navigational Charts.

Newberry Medal Winners.

Non-profit Organizations.

Nuclear Energy.

Numbers.

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Obscenity--Law and Regulation.

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

Olympic Flag.  The five rings of the Olympic flag represent the five inhabited continents of the world: Africa, Asia, Europe, Australia, and the Americas.  The colors of the rings are, from left to right:  Blue, yellow, black, green, and red.

Organ Donations.

Ostomy.

Oxymoron.  A combination of contradictory or incongruous words, such as "user-friendly software."

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Paintings--Restoration.  Contact the Conservation Division of the Detroit Institute of Art at 313-833-7920.

Palindrome.  A word or phrase whose spelling is the same forwards or backwards.  Example: Capac.

Paper House.

Papier-Mache Recipe.  Here is a recipe for making papier-mache:

Parents of Murdered Children.

Parkinson's Law.   "Work expands so as to fill the time available for its completion."  Some corollaries:

Passports.

Patriot War (1837-38).  A series of armed skirmishes between Canadian rebels and their American supporters and the British in Canada, it was the result of a  movement to free Canada from British control.  The "Patriots" were mostly American farmers and unemployed artisans recruited by Canadian rebels in the border counties from Vermont to Michigan.  The United States remained officially neutral during the conflict, but continued involvement of American citizens led Congress to pass a stronger neutrality act in March, 1838.  Federal troops and state militia were sent to the border areas to maintain order.  During the conflict, the Patriots plotted to seize weapons and ammunition from Fort Gratiot in Port Huron, but the scheme was foiled with no bloodshed. Many American citizens who had violated the neutraility act by partcipating in the war were taken into custody and tried for various criminal and civil infractions.   In December of 1838, the "Battle of Windsor" was fought when a band of Detroiters crossed the Detroit River and sacked  the British military barracks.  Twenty-one members of the raiding party were killed, and four were captured.  The prisoners were summarily executed by the British.  Subsequently, there were occasional civil disorders along the border areas until 1842, when the U.S. and Great Britain signed the Webster-Ashburton Treaty, establishing the U.S.-Canadian boundaries.   Sources:  Willis Dunbar, Michigan: A History of the Wolverine State; Dictionary of American History, rev. ed.

Patents.

Peace Corps.

Perpetual Calendars.

Pesticides.  National Pesticide Telecommunications Network.  1-800-858-7378.

Peter Principle.  In a hierarchical organization, every member tends to rise to his or her level of incompetence, so that each position is filled by a person incapable of executing its duties satisfactorily.  This concept was first popularized by Laurence J. Peter in his book, The Peter Principle (1969).

Photographs, Aerial.  Order aerial photograhs from the National Aerial Photography Program of the USGS.

Pilgrims.

Plates, Collectible.

Play Dough.  Play-Doh is a registered trademark of Playskool, Inc.  If you want the real thing, you will have to buy it in a store.   Many people, however, have developed their own recipes for generic "play dough."   Here is one such recipe from our reference desk files:

Poets Laureate.

Poison Control Center.  Call 800-POISON-1 or 800-764-7661.  Information is also available through Port Huron Hospital at 810-987-5555.  Find the Poison Control Center nearest to you by using the American Association of Poison Control Center's directory.

Poliomyelitis.

Population Statistics.  These figures are from the U.S. Census Bureau's website.  Unless otherwise noted, the estimates given are those issued on July 1, 1996.
 

PLACE

1990 U.S. Census

Latest U.S. Census Bureau Estimates 

United States

248,765,170

(Nov. 1998 est.)  270,933,000

Michigan

9,295,287

(July 1998 est.) 9,817,242

St. Clair County

145,607

(July 1998 est.) 159,769

Port Huron

33,694

 32,873

Marysville

8,515

9,476

Algonac

4,551

4,745

Marine City

4,556

4,585

St. Clair

5,116

5,492

Fort Gratiot Township

8,968

9,873

Port Huron Township

7,621

8,167

Port Huron.  Official city government website.

