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History Highlights 

Week of March 1, 2010

March 5, 1849 – The first party of 12 Battle Creek men, led by Abram Minges, left for the California gold fields.  The Minges party took six months and ten days to trek across the country to their destination.  After he arrived, Minges made his money running a hotel and livery for miners, not in panning for gold.  In 1851 he  returned to Michigan, bought a farm south of Battle Creek and founded the prominent local family.

March 4, 1897 -- “Pump” Arnold died at age 77.  Arnold was awaiting the results of his appeal from his conviction for killing his son George, who was found floating in the Battle Creek River.  Arnold had come to Battle Creek in 1857 and opened wooden pump factory, hence his nickname.  Later he opened a saloon where he ran afoul of the Sunday closing laws and had his famous encounter with Mayor Gage. In an ironic twist, Arnold left his entire estate to the WCTU, the temperance organization in which his wife was a prominent member.

March 6, 1923 -- Construction began on the new Veteran’s Administration hospital at Camp Custer.  Battle Creek was chosen as the site for the new medical facility for two reasons:  the city’s reputation as the “health city” and the extensive facilities at Camp Custer which were available after the demobilization of the troops at the end of World War I. The hospital formally opened in October 1924 with a medical staff of 68. 

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To unite Battle Creek with its past and to proudly celebrate its collective heritage. -- Leading the way to a better future by building on the past.

Heritage Battle Creek consists of Kimball House Museum, Research Center and Community Archives, Sojourner Truth Institute and the Historical Society of Battle Creek