Journey Back in Time Journey Back in Time
AA HHJOURNEYJOURNEYISTORYISTORY BACKBACK PPIN ROJECTROJECTTIME
DAILY GLOBE 2 l TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 2016 HISTORY THE DAILY GLOBE • YOURDAILYGLOBE.COM 15,000 attend opening of Gogebic County airport
By RALPH ANSAMI Douglas DC-W by Wisconsin Cen- [email protected] tral Airlines. IRONWOOD TOWNSHIP — The terminal building was con- The Gogebic-Iron County Airport structed in the summer of 1960 in Ironwood Township is in its and 1978 brought a new runway, 86th year of operation. 150 by 6,500 feet. That same A former Ironwood community year, Gogebic County entered development director often said into an agreement with Iron Ironwood was fortunate to have County to jointly manage the air- three key economic tools — a hos- port, a partnership that contin- pital, community college and air- ues today. port — and despite some strug- The airport board currently gles over the years, the airport has three Gogebic County repre- continues to provide passenger sentatives and two from Iron flights, as well as serve small air- County, having been reduced in craft, its original purpose. size in recent years. Jim Oliver, a In April of 1930, land was pur- county board member from Iron- chased and cleared for the airport. wood, serves as airport board A grass runway was constructed chairman. Fellow county commis- and used by small planes. sioners Joe Bonovetz, of Besse- The airport was dedicated on mer, and Leroy Kangas, of Iron- Sept. 3, 1930, with more than wood Township, are also on the 15,000 people in attendance. airport board. The Iron County The Ironwood Daily Globe’s 12- members are county board chair page evening edition that day and Hurley Mayor Joe Pinardi included a lead story on the dedi- and Paul Mullard, of Hurley, who cation. U.S. Rep. Frank James, of serves as airport board vice- Hancock, often called “the Flying chairman. Congressman,” arrived in a trans- During the period of 1987-’95, port plane with 24 other planes three new hangars were built. that day. A new terminal building was Daily Globe images James was chairman of the constructed in 2010. THE OPENING of the Gogebic County Airport on Sept. 3, 1930, drew 15,000 people some of whom took advantage of a commemorative mail- House Military Affairs Committee In 2014, the east parallel taxi- ing opportunity on the first day of air mail being sent from Ironwood. These two letters bear regular and special post marks from the day. The of Congress. way construction was completed letter above has a 5-cent air mail stamp and a Buffalo, N.Y., post mark on the back dated Sept. 4. The letter below has a 4-cent Martha Wash- The planes, called air ships in and 2015 marked a west parallel ington stamp and a 1-cent Ben Franklin stamp. The vertical signature, presumably of the sender, is that of then-Ironwood city manager Dow those days, came from some taxiway construction project. I. Sears. national air races in Chicago and Projects at the airport are now flew in a “J” formation to honor tackled under a five-year plan. James. A project this summer will The paper didn’t publish local include the terminal apron reha- photos in those days, so there bilitation at an estimated cost of were none of the historic occasion. around $500,000. James told the crowd that Iron- A milling and filling blacktop wood needed an airport because project for the airport’s taxiway is the nearest airfield was in Mer- scheduled for 2017. cer, Wis. Improvement projects at the A committee had been formed airport are mostly federally and and the property acquisition and state funded, with the county the early airport field cost around paying only 2.5 percent of the $45,000, although the paper said costs. another expenditure of around Many airlines have offered $50,000 would be needed to make passenger flights out of the air- it a “first-class” airport. port over the years. Then in the 1930s, during the Air Choice One has the current Great Depression, the Works Essential Air Service contract for Progress Administration con- the airport, offering flights to and structed the stone hangar build- from Chicago’s O’Hare Interna- ing that still stands. It is an 80- tional Airport. by-100-foot fieldstone structure Frontier Express provided ser- that remains in service today. It vice at the airport until March 8, was recognized by the Smithsoni- 2012. Great Lakes Airlines began an Institute. offering service on March 17, In 1949, a paved east-west 2012, but it was discontinued on runway — 75 by 3,900 feet — was Jan. 31, 2014. constructed in the summer. That On April 18, 2014, the Depart- same year, scheduled passenger ment of Transportation awarded service began on Dec. 1 with a a contract to Air Choice One.
City of Bessemer, Michigan Four Seasons of Fun!
