Uncovering Kalamazoo’s Colorful Past with Dianna Higgs Stampfler

In this episode of Life In Michigan, we sit down with Dianna Higgs Stampfler, author of Kalamazoo County Characters, to explore the curious and sometimes downright bizarre history of Kalamazoo County.

Dianna shares her upbringing in Kalamazoo—from back-to-school shopping at the Kalamazoo mall to college days and beyond—and how it inspired her to chronicle the lives of 50 remarkable people who shaped the county’s past. We talk about her father’s legacy as a radio legend (and how he helped the Eagles score their first #1 hit), her meticulous research process, and the strange-but-true stories she uncovered along the way.

We packed a lot into this episode, including:

* The origin story of Kalamazoo County Characters, sparked by a Walgreens book sighting and supercharged by a family brainstorm with her historian dad.

* The unlikely rise of celery as Kalamazoo’s cash crop and Dianna’s family tie to the “Celery King,” George Taylor.

* Fascinating and quirky local legends, like Brownie the Clown, Best of My Love and the Eagles’ Kalamazoo radio breakthrough, and the spine-tingling case of Etta Fairchild.

* Dianna’s tribute to her father, whose story is the emotional heartbeat of the book, and whose belief in a ballad changed music history forever.

Whether you’re a die-hard Michigander or just love a good story, this episode offers a lively and heartfelt look at the people who gave Kalamazoo its character.

🔗 Learn more about Dianna and order an autographed copy of Kalamazoo County Characters at PromoteMichigan.com or follow her on Substack …..

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