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
Writer - Frank Passic
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
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
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
“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),
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
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
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
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,
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
Juneteenth Celebration in Albion
Even though there will be no formal Juneteenth celebration with large groups of people in Albion in 2020, there are ...
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 ...
“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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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, ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
Purple Gang Walking Tour
From wikipedia: Founded 1920s Founding location Detroit, Michigan, United States Years active 1910s − 1932 Territory Detroit Criminal activities Murder, ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
Ludington Center
The corner of Superior and Cass Streets has been the site of construction during 2016 at 101 N. Superior Street. ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
Riverside Cemetery Walking Tour
Riverside Cemetery has been the final resting place for the men and women of Albion since 1837. Take a tour ...
Albion Public Schools Rock
Albion Public Schools have a pair of rocks near the entrance to the school building. These rocks are often painted ...
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!
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.