The City of Bessemer was founded and de- veloped as a result of the discovery of iron ore. Area mining began in 1883, and the City began to attract residents by 1885, in- cluding miners who were of Cornish, Irish, Scandinavian, French Canadian, Polish, FOR ALL YOUR ELDER LAW NEEDS and Finnish descent. Ore was transported by rail from the Colby open pit mine to the Ashland, WI ore docks. Bessemer’s landscape is crisscrossed by abandoned rail lines serving Paul A. Sturgul and Ryan J. Long the numerous and now closed mines. The area was once heavily timbered, supporting a lumber industry. When the mining activity declined, so did the population of Bessemer. In 1966 the last mine in Bessemer was closed. The city has now become a center for winter tourism with Our law firm has over 30 years three major downhill ski resorts located nearby as well as opportunities for snowmobiling and cross country skiing. The area’s dependable snowfall, terrain, scenic qualities, and accessible of experience in elder law public lands support the winter tourism economy. The area economy now consists of the serv- and can help you ice industry, health care, and small manufacturing. through these complex situations. The Ethnic Commons Park and Trailhead • Health and long-term care planning Honors the different nationalities of people who established the city. • Estate planning: Wills, Trusts & Probate • Powers of attorney and guardianship
Paul A. Sturgul is a Fellow of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, Gogebic County Courthouse a Charter Member of the Council of Advanced Elder Law Practitioners Erected in 1888 and enlarged in 1915 and Licensed in Wisconsin and Michigan. Attorney Ryan J. Long is licensed in Wisconsin and Minnesota.
For more history and information STURGUL & LONG visit our website ATTORNEYS AND COUNSELORS AT LAW www.cityofbessemer.org 312 Silver Street, Hurley, Wisconsin 54534 411 S. Sophie St. Bessemer, MI 49911 906-663-4311 (715) 561-4600 Toll Free 1-888-613-0600 THE DAILY GLOBE • YOURDAILYGLOBE.COM HISTORY TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 2016 l 3 Wolverine Trails built on ski-jumping legacy
By RICHARD JENKINS — sometimes known as the bic Range Ski Club was the fore- Bowl, several people got onto the [email protected] Gogebic Range Ski Corporation runner to Copper Peak so that GRSC and, in addition to getting IRONWOOD TOWNSHIP — — which formed in 1935 and was group was now concentrating on events at Copper Park going — While the Wolverine Nordic Ski a forerunner to the Copper Peak the Copper Peak site, doing all starting with the first event in Trails are now primarily known board. The club’s board featured the things that needed to be done 1970 — rebuilt a 50-meter slide for cross-country skiing and representatives from the various — so in 1964 a bunch of guys got at Wolverine in 1975. snowshoeing, remnants of the communities in the area. together and we collected the old The renewed focus on Wolver- site’s ski jumping past are still Prior to this, Supercynski lumber, and the old poles, and ine opened the door for the addi- clearly visible from the trail’s said, it was local neighborhood we... made a hill out of the wreck- tion of ski trails to the site, warming chalet and parking lot. groups such as the Norrie and age. according to Supercynski. The area’s rich ski jumping Aurora clubs that oversaw the “And they didn’t jump as far, “Once we had the Wolverine history dates to the creation of ski jumping competitions. obviously, we had a couple infor- site, then we said, ‘Now we’re Ironwood Ski Club in 1905 and While Supercynski said the mal competitions on (the rebuilt going to build the cross-country included the setting of a world board would have preferred hills) in ‘64 and ‘65, and they trails.’ So in ‘76, we built about, record in 1911, according to locating the new jump at Copper jumped 150 feet on the hill.” I’m guessing, roughly 5 miles of Charlie Supercynski, who wrote Peak, considerably more effort Supercynski said ski jumping cross country trails in the sum- the book “Soaring with the was needed to build a jump there fans in the area knew something mer and fall of ‘76,” he said, Eagles: The Copper Peak Story,” than at Wolverine. had to be done to keep kids adding Wolverine was the first with ski jumping beginning at The organization built a 60- involved in the sport, so they cross-country ski trail in the Wolverine in the mid-1930s. meter ski jump on the Wolverine built a smaller 30-meter slide area. “Basically what happened was site and the first competition was known as “the Iron Bowl” in the The trails were expanded in there was a very prominent ski in the winter of 1936. Caves near the Norrie Location 1977 and the following year, the jump on Curry Hill, which is “That slide was in operation in 1968 and 1969. Department of Natural located about half a mile north of until 1963 (when) that old slide “This (slide) served as a train- Resources