Hidden History of Flint

by Gary Flinn

Flint is a city full of legacies overshadowed by tragedy. Read the stories of the innovations and surprising elements of the city's past.
In the shadow of Flint's success as an industrial hub and the tragedy that is the water crisis that came to a head in 2014, the fascinating past of Flint has been largely forgotten. Local author Gary Flinn showcases the obscure and surprising elements of the Vehicle City's past, such as local Civil War hero Franklin Thompson who was actually Sarah Edmonds in disguise; the city's most prolific inventor, Lloyd Copeman, created the electric stove, flexible ice cube tray and automatic toaster; and even Thread Lake's Lakeside Amusement Park that offered seaplane rides and a giant roller coaster partly built over the water before closing in 1931. Flinn offers the reader the often-overlooked but fascinating history of Flint, including how the 2014 water crisis was a half century in the making.

176 pages, Paperback

Published July 3, 2017

Reviews

[Paul Lunger · Rating 5 out of 5]

With "Forgotten Flint", George Flinn takes a look at 35 different stories that make up the history of the Vehicle City. Each of these short essays fill in a different part of the history of that makes Flint what it is today. As someone who ventures into that area at least once a year it's nice to be able to also put information behind some of the place names which are endemic to this region. This book is one that anyone who is familiar with this area as a visitor or a resident will enjoy.

[Jacquie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cool book for those of us who grew up in Flint. So often I walk by a business that has changed and wonder what was here before. Flint gets a bad rap, but this book is a refreshing reminder of what once was and could be again. I really like how the chapters are separated by the buildings and not by the year. Easy to refer back to it. Quick read.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

All repeat stories, not much hidden. But I'm from Flint.