1934 in Michigan

Events from the year 1934 in Michigan.

Office holders

State office holders

William Comstock

• Governor of Michigan: William Comstock (Democrat)
• Lieutenant Governor of Michigan: Allen E. Stebbins (Democrat)
• Michigan Attorney General: Patrick H. O'Brien
• Michigan Secretary of State: Frank D. Fitzgerald/Clarke W. Brown
• Speaker of the Michigan House of Representatives: Martin R. Bradley
• Chief Justice, Michigan Supreme Court:

Mayors of major cities

James Couzens

• Mayor of Detroit: Frank Couzens (Republican)
• Mayor of Grand Rapids: John D. Karel/William Timmers
• Mayor of Flint: Ray A. Brownell/Howard J. Clifford
• Mayor of Lansing: Max A. Templeton
• Mayor of Ann Arbor: Robert A. Campbell

Federal office holders

Arthur Vandenberg

• U.S. Senator from Michigan: James J. Couzens (Republican)
• U.S. Senator from Michigan: Arthur Vandenberg (Republican)
• House District 1: George G. Sadowski (Democrat)
• House District 2: John C. Lehr (Democrat)
• House District 3: Joseph L. Hooper (Republican)
• House District 4: George Ernest Foulkes (Democrat)
• House District 5: Carl E. Mapes (Republican)
• House District 6: Claude E. Cady (Democrat)
• House District 7: Jesse P. Wolcott (Republican)
• House District 8: Michael J. Hart (Democrat)
• House District 9: Harry W. Musselwhite (Democrat)
• House District 10: Roy O. Woodruff (Republican)
• House District 11: Prentiss M. Brown (Democrat)
• House District 12: W. Frank James (Republican)
• House District 13: Clarence J. McLeod (Republican)
• House District 14: Carl M. Weideman (Democrat)
• House District 15: John D. Dingell Sr. (Democrat)
• House District 16: John Lesinski Sr. (Democrat)
• House District 17: George Anthony Dondero (Republican)

Population

In the 1930 United States Census, Michigan was recorded as having a population of 4,842,325, ranking as the seventh most populous state in the country. By 1940, Michigan's population had increased by 8.5% to 5,256,106.

Cities

The following is a list of cities in Michigan with a population of at least 20,000 based on 1930 U.S. Census data. Historic census data from 1920 and 1940 is included to reflect trends in population increases or decreases. Cities that are part of the Detroit metropolitan area are shaded in tan.

1930 Rank	City	County	1920 Pop.	1930 Pop.	1940 Pop.	Change 1930-40
1	Detroit	Wayne	993,678	1,568,662	1,623,452	3.5%
2	Grand Rapids	Kent	137,634	168,592	164,292	−2.6%
3	Flint	Genesee	91,599	156,492	151,543	−3.2%
4	Saginaw	Saginaw	61,903	80,715	82,794	2.6%
5	Lansing	Ingham	57,327	78,397	78,753	0.5%
6	Pontiac	Oakland	34,273	64,928	66,626	2.6%
7	Hamtramck	Wayne	48,615	56,268	49,839	−11.4%
8	Jackson	Jackson	48,374	55,187	49,656	−10.0%
9	Kalamazoo	Kalamazoo	48,487	54,786	54,097	−1.3%
10	Highland Park	Wayne	46,499	52,959	50,810	−4.1%
11	Dearborn	Wayne	2,470	50,358	63,589	26.3%
12	Bay City	Bay	47,554	47,355	47,956	1.3%
13	Battle Creek	Calhoun	36,164	45,573	43,453	−4.7%
14	Muskegon	Muskegon	36,570	41,390	47,697	15.2%
15	Port Huron	St. Clair	25,944	31,361	32,759	4.5%
16	Wyandotte	Wayne	13,851	28,368	30,618	7.9%
17	Ann Arbor	Washtenaw	19,516	26,944	29,815	10.7%
18	Royal Oak	Oakland	6,007	22,904	25,087	9.5%
19	Ferndale	Oakland	2,640	20,855	22,523	8.0%

^[1]

Counties

The following is a list of counties in Michigan with populations of at least 50,000 based on 1930 U.S. Census data. Historic census data from 1920 and 1940 are included to reflect trends in population increases or decreases.