awarded the trails a the (Gogebic County) fair- blew down,” Supercynski said. ing ground, it brought a bunch of grant for further improvements, grounds. That hill blew down in The hill’s record of 216 feet youngsters into it,” Supercynski Supercynski said. 1930,” Supercynski said. “... was set in 1942 by Torger Torkle, said, with kids able to jump 100- The grant money added (Curry Hill) blew down and of a Norwegian immigrant who 110 feet on the slide. another 5 kilometers of trails and Submitted photo course the ski jumping communi- Supercynski called “the Babe During the Iron Bowl years, secured leases to use surround- PEOPLE WALK along the edge of the snow-covered Wolverine ski jump ty ... went to look for a new site.” Ruth of ski jumping.” This record which Supercynski said lasted ing properties for trails. in Ironwood Township in this 1950 photo. Wolverine was one of a few He said a number of locations would stand until the slide blew until 1974 when the city of Iron- It was around this time, ski jumps built in the area. were considered for Curry Hill’s down. wood decided to use the area for Supercynski said, the club dis- property to the Wolverine Nordic jumping training hills in the replacement, including Mt. Zion After the slide blew down, a landfill, Wolverine wasn’t used. solved the Wolverine subcommit- Ski Club, which had formed in Midwest, because one we had and the future site of Copper Supercynski and a group of oth- “So we kind of got chased out tee and he took a step back from 1981, according to the group’s snow early and late,” he said. Peak, but ultimately Wolverine ers built a makeshift ramp out of of there, and so we decided ‘well his involvement. website. “The direction of the hill faced was selected. the remains. we could probably do some more In roughly 1988 — around the “It’s been successful for really northwest, and you could always Coordinating the effort of “A bunch of us guys got things out at Wolverine,’” Super- same time the GRSC changed its about 40 years — those cross depend on a nice little strong selecting a site was the newly together, we weren’t organized or cynski said. name to Copper Peak Inc. — the country trails. The ski jumping headwind, so the hill rode like it formed Gogebic Range Ski Club anything — remember the Goge- With the closure of the Iron group deeded the Wolverine was very active from 1975 was a bigger hill. It rode like it through 1995, (at which point) was a 70-, 80-meter hill. So it we ran out of kids,” Supercynski was an excellent training hill.” said. He also noted the site’s role as Another factor that played a the competition site in Ironwood role in the decline of ski jumping during a time when the city was at Wolverine was the heavy a dominant player in the sport. snowfall in the winters of 1996 “There’s a tremendously rich and 1997. history of ski jumping in this The area received roughly 300 community. ... Ironwood was the inches of snow each winter, dominant ski-jumping club in the which Supercynski said made it 1930s. And of course the war “virtually impossible to keep the came along and that changed a ski jumping hills repaired.” lot of things, you know, but it He explained the hill wasn’t was definitely the dominant ski mechanized, which meant the club — that’s when Wolverine snow had to be stomped down got started,” Supercynski said. with feet or skis. He also expressed hope with “Between the loss of young recent news regarding the poten- people and the big snow, it came tial return of competition to Cop- to a halt in the ‘95-’96 season,” per Peak, that Wolverine might Supercynski said. “But the cross once again see an active ski country skiing has of course kept jump, as well. it going. They have had a variety “It wouldn’t take nearly as of events (at Wolverine) over the much money as one would think years. Excellent races and com- it might take,” Supercynski said. petitions and stuff like that.” “Obviously, it would take some Looking back, Supercynski investment ... but it could be said the 20-year ski jumping rejuvenated with some tender, legacy of the hill was largely in Submitted photo its role training area jumpers. THE WOLVERINE ski jump and landing area is seen in this 1937 photo. “That was one of the best ski- WOLVERINE — page 11
Pasty S GIFT SHOP Joe’s hop LITTLE FINLAND 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Opening for the Season Wed., April 13th Wednesday and Saturday Free Admission since 1946 The pasty that made pasties famous www.littlefinland.com