Port Huron--Altitude.  According to the U.S. Lake Survey performed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the altitude within the city of Port Huron varies from between 580 to 600+ feet above sea level.  The altitude is 584 feet at the sea wall by the St. Clair River; 600 feet at the intersection of Huron and McMorran; 612 feet at the intersection of Pine Grove and Holland.  The acceptable lake level is 578.5 feet above sea level.  For elevation at a specific point, contact the Port Huron City Engineer's Office, 810-984-9730.

Port Huron--Area.  The Great Port Huron-Marysville Chamber of Commerce gives the area of the city of Port Huron as 7.60 square miles.
 

Port Huron--Education.

Port Huron--Flag.

Port Huron--History.  Sources:  City of Port Huron; Times-Herald, June 6, 1945.

Port Huron--Latitude and Longitude.  42 degrees, 58 minutes, 2 seconds N longitude; 82 degrees, 25 minutes, 6 seconds W longitude.

Port Huron--Motion Pictures.

Port Huron--Population.  Population of the city reported from U.S. Census records:

1900 19,158
1910 18,863
1920 25,944
1930 31,361
1940 32,759
1950 35,725
1960 36,084
1970 35,724
1980 33,981
1990 33,694
1996 (estimated) 32,873

Port Huron--Streetcars.  Electric streetcar service began on Oct. 6, 1886,  in Port Huron with a trolley line operated by the Port Huron and Gratiot Railway Company.  It was the second electric streetcar line to open in the United States.  The trolley was discontinued on Jan. 14, 1930.  Bus service began on Jan. 28, 1930, with a route operated by the Eastern Michigan Motorbus Company.  Source: Michigan Room files.

Port Huron--Streets.  The first concrete paving was applied to Griswold Street from 16th to 24th Streets in 1912.

Port Huron--Tornadoes.  Tornadoes touched down in Port Huron, Sarnia, and the surrounding area on May 21, 1953.   Forty homes in St. Clair County were destroyed and 390 others damaged.  Five deaths were reported, four of them in the Sarnia area.  A total of 96 people were injured.  Downtown Sarnia sustained the brunt of the damage.  Less than three weeks later, on June 8, 1953, a series of large twisters hit northern Ohio and southeastern Michigan.  At least 142  people were killed and 750 injured.  Flint and Mt. Morris alone suffered 113 of the fatalities.  A twister cut a path from Yale to Lakeport and many homes were damaged.  One area fatality was reported, in Brown City, and over 30 injuries were attributed to the storm.  Source: Times-Herald.

Port Huron School of Business.  Defunct.  For transcripts and other records, contact: Post-Secondary Education Services, Department of Education, 608 W. Allegan, Hannah Bldg., Lansing MI 48933.  Ph. 517-373-3820.

Port Huron to Mackinac Island Sailboat Race.  This race has been held annually since 1925.  Click here for a graphic of the course.

Postal Carriers.  The inscription on the Main Post Office in New York City was adapted by a quote from the ancient Greek historian Herodotus:  "Neither snow, nor rain, nor heat, nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds."  Source:  Bartlett's Quotations.

Postal Rates--United States.

Pregnancy.

Presidential Libraries.

Presidents--Assassinations.

Presidents--Assassination Attempts.

Product Safety.

Progeria.

Psychic Phenomena.

Public Records.  Some types of public records are online.  Most are available only by making direct inquiries via snail mail (or, occasionally, email) to the governmental agency responsible for gathering and maintaining them.  For addresses and phone numbers of county, state, federal, and international sources of public records, consult the International Vital Records Handbook or the Directory of State Court Clerks and County Courthouses, which are available in the Reference Department at the Library.  The Library also has U.S. Census and Michigan state census records for St. Clair County and other areas in Michigan, as well as marriage, death, probate, and deed records indices for St. Clair County.  Some Ontario indices are also available.  There are many online commercial services that will generate reports on individuals for a fee (criminal records, military records, credit reports, bankruptcy records, etc.).

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Radio--Amateur--Examinations.   Ham radio operator exams are administered once a month during the non-summer months in the meeting room of the St. Clair County Library.  For information, call Buck at 810-364-9640.

