NAMING OF THE WOLVERINE

[daveklepper]

When was this name adopted from the name of the U. of Mich. football team for the New York Central - Michigan Central New York - Chicago via Detroit train, and what was the previous name if any?

[KCSfan]

daveklepper

When was this name adopted from the name of the U. of Mich. football team for the New York Central - Michigan Central New York - Chicago via Detroit train, and what was the previous name if any?

Dave, the oldest OG that I have is dated January 1910. That issue shows the Wolverine running with through sleepers between Chicago and several Michigan cities and New York and Boston. The name must have been adopted at an even earlier time but so far I've been unable to find the date or any information about its predecessor.

Mark

[daveklepper]

In itself, that is useful information.   But does anyone have any earlier timetables, Michigan Central or New York Central?  

[CSSHEGEWISCH]

Michigan is also known as the Wolverine State so the name of the train is not necessarily tied to University of Michigan athletics, especially if the train already had that name in 1910.

[daveklepper]

Thank you for that information.   But did the UofM have a football team in 1910?

[Deggesty]

The June, 1893, issue of the Guide does not show a train named Wolverine. It does show #19, the North Shore Limited and #20, the North Shore Special, which provide through service New York/Boston and Chicago, running on the schedule which was approximately that of the Wolverine (slower, of course), So, at some time between 1893 and 1910 the trains running on this schedule were renamed.

It seems that the first football team was fielded in 1879.

From http://www.50states.com/bio/nickname3.htm#.UvE2ofldX1U

Michigan Some people believe that Ohioans gave Michigan the nickname “The Wolverine State” around 1835 during a dispute over the Toledo strip, a piece of land along the border between Ohio and Michigan. Rumors in Ohio at the time described Michiganians as being as vicious and bloodthirsty as wolverines. This dispute became known as the Toledo War.

Another reason given for the nickname is a story that has Native Americans, during the 1830s, comparing Michigan settlers to wolverines. Some native people, according to this story, disliked the way settlers were taking the land because it made them think of how the gluttonous wolverine went after its food.

[daveklepper]

Thanks.   Good job!