What is a pasty? Stop in to check out the Webster definition: pasty (pas´te) - a pie, esp. a meat pie. Finnish Gift Shop Joe’s definition: pasty (pas´te) - lean ground beef, diced 5750 W. U.S. Hwy 2, Hurley, Wis. potatoes and onions, wrapped in a delicate crust. 715-561-4360 Now, having said that, please don’t be afraid to try our other varieties of pasties! •Traditional •Chicken •Cornish •Breakfast •Veggie •Chicken Pot Pie We’d also like to note that we do not serve gravy with our pasties. We recommend good old-fashioned ketchup. Sharon’s COFFEECOFFEE COMPANYCOMPANY Mmmm! OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK Monday-Saturday 7:00am-5:00pm, History of the Pasty The pasty originated in Cornwall, Sunday 7am-3pm England. During the Upper Michigan iron ore boom, Cornish miners, known as “cousin jacks,” and their wives, “cousin jennies,” are given credit for bringing pasties to the Full Breakfast and Lunch, Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Iron ore miners, who spent many long hours underground, would eat the pasty for lunch. Daily Specials, Homemade Bakery, The pasty was a convenient meal and could be transported Catering, Wedding & Birthday Cakes, within the miner’s pocket. The Barbera family has been serving “the best” pasty since Full Service Banquet Room with 1946 in Ironwood, Michigan. Yes, that makes us Yoopers! full service bar, Kids Birthday Parties, People from all over the U.S. have enjoyed Joe’s pasties. Weddings, Reunions & more. If you have never tasted a pasty, try them now at Joe’s where the original is still made! In House Catering, Full Party Planning NO Facility Charge 906-932-4412 • 116 W. Aurora St., Ironwood, MI 122 Silver St., Hurley 715-561-5500 4 l TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 2016 THE DAILY GLOBE • YOURDAILYGLOBE.COM CORNER OF AURORAHISTORY AND SUFFOLK STREETS
THE BANK of Ironwood was located on the northwest corner of the Suffolk and Aurora streets. The building THE DAVIS and Fehr building stands on the northeast corner of the Suffolk and Aurora streets.The building later held the Diamond Shoppe and is now home to Old Suffolk Ale House. had a department store on the first floor and several offices upstairs. This is where the Pocket Park is today.
THE FIRST National Bank stands on the southwest corner of the Suffolk and Aurora streets. The building was THE IRONWOOD Store Co. stands on the southeast corner of the Suffolk and Aurora streets. Among other replaced and the corner is now home to Elle Stevens jewelry and gift shop. These four photos were provid- things, it later became Franky and Johnny’s Cafe. The building was replaced with a new bank building which ed by local historian Ivan Hellen of Erwin Township. is now River Valley Bank. Come Visit GOGEBIC COUNTY ONTONAGON COUNTY WhereFEDERAL people are worth CREDIT more than money! UNION SETTLERSSETTLERS A Brief History FEDERAL Settlers Co-op, Inc. - Founded on March 2, 1952, it was then known as Pickands Mather Employees FEDERAL Service Since 1917 Federal Credit Union for the employees of the then Pickands Mather mines CREDITCREDIT UNIONUNION # Full Line Grocery Store - March 3, 1964, the name was changed to the Bessemer Community Federal “Serving Our Members Since 1932” Credit Union # Sporting Goods - February 26, 1977, a merger was completed with the Wakefield Co-op Credit Union MAIN OFFICE # Gas Station - On March, 2, 1977, the name was changed to the Gogebic County Federal Bruce Crossing 906-827-3240 # Animal Feed and Mill Credit Union # BRANCH OFFICE Sell Bulk Propane; Home Heating, - In September of 1993 upgrades were completed to enable the credit union to Watersmeet 906-358-3066 Commercial & Residential expand its services to include direct deposit and checking accounts. It now offers a full range of financial services to its members. www.settlersfcu.com Corner of M45 & M28 Bruce Crossing, MI - In February 1998 the credit union relocated to west U.S. 2 in Bessemer (906) 827-3515 - On December 30, 1998 a new time and temperature sign was erected on the west side of the building 114 Iron Street • Ontonagon, MI WhiteWhite TailTail Serving the Gogebic Range Since 1952 We Can Help you – Entry Doors – Blown Cellulose Insulation Tire Company – Garage Doors – Steel Roofing and Siding Tire Company – Storm Doors – Asphalt Roofing – Fiberglass Insulation 244 Pine St., Ewen, (906) 884-4125 MI 49925 M-F 8:00-5:00; Sat. 9:00-12:00 www.hawleys.doitbest.com 906-988-2305
LOBBY HOURS: BIG VALLEY Ewen, Michigan Mon.-Tues.-Wed. 8am-4pm, Thurs.-Fri. 9am-5pm DRIVE UP: Towing • Parts • Accessories • Body Repair Mon.-Tues.-Wed. 8am-4pm, Thurs.-Fri. 8am-5pm Where Thousands Have Saved Millions! Sat. 9am-12 noon Lobby & Drive Up Citizens The Selection You Expect .... STATE BANK OF ONTONAGON 600 W. Lead, Bessemer, Michigan 49911 The Sale Price You Want ... Phone 906-663-4011 The Service You Deserve. 