Radio Stations--Internet Broadcasts.

Radio Stations--Licensing Application.

Rare Book Appraisals.

Recycling.

Religious Cults.

Rental Housing.

Richest People.

Right to Life.  National Right to Life Committee.

Roman Numerals.

Royalty.

Rubik's Cube.

Runaway Hotlines.

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Sadie Hawkins Day.  Widely observed in the U.S. on the first Saturday in November, Sadie Hawkins Day was a tradition that grew from the popularity of Al Capp's "Lil' Abner" comic strip in the 1930s.  This is a day on which women and girls are encouraged to invite the man or boy of their choice on a date.  A similar tradition is associated with February 29 during leap years.  Source:  Chase's Annual Events.

Sea Grant.  Great Lakes Sea Grant Network.

 St. Clair County Humane Society 

St. Clair County--Newspapers.  The village of Palmer, now St. Clair, had the first newspaper in the county.  The Whig began weekly publication on Dec. 2, 1834.  It became the St. Clair Republican in 1835.  The Republican ceased publication late in 1837.  Another St. Clair Republican was born in 1856 and appeared weekly until 1925.  Source: Jenks, History of St. Clair County, Michigan.

St. Clair County--Population.  U.S. Census population figures:
 

1850 10,420
1860 26,604
1870 36,661
1880 46,197
1890 52,105
1900 55,228
1910 52,341
1920 58,009
1930 67,563
1940 76,177
1950 91,599
1960 107,201
1970 120,175
1980 138,685
1990 145,607
1998 (estimated) 159,769

St. Clair River.  Source: Remedial Action Plan #40, p.13.

St. Clair River Tunnel.  Construction began Aug. 30, 1889.  Tunnel opened Aug. 30, 1890.  There was an attempt made to sabotage the tunnel during World War I (see Times-Herald, June 18, 1940).  An accidental explosion occurred in December of 1971.

Santa Claus--Email.

Santa Claus--Mailing Address.  The official mailing address for Santa Claus, if you live in an area with a 480xx or 483xx ZIP code,  is: Santa Claus, 1 Candy Cane Lane, North Pole MI 48068-1234.

Satanism.

Scoliosis.

Scrabble.

SEMCOG (Southeastern Michigan Council of Governments).

Serenity Prayer.  There are many versions of the "serenity prayer."  They are all adapted from a quotation attributed to the American theologian Reinhold Niebuhr:  "Oh God, give us serenity to accept what cannot be changed, courage to change what should be changed, and the wisdom to distinguish one from the other."  Source: Bartlett's Quotations, 15th ed.  In most "twelve-step" groups, the Serenity Prayer is rendered as: "God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference."

Seven Dwarfs.  Bashful, Doc, Dopey, Grumpy, Happy, Sleepy, Sneezy.

Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.

Seven Wonders of the Modern World.  There is no canonical list of seven.  Various authors and sources list different "wonders" as among the seven.

Seven Wonders of the Natural World.  Again, there is no agreed-upon list.

Sexual Harassment.

Sexually Transmitted Diseases.

Shipwrecks--Great Lakes.  Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum.

Skiing Conditions.

Small Business Resources.

Snowmobiling.

Social Security Administration.

Southeastern Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG).

Specific Gravity.  Specific gravity is the ratio of a substance's mass to the mass of an equal volume of water at 4°C- which is 1.0000 g/mL. So if you know the density of a substance in g/mL, for most practical purposes that's numerically equal to the specific gravity. 

Spontaneous Human Combustion.

Sports Scores. or try More Sports Scores

State Park Campgrounds Reservations (Michigan).   800-44-PARKS.

Stock Market Information.

Stock Certificates.   If you've found some old stock certificates and are wondering if they are worth anything, follow this link.

Stratford Festival.

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).

Sunrise and Sunset--Times.  U.S. Naval Observatory Data Services.

Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.  Correct spelling of the beloved polysyllabic nonsense featured in the musical, "Mary Poppins."  If you say it loud enough, you'll always sound precocious!

