|
|
HISTORY |
 |
|
The Origin of the nickname 'Wolverines'
The Wolverine- that little
beast of demonic fury and destruction,
that tireless scrap of incessant courage.
In 1787 a land dispute began over an unsettled 468 square mile strip of
land that ran from the tip of Lake Michigan to the mouth of the Maumee
river. In 1803 Ohio became a state and claimed this strip of
land. In 1836 Congress offered the Michigan the western upper peninsula
if they would give up their claim to the disputed territory.
Michigan governor, Stevens T. Mason proclaimed that he would not hesitate
to "...resist to the utmost every encroachment or invasion upon the
rights and soil of this territory." Ohio sent 300 militia to
survey the land and Michigan sent an armed force to meet them. After
a week of chasing the intruders from Ohio, Lenawee County Undersheriff
William McNair and his men cornered them on April 26th. McNair
demanded that the Ohio troops leave. Then the Michigan troops began
shooting to show their resolve. Fortunately, no casualties were
recorded as the Ohio militia beat a hasty retreat. Eventually, Ohio
petitioned Congress and was awarded the land when Michigan was forced
to give up their claim to the territory as a condition of becoming a state. Bad blood
from this incident has persisted to this day. The Ohioans began
calling the Michiganians "Wolverines," the ugliest, meanest,
fiercest, creatures from the north. In short, the people of Michigan
were not to be trifled with.
This article relies heavily on a Detroit News Article (4/26/99)
"Michigan at the Millennium."
|
|