906-884-4165 Hwy. M-28 • P.O. Box 200 • Ewen, MI 49925 501 River Street FAX 906-884-4169 www.gogebicfcu.com 800-562-7112 www.bigvalley.biz Ontonagon, MI 49953 [email protected] THE DAILY GLOBE • YOURDAILYGLOBE.COM HISTORY TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 2016 l 5 Financial panic of 1857 dooms Ironton plans ways then and n Early mineral routes were exploration led to walking paths. An “Ironton village at Saxon trek” is men- Harbor River tioned, appar- By RALPH ANSAMI ently referring [email protected] to a trappers’ SAXON, Wis. — Otters played route. on the ice in Saxon Harbor on a “Long ago, recent warm day in March, as perhaps 50 they probably did around 160 Henry Daniel years before a years ago, when it was Ironton Sinclair single house or Harbor, at the site of a popular wigwam stood Indian campsite. where the city of Ashland now Around 1859, during the fur- spreads its mammoth protecting trading days, the harbor on Lake wings, there was an Indian set- Superior served as a port for the tlement on Bad River and anoth- area and was to be important in er near the beautiful falls on the mining shipments, according to Montreal (Ironton),” Thomas the Wisconsin Architecture and wrote. History Inventory. Thomas writes: “Below this Like the proposed Gogebic- lovely waterfall and near the Taconite iron mine in Upson of a shore of the lake once dwelt the few years ago, hopes were high chief a Chippewa band, and near that mining in the mid-1800s his wigwam were clustered a would bring an economic shot in number of his warriors. the arm to the area that is now “Their time was passed in the the Gogebic Range. chase and in fishing; the squaws But then, as today, an eco- made mats, canoes, and in the nomic downturn stalled mining. spring time maple sugar, and all At the end of what is now were happy and prosperous.” County Trunk A, the village of Superior Falls hasn’t changed Ironton was abandoned in the in 150 years. In the book, there is “Panic of 1857,” according to the an 1870s vintage photo of the inventory. waterfalls that could have been The Chippewa Indian village taken today. of Ironton was aptly described as In a presentation in Hurley,
“near the mouth of the Montreal historian Armon Mello said it Ralph Ansami/Daily Globe River and Superior Falls, with was called Ironton because of THIS PLAQUE at Saxon Harbor details the fur trading days that included the village of Ironton. footpaths leading east towards plans for big mining develop- Odanah and south into the Peno- ments. kee Mountains,” in a book titled Surveying of Ironton began in in 1856-’57. Sinclair, who sheltered and er, or a relative is unclear. Henry north, limiting the size of any “Legend of the Montreal River,” 1847 by Henry Wilse and by Mello said Ironton thrived for employed a slave from St. Louis. Daniel Sinclair died in 1857. development that may have been by George Francis Thomas. 1852, Ironton was included in a about four years and perhaps its Whether that man was Henry There’s also a map in the planned. There were no cars or high- land note. The town was platted most famous citizen was Daniel Daniel Sinclair, a famed explor- Thomas book of the Wisconsin Most Gogebic Range residents and Lake Superior Mining and of today are probably unaware of Smelting Company’s town site, that great financial panic in 1857 Springdale, at the gorge on the that laid Ironton low. Tyler Forks River. That was Now, when fluctuations in the potentially a key mining location, U.S. stock market are greatly affecting the development of affected by developments in Ironton. Europe and China, it is interest- “Mines were opened with fair ing to note that the Panic of prospects, but there was no use 1857 was caused the declining to try to stem the tide, the cur- international economy and too rent was too strong, transporta- much expansion of the U.S. econ- tion was too primitive, and the omy. mines were abandoned,” the It is generally considered the Thomas book says. first economic crisis caused by Another account said a group worldwide developments. of merchants from Ashland The British government failed assisted in building a boat land- to back up the amount of money ing and supply headquarters at it had in circulation with the Ironton harbor. A dock was required gold and silver. That set constructed and several ware- off a panic in Great Britain that houses and “living headquarters” spread worldwide. were built, according to, “A his- There were other develop- torical and archaeological recon- ments that led to the great panic naissance of the Saxon Harbor in the U.S. and American banks area,” authored by John F. Wack- didn’t recover until after the man and Edgar Oerichbauer, Civil War. and published by the Great Grand plans for big mining Lakes Archaeological Research developments didn’t develop and Center. the demise of the harbor port was Submitted image In accounts of Ironton, it’s rapid. A STEREOGRAPH of Superior Falls dates from the 1870s. Stereographs, an early form of three-dimensional photography, were a major vehicle for mentioned that the port site was Ironton never did recover. popular education and entertainment in the latter part of the 19th century. Placed on cardboard were two almost identical photographs, side by bordered by high hills on three Now, it remains as a plat on the side, to be viewed with a stereoscope. When viewed through a stereoscope, the photograph appeared three-dimensional. sides, with Lake Superior to the map.