Supreme Court Decisions.

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Taxation.

Telephone Area Codes.

Television Actors and Actresses.

Television Shows.

Television Stations--Licensing and Regulation.

Temperature--Fahrenheit to Celsius (Centigrade) and Vice-Versa.

Three Stooges.

Time Zones.

Times Herald.  A daily newspaper covering St. Clair County (with some coverage of Lapeer and Sanilac Counties), the Times Herald is a consolidation of two Port Huron-based newspapers, the Port Huron Times, founded March 23, 1872, and the Daily Herald, founded August 1, 1900.  The name was changed from Port Huron Times Herald to simply "Times Herald" on February 22, 1970.  The Times Herald is a Gannett publication.

Times Herald--Photographs.  The Times Herald retains for a period of 5 to 10 years negatives of photographs that have appeared in its pages .  Reprints are available for a fee.  For information, call Carol Schoenberg at the Times Herald photo department, 810-989-6253.

Titanic--Survivors--Port Huron.  Bert Johns, a native of Syria, emigrated to the United States in 1912 aboard the Titanic.  Having survived the disaster, he joined his brother in Port Huron.  He operated Bert's Tavern on Water Street for 15 years, and died in 1952 at the age of 66.  Source: Times Herald, Feb. 3, 1952.

Titanic--Novels--Futility.  Published in 1898, Futility, by Morgan Robertson, related a fictional tale of a shipwreck that had striking similarities to the sinking of the Titanic that occurred 14 years later (example: The name of the doomed ship was Titan).

TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language).

Tornadoes--Port Huron.  Tornadoes touched down in Port Huron, Sarnia, and the surrounding area on May 21, 1953.   Forty homes in St. Clair County were destroyed and 390 others damaged.  Five deaths were reported, four of them in the Sarnia area.  A total of 96 people were injured.  Downtown Sarnia sustained the brunt of the damage.  Less than three weeks later, on June 8, 1953, a series of large twisters hit northern Ohio and southeastern Michigan.  At least 142  people were killed and 750 injured.  Flint and Mt. Morris alone suffered 113 of the fatalities.  A twister cut a path from Yale to Lakeport and many homes were damaged.  One area fatality was reported, in Brown City, and over 30 injuries were attributed to the storm.  Source: Times-Herald.

Toronto.

Toughlove.

Town Hall Lecture Series--McMorran Place.

Translations.  Be aware that except for very simple translating tasks, computerized translating programs are not adequate substitutes for human translators.


Trains--Passenger Service.

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UFOs (Unidentified Flying Objects).

Unemployment Benefits.  Michigan Unemployment Agency.

United Automobile Workers (UAW).

United Nations.

United States--Federal Government Agencies.  A list of the more frequently accessed websites:

Used Cars--Prices.


 

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Valentine's Day Massacre.

Voting Records.   Project Vote Smart  is a non-partisan organization that tracks the voting records of federal and state legislators.

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Water Testing.  In Port Huron, water quality tests are done by the Environmental Health Division of the St. Clair County Health Department, 810-987-5306.

Weather.

Wedding Anniversaries--Gifts.

Wedding March.  The bridal chorus  in from the "Processional" of Richard Wagner's opera, Lohengrin.  The recessional is from Mendellsohn's A Midsummer Night's Dream.


White House.

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Youngblood, Herbert.  A member of the notorious John Dillinger gang, Youngblood was shot and killed by police during a gun battle in Port Huron on March 16, 1934.  One officer was killed, and two were wounded.  Before he died, Youngblood reportedly told police that Dillinger was with him in Port Huron the previous day, and rumors circulated that Dillinger had crossed the St. Clair River into Canada with two other persons.  Less than two weeks earlier, on March 3, while awaiting trial for murder, Youngblood had escaped with Dillinger in a famous breakout from the Crown Point (Indiana) County Jail.  Sources:  Times-Herald, Mar. 16, 1934;  John Toland, The Dillinger Days.

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Zoo.  Detroit Zoological Institute.

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Last modified April 19, 2002