‘When Winter Comes To Michigan': Check Out This 1930s Newsreel [Video]

Filmed during the Great Depression, this 1930s newsreel about winter life and snow clearing crews in Michigan leaves me wondering about both the good and the bad of winters past.

Recently discovered by a Newberry family, this newsreel shows not only road crews at work clearing Michigan roads back in the day, but how Michiganders spent their winter days.

Here are some things I noticed while watching the video:

At 2:37 you'll notice that stupid kids didn't wear gloves in the cold weather back then, despite, I'm sure the constant nagging of adults to wear them.

And what happened to kick ass toboggan runs like those shown at 3:25? We need to bring those back! Now! Tubing doesn't even come close to having your entire family wipe out after a 40 mph thrill ride.

Why don't we have more outdoor speed skating races like they show at 3:50?

At 4:16 some dude thinks skiing without poles is a good idea. And how were those skiiers getting back to the top of the ski hill? That's a long waddle uphill.

At 4:48 there's a good look at the Ski Flying Hill in Iron Mountain. They're rehabbing the hill this year and it will reopen in 2017.

At 6:40 icy arrows invade Michigan!!

I dig the primitive snow blower shown at 7:56.

Sanding the roads was a dangerous job, as depicted at 9:38. That guy is just one pothole away from getting his head splattered all over US 12.