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    • Writer – Linda Kolmodin
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    • Writer – Frank Passic

Writer - Frank Passic

Washington Gardner School – by Frank Passic

October 16, 2021

Washington Gardner School – From 1872-2011, a school has sat on E. Michigan Avenue as a landmark where thousands of pupils have been educated and

Read More »

THE OLD RUGGED CROSS HISTORICAL MARKER DESTROYED – by Frank Passic

April 5, 2021

That Cross marker stood there for sixty-one years as one of Albion’s “claim to fame,” until 2020, when it was hit by a vehicle and

Read More »

ALBION BAND SHELL SCULPTURE ARTIST DISCOVERED! – by Frank Passic

July 10, 2020

This has been a mystery for many years: Who designed the two musical sculpture reliefs on the Band Shell in Victory Park? Morning Star, September

Read More »

THE OLD RUGGED CROSS HAS STOOD THE TEST OF TIME – WRITTEN IN ALBION – by Frank Passic

April 15, 2020

The Old Rugged House Rev. Bennard once quipped, “I’ve been introduced as the author of ‘The Old Gray Mare,’ ‘The Old Oaken Bucket,’ and ‘Rock

Read More »

“THE OLD RUGGED CROSS” WRITTEN IN ALBION – by Frank Passic

April 4, 2020

The Old Rugged House In 1912 Rev. Bennard lived in an apartment at the home of Professor Delos Fall (formerly the Andrew Mason Fitch house),

Read More »

Censor Theatre Early Albion Cinema – by Frank Passic

March 28, 2020

Censor Theatre, Albion, Mich, 1916 The first “talkie” movie that came to Albion was shown at the Censor Theatre in May, 1929; it was a

Read More »

The Recorder Newspaper – by Frank Passic

March 26, 2020

THE ALBION RECORDER HAS BEEN AROUND A LOT LONGER THAN YOU THINK Albion Recorder, October 4, 2001, pp. 2, 37 As the Recorder begins a

Read More »

Old Downtown Postcard – by Frank Passic

March 19, 2020

Photo card from circa 1907 by the acclaimed photographer Pesha who went all over Michigan producing picture postcards. Morning Star, December 16, 2012, pg 17

Read More »

Depression Era Parade – by Frank Passic

March 5, 2020

Morning Star, June 28, 1994, pg 17 Following the stock market crash in 1929, major financial reverses occurred in this country. There were bank failures,

Read More »

UNION STEEL ARMY-NAVY “E” AWARD – by Frank Passic

March 5, 2020

Massive Army-Navy “E” Excellence Award Presentation Ceremony Wednesday, May 5, 1943 Morning Star, November 23, 1997, pg. 12 It certainly was good news to hear

Read More »

The Merger – by Frank Passic

March 5, 2020

Morning Star, June 30, 2002, pg. 16 With the recent shocking and historically pivotal announcement of the closing of Harvard Industries/Hayes-Albion, the year 2002 has

Read More »

A UNION STEEL PRODUCTS SALUTE TO VETERANS – by Frank Passic

March 5, 2020

Morning Star, November 4, 2007, pg. 18 With next Sunday, November 11 being Veteran’s Day, we are reminded of the dwindling number of World War

Read More »

FROM BOMBS TO FLOWERS – by Frank Passic

March 4, 2020

Morning Star, October 3, 2014, pg. 22 If you read this article before Sunday afternoon, be sure and come to my annual guided tour of

Read More »

UNION STEEL INDEX – including stories by Frank Passic

March 4, 2020

Union Steel was the world’s largest manufacturer of oven and broiler pan shelves More articles that mention Frank Passic from this website. See much more

Read More »

Starr Commonwealth 100 Year Anniversary – by Frank Passic

February 27, 2020

Morning Star, February 24, 2012, pg. 16 One of Albion’s most revered institutions will be celebrating a very big anniversary later this year. It was

Read More »

The Pagoda (Little Red Lunch Box) – by Frank Passic

February 27, 2020

Morning Star, February 17, 2002, pg. 11 There’s a business in town that is 75 years old this year and doesn’t know it yet. Let

Read More »

1901 GEORGE DEAN SIDEWALKS – by Frank Passic

February 5, 2020

G. E. DEAN 1901 Sidewalk Stamp Morning Star, June 14, 1998, pg. 2 I’d like to add an historical footnote to my article on the

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UNION STEEL ORIGINALLY LOCATED JUST WEST OF DOWNTOWN ALBION – by Frank Passic

February 4, 2020

First Albion Union Steel Location in 1905 Albion Recorder, November 17, 1997, pg. 4-A The recent announcement that the City of Albion will be receiving

Read More »

Purple Gang – Part 2 – by Frank Passic

January 31, 2020

THE PURPLE GANG, PART 2 Morning Star, December 15, 1996, pg. 21 (Continued from December 8, 1996). The Fleishers also rented an auto stall in

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Beverly Cunningham at Falling Waters Park dedication 1994

