Wednesday, March 12, 2014

Jackson Chose Prison Over University or State Capital




The Jackson Citizen Patriot [MI]
12 March 2014


Brad Flory

JACKSON, MI – One of Jackson’s most stubborn urban legends needs debunking.

Actually, it’s an urban-pioneer legend, and it is repeated so often it has falsely assumed the stature of widely known fact. I heard it again a few weeks ago at a gathering of smart people.

“Way back when,” the myth goes, “Jackson had a choice. It could have the University of Michigan, it could become the capital of Michigan, or it could have a state prison. Jackson chose the prison.” […]