WDET’s CuriosiD series answers your questions about everything Detroit. Subscribe to CuriosiD on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts.
In this episode of CuriosiD, we answer the question:
“Why are cider mills so popular in Michigan?”
(From left) Milo Sherman, 4, and Theodore Sherman, 2, enjoy cider and doughnuts at Blake’s Orchard & Cider Mill in Armada, Mich.
The short answer
Michigan’s cider mills are more than places to grab fresh cider and doughnuts; they’re steeped in tradition. Over 125 licensed mills dot the state, offering Michiganders and tourists alike an autumn ritual that connects them to the local land and community. And while cider mill season is all about that first crisp sip, there’s more at play here: each mill blends its own unique apple varieties, adding seasonal layers to each batch of cider.
But you’re probably wondering: Which Michigan cider mill is the best? Well, it depends who you ask – most locals have a favorite they swear by.
Visitors wait in line at the Franklin Cider Mill in Bloomfield Hills, Mich.
The essence of Michigan’s cider mills
Diane Smith, executive director of the Michigan Apple Committee, emphasizes the cultural significance of cider mills:
“It’s part of the heritage,” said Smith. “Being in Michigan and having that experience in the fall of going to a cider mill, getting your apples and doughnuts, it’s something people look forward to every year.”
These mills are more than seasonal attractions; they are integral to Michigan’s agritourism, providing families with opportunities to connect with local farmers and understand the origins of their food.
Crafting the perfect cider
Operating a cider mill involves meticulous processes to ensure quality and safety. Each mill must adhere to stringent licensing regulations, including food safety training.
A key aspect of cider production is blending various apple varieties to achieve a unique flavor profile that evolves throughout the season. Smith notes that the taste of cider can change dramatically from early September to late autumn, reflecting the diversity of Michigan’s apple harvest.
Michigan Apple growers produce over 1 billion pounds of apples each year.
Michigan’s apple varieties: A bounty for cider-making
Michigan’s climate and soil conditions are ideal for apple cultivation, producing popular varieties such as Gala, Honeycrisp, Fuji and Ambrosia. These apples contribute to the distinctive flavors found in Michigan’s ciders.
The state’s apple industry is a significant economic driver, with apples being Michigan’s most valuable fruit crop. This industry supports not only growers but also packaging and allied sectors, underscoring its importance to the state’s agricultural economy.
A tradition that resonates
For many Michiganders, visiting a cider mill is a cherished fall activity, offering a blend of tradition, community, and the simple pleasures of the season. The state’s cider mills provide a unique experience that combines the enjoyment of fresh cider and doughnuts with a connection to Michigan’s agricultural roots.
About the listener
This month’s question came from WDET listener Adam Danis. Danis is a Chicago native who currently lives in Midtown Detroit. After spending time in the mitten state, his curiosity grew about Michigander’s love for cider mills all across the state.
WDET’s CuriosiD series answers your questions about everything Detroit. Subscribe to CuriosiD on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts.
In this episode of CuriosiD, we answer the question:
“Is the Main Branch of the Detroit Public Library haunted?”
Even long before “Ghostbusters” first premiered in 1984 with its iconic opening sequence, there’s been a popular perception that libraries are potential hot spots for hauntings. I searched the stacks of the Detroit Public Library’s Main Branch on Woodward Avenue to find the call number for ghost stories.
The short answer
Both long-serving staff members have submitted their own anecdotal evidence of firsthand accounts. True to the nature of librarians, they’ve also recorded reports in history books that suggest a few unique specters shuffle through the stacks of DPL’s Main Branch.
Included in our interview are recountings of a cursed book, a ghost cat, and — potentially — an inconspicuous gateway to hell hidden amid the lower level of the library…
But you’re probably wondering: Did I see any ghosts while I was there? Well, not this time, at least.
What better place to haunt, really?
Local retired librarian Anne Kabel asked this episode’s question. Kabel has worked for public libraries in Birmingham and Southfield and has made many visits to the beautiful Detroit Public Library’s Main Branch on Woodward. When we interviewed her in front of the library, she mentioned seeing yet another sequence involving a library ghost in the most recent “Ghostbusters” film, which partly inspired this question. She also described a phantom feline.
Some staff at the Detroit Public Library Main Branch have reported rumors of a “ghost cat” lingering around the stacks in the basement of the library.
“I saw a video, probably on YouTube, of a ghost cat in the basement of this building! When I saw the video, you could see this almost transparent cat running across the floor and into the stacks…”
“I think spirits like to live on in their favorite places, and the library is one of the favorite places of a lot of people.”
—Anne Kabel retired librarian and WDET listener
Those stories would later be confirmed by some of the staff I met inside the library. But before we headed in, I asked Kabel why she thought a library might be a prime location for a haunting.
“I think spirits like to live on in their favorite places,” she said. “And the library is one of the favorite places of a lot of people.”
Inside, I met reference librarian Cully Sommers, who had some thoughts on why a library like DPL might be haunted.
“I think any old building like this, people tend to see it in that way,” Sommers said. “But also the collection of history, and the arcane knowledge that exists somewhere within the library. Somehow, these things kinda leave the pages and start to inhabit the building itself.”
Detroit’s Main Library on Woodward Avenue first opened it’s doors on March 29, 1921.
I also spoke with Katie Dowgiewicz, DPL’s public relations specialist, who quickly identified herself as a “Ghostbusters” fan and was hoping to have an encounter of her own someday. She considered “…the number of people who have come through these doors and the different things they’ve been searching for or needed help with… There’s a lot of energy, and a lot of individuals who are coming through our doors constantly. Maybe that’s being picked up on or left behind.”
A gateway to hell?