FALLING WATERS PARK (Spring Arbor)

January 21, 2020

Beverly Cunningham at Falling Waters Park dedication 1994 From our Historical Notebook this week we present a photograph of Beverly Cunningham, standing next to the

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Purple Gang – Part 1 – by Frank Passic

January 13, 2020

THE PURPLE GANG, PART I Morning Star, December 8, 1996, pg. 21 This is my long-awaited and overdue article(s) about the infamous Purple Gang. To

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UNION STEEL PRODUCTS SITE – by Frank Passic

January 3, 2020

Union Steel, Huron Street Location Morning Star, March 10, 2002, pg. 19 It was good to see the big turnout on February 26 by citizens

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UNION STEEL PRODUCTS – by Frank Passic

March 3, 2019

Union Steel from above Morning Star, April 16, 2000, pg. 16 We take time here this week to note the current demolition of the Union

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Welcome to a selection of writings of Frank Passic. These are based on his weekly columns that appear in the Morning Star Shopper, Albion Recorder, The Mich-Matist, and other articles Mr. Passic has written in various publications about Albion history.

Other posts on this website that quote Frank Passic's work

Washington Gardner School – by Frank Passic

Washington Gardner School - From 1872-2011, a school has sat on E. Michigan Avenue as a landmark where thousands of ...
Read More

THE OLD RUGGED CROSS HISTORICAL MARKER DESTROYED – by Frank Passic

That Cross marker stood there for sixty-one years as one of Albion’s “claim to fame,” until 2020, when it was ...
Read More

Old Rugged Cross Marker Fundraiser

A two-part series of articles in the Morning Star by Frank Passic brought to light the fact that Albion's famous ...
Read More

ALBION BAND SHELL SCULPTURE ARTIST DISCOVERED! – by Frank Passic

This has been a mystery for many years: Who designed the two musical sculpture reliefs on the Band Shell in ...
Read More

Juneteenth Celebration in Albion

Even though there will be no formal Juneteenth celebration with large groups of people in Albion in 2020, there are ...
Read More

THE OLD RUGGED CROSS HAS STOOD THE TEST OF TIME – WRITTEN IN ALBION – by Frank Passic

The Old Rugged House Rev. Bennard once quipped, “I’ve been introduced as the author of ‘The Old Gray Mare,’ ‘The ...
Read More

“THE OLD RUGGED CROSS” WRITTEN IN ALBION – by Frank Passic

The Old Rugged House In 1912 Rev. Bennard lived in an apartment at the home of Professor Delos Fall (formerly ...
Read More

Censor Theatre Early Albion Cinema – by Frank Passic

Censor Theatre, Albion, Mich, 1916 The first “talkie” movie that came to Albion was shown at the Censor Theatre in ...
Read More

The Recorder Newspaper – by Frank Passic

THE ALBION RECORDER HAS BEEN AROUND A LOT LONGER THAN YOU THINK Albion Recorder, October 4, 2001, pp. 2, 37 ...
Read More

Old Downtown Postcard – by Frank Passic

Photo card from circa 1907 by the acclaimed photographer Pesha who went all over Michigan producing picture postcards. Morning Star, ...
Read More

Depression Era Parade – by Frank Passic

Morning Star, June 28, 1994, pg 17 Following the stock market crash in 1929, major financial reverses occurred in this ...
Read More

UNION STEEL ARMY-NAVY “E” AWARD – by Frank Passic

Massive Army-Navy “E” Excellence Award Presentation Ceremony Wednesday, May 5, 1943 Morning Star, November 23, 1997, pg. 12 It certainly ...
Read More

The Merger – by Frank Passic

Morning Star, June 30, 2002, pg. 16 With the recent shocking and historically pivotal announcement of the closing of Harvard ...
Read More

A UNION STEEL PRODUCTS SALUTE TO VETERANS – by Frank Passic

Morning Star, November 4, 2007, pg. 18 With next Sunday, November 11 being Veteran’s Day, we are reminded of the ...
Read More

FROM BOMBS TO FLOWERS – by Frank Passic

Morning Star, October 3, 2014, pg. 22 If you read this article before Sunday afternoon, be sure and come to ...
Read More

UNION STEEL INDEX – including stories by Frank Passic

Union Steel was the world’s largest manufacturer of oven and broiler pan shelves More articles that mention Frank Passic from ...
Read More

Starr Commonwealth 100 Year Anniversary – by Frank Passic

Morning Star, February 24, 2012, pg. 16One of Albion’s most revered institutions will be celebrating a very big anniversary later ...
Read More

The Pagoda (Little Red Lunch Box) – by Frank Passic

Morning Star, February 17, 2002, pg. 11 There’s a business in town that is 75 years old this year and ...
Read More