1930 Rank	County	Largest city	1920 Pop.	1930 Pop.	1940 Pop.	Change 1930-40
1	Wayne	Detroit	1,177,645	1,888,946	2,015,623	6.7%
2	Kent	Grand Rapids	183,041	240,511	246,338	2.4%
3	Genesee	Flint	125,668	211,641	227,944	7.7%
4	Oakland	Pontiac	90,050	211,251	254,068	20.3%
5	Saginaw	Saginaw	100,286	120,717	130,468	8.1%
6	Ingham	Lansing	81,554	116,587	130,616	12.0%
7	Jackson	Jackson	72,539	92,304	93,108	0.9%
8	Kalamazoo	Kalamazoo	71,225	91,368	100,085	9.5%
9	Calhoun	Battle Creek	72,918	87,043	94,206	8.2%
10	Muskegon	Muskegon	62,362	84,630	94,501	11.7%
11	Berrien	Benton Harbor	62,653	81,066	89,117	9.9%
12	Macomb	Warren	38,103	77,146	107,638	39.5%
13	Bay	Bay City	69,548	69,474	74,981	7.9%
14	St. Clair	Port Huron	58,009	67,563	76,222	12.8%
15	Washtenaw	Ann Arbor	49,520	65,530	80,810	23.3%
16	Ottawa	Holland	47,660	54,858	59,660	8.8%
17	Houghton	Houghton	71,930	52,851	47,631	−9.9%
18	Monroe	Monroe	37,115	52,485	58,620	11.7%
19	Lenawee	Adrian	47,767	49,849	53,110	6.5%

^[2]

Sports

Baseball

Charlie Gehringer

• 1934 Detroit Tigers season – Under player-manager Mickey Cochrane, the Tigers compiled a 101-53 record, finished in first place in the American League, and lost to the St. Louis Cardinals in the 1934 World Series. The team's statistical leaders included Charlie Gehringer with a .356 batting average, Hank Greenberg with 26 home runs and 139 RBIs, Schoolboy Rowe with 24 wins, and Elden Auker with a 3.42 earned run average. ^[3]
• 1934 Michigan Wolverines baseball season - Under head coach Ray Fisher, the Wolverines compiled a 15–9 record. ^[4] Avon Artz was the team captain. ^[5]

American football

• 1934 Detroit Lions season – Under head coach Potsy Clark, the Lions compiled a 10–3 record and placed second in the NFL's Western Division. The team's statistical leaders included Dutch Clark with 383 passing yards, 763 rushing yards, and 73 points scored, and Harry Ebding with 264 receiving yards. ^[6]
• 1934 Michigan State Spartans football team – Under head coach Charlie Bachman, the Spartans compiled an 8–1 record. ^[7]
• 1934 Michigan Wolverines football team – Under head coach Harry Kipke, the Wolverines compiled a 1–7 record. ^[8]
• 1934 Detroit Titans football team – The Titans compiled a 5–3–1 record under head coach Gus Dorais. ^[9]
• 1934 Central State Bearcats football team - Under head coach Alex Yunevich the Bercats compiled a 5–3 record. ^[10]
• 1934 Western State Hilltoppers football team - Under head coach Mike Gary, the Hilltoppers compiled a 7–1 record. ^[11]
• 1934 Michigan State Normal Hurons football team - Under head coach Elton Rynearson, the Hurons compiled a 5–2 record. ^[12]
• 1934 Wayne Tartars football team – The Tartars compiled a 7–1 record under head coach Joe Gembis. ^[13]

Basketball

Benjamin Van Alstyne

• 1933–34 Michigan State Spartans men's basketball team – Under head coach Benjamin Van Alstyne, the Spartans compiled a 12–5 record. ^[14]
• 1933–34 Western Michigan Broncos men's basketball team – Under head coach Buck Read, the Broncos compiled a 12–5 record. ^[15]
• 1933–34 Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team – Under head coach Franklin Cappon, the Wolverines compiled a 6–14 record. ^[16]
• 1933–34 Detroit Titans men's basketball team – Under head coach Lloyd Brazil, the Titans compiled a 7–8 record. ^[17]
• 1933–34 Wayne Tartars men's basketball team – Under coach Newman Ertell, Wayne compiled a 9–8 record. ^[18]

Ice hockey

• 1933–34 Detroit Red Wings season – Under coach Jack Adams, the Red Wings compiled a 24–14–4 record, finished in first place in the National Hockey League (NHL), and lost the Chicago Black Hawks in the 1934 Stanley Cup Finals. The team's statistical leaders included John Sorrell with 21 goals, Larry Aurie and Cooney Weiland with 19 assists each, and Aurie with 35 points. Wilf Cude and John Ross Roach were the team's goaltenders. ^[19]
• 1933–34 Michigan Wolverines men's ice hockey team – Under head coach Ed Lowrey, the Wolverines compiled a 10–6 record. ^[20]
• 1933–34 Michigan Tech Huskies men's ice hockey team – Under head coach Bert Noblet, the Huskies compiled a 12–9–1 record. ^[21]