Sommers has not only been working at the library for decades, but he also has an interest in the supernatural, so he has quite a few stories to tell. He spoke of a clerk who recently passed away and had worked for years in the Burton Historical Collection on B-level.
“She told me when I started here that there was a gateway to hell on B-level, and that her job was to protect that gateway and to stop everything from coming out into the world.”
This story was chilling enough without Sommers adding, for context, that this late clerk was also a self-described “witch” who once gifted him an evil-eye talisman.
I interviewed both of them on the third level of the library, where Dowgiewicz and Sommers confirmed that several stories and experiences had been reported by staff.
“Footsteps in the stacks, knocking sounds, feeling that someone is behind you…” Dowgiewicz said, listing examples. “Or seeing some figure out of the corner of your eye, and when you look, there isn’t anyone there.”
Many have reported strange phenomenon inside the library, from hearing footsteps in the stacks and other strange sounds to reported sightings of “the shadow of a little girl.”
Naturally, these two librarians referenced a book, “Haunted Detroit” by Nicole Beauchamp, which details accounts of “the shadow of a little girl.” This was a story Sommers had already heard from his own colleagues in person.
“A story of the same kind of thing,” he said, “seeing a little girl with a bow in her hair, saying, ‘Where’s my doll?’… and then she disappears!”
I couldn’t resist asking whether there was possibly a “cursed book” on the shelves of the library, and Dowgiewicz had an answer. She confirmed with a docent from the Historical Collection that Benny Evangelista, a self-proclaimed “divine prophet” who emigrated to the U.S. from Naples in the early 20th century and got into real estate, donated a book to DPL in 1927. The book, ‘The Oldest History of the World Discovered by Occult Science in Detroit, Michigan,” is signed by Evangelista himself. Dowgiewicz said it might not be cursed, but it certainly was “a creepy coincidence.”
Liminal way station
But isn’t a library a sort of liminal space, or maybe even a way station of energies, personalities, and experiences — a corridor that the entire community passes through, sometimes for leisure, sometimes for study, sometimes even with urgency?
The basement of the Detroit Public Library Main Branch.
Whether you’re a college student cramming for exams or someone in need of a printer — or yes, even a fax machine — libraries are public services, welcoming everyone from all walks of life. Maybe some patrons just haven’t left…
“It could be that people just love the books so much that they want to stay by them,” Kabel said. “I could see myself haunting a library one day!”
It’s nearly Halloween, and as Sheriff Leigh Brackett said in the 1978 John Carpenter film: “Everyone’s entitled to one good scare.”
And remember, if you’re ever looking to learn more about ghosts, you can find it on the shelves of your local library. The Dewey Decimal call number, by the way, is 133.
Or, if you’re like Dowgiewicz, you might just want to hang around with your ears open and your eyes peeled, hoping to give yourself a good scare.
“I tell people when they ask, ‘So why did you want to become a librarian?’ I tell them, because of ‘Ghostbusters,’” she said. “And I’m still waiting for that experience!”
Meet the listener
WDET listener Anne Kabel is not only a Ghostbusters fan but also a retired librarian who, fittingly for the spooky season, wondered whether the Detroit Public Library’s Main Branch on Woodward is haunted.
We want to hear from you!
If there’s a burning question about Detroit you’d like the answer to, let us know here or fill out the form below.
WDET’s CuriosiD podcast answers your questions about everything Detroit. Subscribe to CuriosiD on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts.
For the past decade, CuriosiD has captivated WDET listeners with its unique take on Detroit-centric stories. But what does it take to bring an episode of this beloved series to life?
CuriosiD is a listener-focused podcast about Detroit, where listeners guide the content by asking questions that we provide the answers to.
“Our listeners write or call in with questions they have about Detroit or the metro area,” explains WDET reporter and CuriosiD host Amanda LeClaire. “They’re just curious about things.”
The process begins by exploring a continually evolving list of listener-submitted questions. LeClaire says she carefully selects the most compelling topics for each episode.
Nike missile family and other missiles on display at Redstone Arsenal, Alabama. Detroit and the surrounding area housed more than a dozen Nike bases before the program came to an end in the 1970s.
“It takes a great deal of time, energy, and planning,” LeClaire says. “We’re always thinking about how to keep the high level of creativity and thoughtfulness that CuriosiD is known for.”
A Detroit Thermal worker walks along a steam pipe in an underground Detroit tunnel.
Former CuriosiD producer and host Laura Herberg agrees.
“CuriosiD actually takes a lot of work,” she said. “The stories sound light-hearted, but they’re little mysteries that can take a lot of time and energy to tell well.”
“George Richards, the original owner of the Lions, saw the hue of the ocean in Hawaii and said, ‘That’s the color I want for my team,’” Batcheller said. To tell the full story, Batcheller consulted football historians and even tracked down historical recordings of the team from the 1930s.
Journalist and Lions memorabilia collector Bill Dow displays a vintage Detroit Lions sweater in Honolulu Blue.
The digital side of storytelling also plays a significant role in CuriosiD’s success, leveraging the power of social media to reach new audiences — and new potential questions from listeners. WDET Digital Manager Dave Kim says one of his favorite social videos for the series was about the origins of Superman ice cream, which became a hit on TikTok and Instagram Reels.
Batcheller emphasized that it’s the listeners who keep CuriosiD moving forward, calling it “an opportunity for our listeners to have an impact on what we do and guide our journalism.”
Since the series launched in 2014, CuriosiD has produced 70 episodes, with more in the works.
Listeners are encouraged to continue sending their questions, because the future of CuriosiD is in your hands.
We want to hear from you!
Do you have a question about Detroit? Let us know here or fill out the form below.
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