McKevitt-Patrick Funeral Home, Inc. 305 N Lowell Street, Ironwood, MI • 906-932-1141
Serving Gogebic & Iron County Families for 3 Generations
Factory Built CUSTOM HOMES No two built alike! 1347 ARBOR VITAE LANE 1370 BETHEL DR. 3BR, 2BA, appliances, central 1998 Badger Built 28’x56’, air, attached 2 car garage, 3BR, 2BA, new roof, deck, storage shed. $79,900 fireplace, whirlpool. REDUCED! $62,500 $68,900
1391 ARBOR VITAE LANE 1392 ARBOR VITAE LANE 1407 ARBOR VITAE LANE 2BR, 2BA, appliances, 16’x80’ Marshfield, 3BR, 2BA, appliances, central large deck. 3BR, 2BA. air. Enjoy the deer from the ONLY! $18,900 JUST! $29,900 large deck. REDUCED! JUST! $18,900 WOODLAND COURT Never Lived In! 1400 sq. ft.BR, 2BA, HIAWATHA ESTATES EVERGREEN Lot #64 appliances, vaulted Lot #158 2BR, appliances, ceiling, large deck, 2BR, 1.5BA, garage, deck, storage shed, corner lot. 2 car garage. storage, porch. $169,900 JUST! $44,500 JUST! $24,500 MODEL HOME IN TIMBER RIDGE 1,960 sq. ft., 3BR, 2.5BA Tubs • Showers • Central Air • Furnaces • Water Heaters • Doors • Windows • Rubber Roofs full basement, furnished, SEE US LAST BEFORE YOU BUY ... COME IN AND SAY HELLO attached 3 car garage. Call for appt. to see this Hwy. 70 East (1/4 mile East of Hwy. 51 North) Arbor Vitae, WI • www.avhomes.com! $269,900beauty. Was $325,000 715-356-7603 • 888-901-3911 6 l TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 2016 HISTORY THE DAILY GLOBE • YOURDAILYGLOBE.COM Hampston worked on local railroad By RICHARD JENKINS “The conduc- [email protected] tor’s job back IRONWOOD — It’s fair to say then was to Dan Hampston had a front row basically do all seat to the end of the rail era on the paperwork,” the Gogebic Range, having been Hampston said. the engineer of both the last Wis- A conduc- consin Central train out of Iron- tor’s job also wood and last Canadian National required being train down the White Pine line. good at solving “(It’s) not a good thing, but I’ve puzzles. Larry Holcombe/Daily Globe taken a lot of last runs,” Hamp- Dan “You’re look- THE FORMER Soo Line Railroad bridge between Ironwood and Hurley, in foreground, was built in 1898, and was converted into a walking and bik- Hampston ston said. ing at a million ing trail this past summer as part of the Western Gateway Trail and greater Iron Belle Trail in Michigan which plans to stretch to Detroit. Locally, Rail service was first brought cars and you’ve groups on both sides of the border are working to extend silent sports trail networks across the region. to Ironwood in 1884 by the Mil- got to sort them out ... you’ve got waukee, Lake Shore and West- cars that go 10 different places ed out on the extra board, filling last Wisconsin Central train Hampston said he preferred when things go wrong, we call ern Railway Co., according to a mixed through your train and in for more senior employees went through in the ‘90s and the local routes, as he got to the computer doctor ... there’s no history of the state’s railroads you’ve got to figure out how to when they took days off or got Hampston estimates the White know the customers and the fixing it yourself anymore.” compiled by the Michigan make the right moves to get sick. Pine tracks probably stopped see- stops helped break up the He has also seen the number Department of Transportation. this thing together in the short- He worked a variety of other ing train traffic seven years ago monotony of the job. of people in the industry reduced Hampston, who retired two est amount of time,” Hampston jobs, including in construction — Hampston finished his career The monotony was one of the considerably, estimating the years ago in September after 41 said. and plumbing, as well as attend- in Stone Lake, Wis., near Hay- biggest challenges, he recalled, workforce has shrunk to a quar- years, is the third generation of Everything in the rail indus- ing junior college for a year to ward. saying night trips involved a lot ter of what it once was. his family to work in the rail try is about time, he explained, make it through the times when “Once they closed White Pine, of pacing and talking to oneself. Individual stations no longer industry — with his grandfather, with cars tracked by the minute he couldn’t depend on railroad I went to Park Falls and then While