Sturgis Journal
Sturgis might be considered a quiet, small Michigan city, but throughout history, residents have made a splash in the news.
A few nearly splashed into one of The Great Lakes, according to Wayne Lusardi, maritime archaeologist at Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
Earlier this year, Allen Kasdorf of Sturgis saw a tribute to Tuskegee Airmen presented and created by Lusardi and DNR.
In it, Lusardi mentioned the Hapner brothers of Sturgis, balloonists who crashed a hot- air balloon into Lake Huron in 1892.
That piqued Kasdorf’s interest, so he sent the link to the Sturgis Journal. From there, a triangle of information bounced among the Journal, Lusardi and Jenifer Blouin Policelli, director at Sturgis Historical Museum.