1901 GEORGE DEAN SIDEWALKS – by Frank Passic

G. E. DEAN 1901 Sidewalk Stamp Morning Star, June 14, 1998, pg. 2 I’d like to add an historical footnote ...
Read More

UNION STEEL ORIGINALLY LOCATED JUST WEST OF DOWNTOWN ALBION – by Frank Passic

First Albion Union Steel Location in 1905 Albion Recorder, November 17, 1997, pg. 4-A The recent announcement that the City ...
Read More

A Friend of Falling Waters Historic Park

This In Memoriam is published by The Recorder online, in part, due to its regional interest, and also due to ...
Read More

Purple Gang Walking Tour

From wikipedia: Founded 1920s Founding location Detroit, Michigan, United States Years active 1910s − 1932 Territory Detroit Criminal activities Murder, ...
Read More

UNION STEEL PRODUCTS SITE – by Frank Passic

Union Steel, Huron Street Location Morning Star, March 10, 2002, pg. 19 It was good to see the big turnout ...
Read More

Three Towns, A River and its Mill Ponds

By KEN WYATT Contributing Writer November 27, 2019 Albion, Concord and Homer share a unique geographic profile: The three sit ...
Read More

Mother’s Day in Albion

This portrait of Juliette Calhoun Blakeley is in the Gardner House Museum. On May 13, 1877, the second Sunday of ...
Read More

Mother’s Day History

Albion's Mother's Day Founder, Juliette Calhoun Blakeley is described on a historical marker near the library,  on S. Ionia St ...
Read More

Kids ‘N’ Stuff Children’s Museum

Q- What brings dozens of big yellow buses full of kids to downtown Albion on a regular basis? A- Kids ...
Read More

Dickerson Music Co. Historic Business Profile

Dickerson Music Co. has been serving the music needs of Albion for over 60 years.   As part of our in-depth coverage ...
Read More

UNION STEEL PRODUCTS – by Frank Passic

Union Steel from above Morning Star, April 16, 2000, pg. 16 We take time here this week to note the ...
Read More

Victory Park Waterfall – Aerial View

This view of the waterfall in Victory Park shows one of the most beautiful views of Albion's natural landscape. It ...
Read More

Bournelis Park, Corner of Superior and Cass Streets

Bournelis Park, on the right of this photo, is located where Cass Street crosses Superior Street in Albion Michigan. This corner could be ...
Read More

Early Years of the Albion Community Foundation

This is the second of several stories that lead up to the May 9, 2018, Albion Community Foundation Gala celebrating ...
Read More

Thomas Lloyd – Visionary for Albion Community Foundation

This is the first of several stories that lead up to the May 9, 2018 Albion Community Foundation Gala celebrating ...
Read More

Albion in the 20th Century

This book by Frank Passic has information about a number of interesting Albion themes including the Cardboard Classic, the Purple ...
Read More

Ludington Center

The corner of Superior and Cass Streets has been the site of construction during 2016 at 101 N. Superior  Street.  ...
Read More

Preview of the Courtyard by Marriott in Albion

Thanks to Frank Passic for taking this photo on site before the groundbreaking of the new hotel in downtown Albion ...
Read More

It’s a Beautiful Day in Our Neighborhood…

Words from Frank Passic: "Say goodbye to Howard Hall for the last time. This is where the Albion Public Schools ...
Read More

Purple Gang Walking Tour

From an article by Frank Passic on AlbionMich.com The Purple Gang was a group of notorious Detroit gangsters during the ...
Read More

Riverside Cemetery Walking Tour

Riverside Cemetery has been the final resting place for the men and women of Albion since 1837. Take a tour ...
Read More

Albion Public Schools Rock

Albion Public Schools have a pair of rocks near the entrance to the school building. These rocks are often painted ...
Read More

Even the most casual of readers will find these articles educational, more than a little interesting, and often amusing.

 

Did you know that Cascarelli’s used to be a fruit stand?

 

An Albion native, Frank Passic is a 1971 graduate of Albion High School and has been writing Albion history articles since 1976.

 

 

Did you know that Albion College once had numerous fraternity and sorority houses that dotted the campus?

Did you know that the Great Flood of 1908 wiped out numerous downtown Albion businesses?

Did you know about the sheep massacre by two Albion dogs in 1913?

These and other postcard photographs are featured in Albion Historian Frank Passic’s brand new book, Albion Postcards.

This book is part of the Postcard History Series published by Arcadia Press… 230 historical Albion postcards, including two of Maggie LaNoue’s own artistic creations!

 
 
Click the image to read many more of Franks articles at AlbionMich.COM, the earlier version of this website!

This is the web version of the writings of Frank Passic, including the weekly columns that appear in the Morning Star Shopper, Albion Recorder, The Mich-Matist, and other articles Mr. Passic has written in various publications about Albion history. Even the most casual of readers will find these articles educational, more than a little interesting, and often amusing.

An Albion native, Frank Passic is a 1971 graduate of Albion High School and has been writing Albion history articles since 1976.  He is the author of several books including Albion in Review, and Growing Up in Albion.  His writings can be seen here: www.albionmich.com/history/histor_notebook.

 

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