Other

Joe Louis

• Joe Louis - Detroit's Joe Louis made his professional boxing debut on July 7 with a knockout against Jack Kracken. He had 12 professional bouts in the last six months of the year, all victories and 10 by knockout or technical knockout.
• Port Huron to Mackinac Boat Race –
• Michigan Open - Jake Fassezke won the tournament on July 10 at the Saginaw Country Club. ^[22]

Chronology of events

April

• April 10 - The Chicago Black Hawks defeated the Detroit Red Wings, 1-0, in double overtime of Game 4 of the 1934 Stanley Cup Finals, securing the Cup by three games to one. Mush March scored the game-winning goal while Detroit's Ebbie Goodfellow was in the penalty box. ^[23]

October

• October 9 - The St. Louis Cardinals defeated the Detroit Tigers, 10-0, in Game 7 of the 1934 World Series. Dizzy Dean shut out the Tigers, but the game is most remembered for a near riot by Detroit fans. In the sixth inning, Joe Medwick slid hard into Marv Owen, the Tigers' third baseman, after hitting a triple. They tangled briefly, and when Medwick returned to his position in left field, the Detroit fans threw fruit, vegetables, bottles, cushions, etc., at Medwick. Commissioner Landis ordered Medwick benched to end the protest. ^[24]

November

Frank Fitzgerald

• November 6

• Republican Frank Fitzgerald defeated Democrat Arthur J. Lacy in the gubernatorial election by a margin of 634,390 to 560,657. ^[25]
• Republican U.S. Senator Arthur Vandenberg was reelected, defeating Democrat Frank Albert Picard by a margin of 597,960 to 552,783. ^[25]
• The U.S. House of Representatives elections resulted in a gain of four seats for the Republican Party in the Michigan delegation. Incumbents were reelected in 9 of Michigan's 17 districts. Republican challengers defeated Democratic incumbents in five districts: Earl C. Michener defeated John C. Lehr in District 2; Clare E. Hoffman defeated George Ernest Foulkes in District 4; William W. Blackney defeated Claude E. Cady in District 6; Fred L. Crawford defeated Michael J. Hart in District 8; and Albert J. Engel defeated Harry W. Musselwhite in District 9. One Democratic challenger defeated a Republican incumbent: Frank Eugene Hook over W. Frank James in District 12. In District 3, Republican Henry M. Kimball was elected, replacing Joseph L. Hooper who died in office. In District 14, Louis C. Rabaut defeated incumbent Carl M. Weideman for the Democratic nomination and then won the general election.

December

Kerns Hotel

• December 11 - The Kerns Hotel fire in Lansing, Michigan, killed 34 persons, including seven members of the Michigan Legislature. ^[26]

Births

• May 17 - Earl Morrall, NFL quarterback (1956–1976), in Muskegon, Michigan
• June 9 - Jackie Wilson, soul singer-songwriter ("Lonely Teardrops", "(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher") inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, in Detroit
• June 28 - Carl Levin, U.S. Senator (1979-2015), in Detroit
• July 16 - George Perles, head football coach at Michigan State (1983-1994), in Detroit
• November 5 - Nick Smith, U.S. Congressman (1983-2005), in Addison, Michigan
• December 30 - Del Shannon, singer-songwriter ("Runaway"), in Grand Rapids, Michigan

Gallery of 1934 births

• 
  Earl Morrall
• 
  Jackie Wilson
• 
  Carl Levin
• 
  George Perles
• 
  Nick Smith
• 
  Del Shannon
• 
  Jerry Uelsmann

Deaths

• February 22 - Joseph L. Hooper, Congressman (1925-1934), at age 56 in Washington, D.C. ^[27]
• April 4 - Dick Johnston, Major League Baseball player (1884-1891), at age 70 in Detroit ^[28]
• May 10 - Ed Willett, pitcher for the Detroit Tigers (1906–1913), at age 50 in Wellington, Kansas ^[29]
• May 13 - Albert Sleeper, Governor of Michigan (1917-1921), at age 71 in Lexington, Michigan ^[30]
• July 15 - Albert Karnatz, dirt track auto racer and employee of Chrysler Corporation, at age 29 after a crash at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Speedway in Detroit ^[31]
• August 21 - Carl Lundgren, Major League Baseball pitcher (1902-1909) and University of Michigan baseball coach (1914-1921), at age 54 in Marengo, Illinois ^[32]
• October 23 - Gerrit Beneker, painter and illustrator best known for his paintings of industrial scenes and for his poster work in World War I, at age 52 in Truro, Massachusetts ^[33]
• November 6 - William L. Clements, collector of historical works, founder, and donor to the William L. Clements Library at the University of Michigan, at age 74 in Bay City, Michigan ^[34]
• November 7 - Warren A. Cartier, businessman who helped develop Ludington, Michigan, at age 68 in Chicago ^[35]
• December 11 - Don E. Sias, Vern Voorhees, D. Knox Hanna, John Leidlein, John W. Goodwine, Charles Parker, and T. Henry Howlett, members of the Michigan Legislature, in the Kerns Hotel fire in Lansing, Michigan
• December 29 - Tenny Blount, the Detroit Stars of the Negro National League, at age 63 in Detroit

