Bruce Catton was born in Petoskey in 1899. He is primarily known for his books about the Civil War. He won a Pulitzer Prize in 1954 for his book A Stillness at Appomattox. His memoir, Waiting for the Morning Train, depicts his life growing up in northern Michigan. In 1964, the public raised funds to put a plaque in his honor in a Petoskey park. They celebrated "Bruce Catton Days" in July 1965.