Gallery of 1934 deaths

• 
  Dick Johnston
• 
  Ed Willett
• 
  Albert Sleeper
• 
  Carl Lundgren
• 
  Gerrit Beneker
• 
  William L. Clements
• 
  Warren A. Cartier
• 
  Tenny Blount

See also

• History of Michigan
• History of Detroit

References

1. Fifteenth Census of the United States: 1930, Volume 1 Population. U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census. 1930. pp. 512–514.
2. Fifteenth Census of the United States: 1930, Volume 1 Population. U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census. 1930. pp. 515–516.
3. "1934 Detroit Tigers Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 2, 2017.
4. "2012 University of Michigan Baseball Record Book" (PDF). University of Michigan. 2012. pp. 22, 68. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 4, 2016. Retrieved August 9, 2017.
5. 2012 Record Book, p. 13.
6. "1934 Detroit Lions Statistics & Players". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 2, 2017.
7. "1934 Michigan State Spartans Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 2, 2017.
8. "1934 Football Team". Bentley Historical Library, University of Michigan. Retrieved August 2, 2017.
9. "1934 Detroit Mercy Titans Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 2, 2017.
10. "Central Michigan 2015 Football Media Guide" (PDF). Central Michigan University. 2015. pp. 100, 109. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 26, 2016. Retrieved August 2, 2017.
11. "Football Records: Annual Results". Western Michigan University. Retrieved August 2, 2017.
12. "2015 Eastern Michigan Football Digital Media Guide" (PDF). Eastern Michigan University Football. pp. 162, 170. Retrieved August 2, 2017.
13. "2016 Football Media Guide" (PDF). Wayne State University. pp. 111, 114. Retrieved August 2, 2017.
14. "1933-34 Michigan State Spartans Roster and Stats". SR/CBB. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 2, 2017.
15. "1933-34 Western Michigan Broncos Roster and Stats". SR/CBB. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 2, 2017.
16. "1933-34 Michigan Wolverines Roster and Stats". SR/CBB. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 2, 2017.
17. "1933-34 Detroit Mercy Titans Roster and Stats". SR/CBB. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 2, 2017.
18. "2015-16 Men's Basketball Media Guide". Wayne State University. p. 48. Retrieved August 2, 2017.
19. "1933-34 Detroit Red Wings Roster and Statistics". Hockey-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved August 2, 2017.
20. "Michigan Team History". College Hockey News. Retrieved August 2, 2017.
21. "Michigan Tech Team History". College Hockey News. Retrieved August 2, 2017.
22. "Jake Fassezke Beats Belfore by Stroke to Win State Open". Detroit Free Press. July 11, 1934. p. 15 – via Newspapers.com.
23. "March's Goal in Overtime Wins Stanley Cup for Chicago". Detroit Free Press. April 11, 1934. p. 17 – via Newspapers.com.
24. "17,000 Pelt Medwick Until He Is Benched". Detroit Free Press. October 10, 1934. p. 15 – via Newspapers.com.
25. "Atwood's Lead Reaches 7,506". Lansing State Journal. November 9, 1934. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
26. "Recover Five Charred Bodies From Wreckage". Lansing State Journal. December 12, 1934. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
27. "Congressman Hooper Stricken After Defense of Lindbergh". Battle Creek Enquirer. February 23, 1934. p. 2 – via Newspapers.com.
28. "Dick Johnston, Old-Time Big League Player, Dies Here". Detroit Free Press. April 5, 1934. p. 21 – via Newspapers.com.
29. "Edgar Willett, Former Tiger, Dies in Kansas". Detroit Free Press. May 11, 1934. p. 19 – via Newspapers.com.
30. "Albert E. Sleeper, War-Time Governor Dies at Age of 71". Battle Creek Enquirer. May 14, 1934. p. 16 – via Newspapers.com.
31. "Bert Karnatz Fatally Hurt In Crash At Auto Race". Detroit Free Press. July 16, 1934. p. 11.
32. "Lundgren, Illini Baseball Coach, Dies Suddenly". The Decatur Review. August 22, 1934. p. 24 – via Newspapers.com.
33. "Artist of Liberty Loan Poster Dies; Beneker Was Born in Grand Rapids". Detroit Free Press. October 24, 1934. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
34. "Clements, U. of M. Benefactor, Dead". Detroit Free Press. November 7, 1934. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.
35. "Death Claims Warren A. Cartier". The Ludington Daily News. November 8, 1934. p. 1 – via Newspapers.com.