Hampston felt simple have operators to pass along the great uncle, dad and uncle all — meaning the faster a crew checks. they moved my job in Park Falls things could be done to help billing information on the cars to working with trains. worked, the faster they could Work became steadier on the to Prentice, so it was a matter of relieve the boredom — such as the conductors and train crews Hampston said he has worked move on and the faster the next Wisconsin Central Line, as it was working out of Prentice or work- wiring the radios used to commu- that used to be comprised of for three rail companies in his train could get what it needs. a non-union company that had ing out of Stone Lake ... and it nicate with dispatch to play FM five members now are only made career, taking trains everywhere Relatively young for a conduc- salaried positions. Hampston was cheaper to live in Hayward radio when not in use — it would up of a conductor and an engi- from Marquette to Stone Lake, tor, he remembers occasionally was promoted to engineer — the than it was Prentice,” he said. often fall to the other crew mem- neer. Wis. He also worked a number of having to convince older workers one responsible for running the The transition was notable in bers to make the journeys bear- Reflecting on his career, local routes, including into White to follow his lead. train. that Stone Lake was not only far- able. Hampston said it presented a Pine, between Ashland and Park “I was the young kid on the The Wisconsin Central Line ther away, but also on the rail- “If you got a guy that would unique opportunity for him. Falls, and through Bessemer and job, basically. My brakemen were was purchased by Canadian road’s main line, rather than the talk, it would make the day go by “It’s a different kind of living. Ironwood. my dad’s age. You had to con- National Railway in October local lines. much better. ... Some guys were I’ve always said it was probably He began his career in 1973 as vince these guys you had to do 2001. Whereas the local lines includ- very interesting, I worked with a harder on your wife than it was a switchman-brakeman for the what was supposed to be done,” Hampston said Canadian ed shorter trains, running less lot of different guys over the you because you never know Soo Line after graduating from Hampston said. National Railway made the pur- frequently, with slower speeds years, and other guys would just when you’re going to work and Luther L. Wright High School. In the summer of 1987, the chase to get a route from Superi- and stops at local mills and sta- sit over there and not say a word you never know when you’re “Basically, I made my first Soo Line decided to sell portions or, Wis., to Chicago — as the tions, the main line generally all day long,” said Hampston. coming home. Everything was student trip the night I graduat- if the company felt weren’t mak- company already owned the Illi- involved getting onboard in one “Communication was every- usually on-call. When I first ed (high school),” Hampston said. ing money — including its inter- nois Central Railroad, as well as location and riding through to thing.” started, everything was at As switchman-brakeman, he ests in the area to the Wisconsin shipping routes down to the Gulf another. Having been in the industry night,” he said. was responsible for sorting the Central Railroad. Coast — and got the rest of the “I went from the White Pine for more than four decades, “...You were gone a lot. I had a cars in the rail yard and ensuring Hampston remembers work- Wisconsin Central Line’s routes line going 10 mph to the main Hampston has seen a number of bag in my car basically packed his train was picking up and ing for the Soo Line as hard as part of the deal. line going 60 mph,” Hampston changes. all the time.” leaving the appropriate cars at times. Throughout his career, Hamp- said. “It was kind of a culture One of the most significant is Despite the hardships, Hamp- each stop. “I did 41 years (in the indus- ston said he primarily carried shock to start with.” the increasing use of technology ston enjoyed it. Before long, Hampston said he try), but there were a lot of lean wood products, coal and copper A decent-sized train on a local in the trains, including the addi- “The nice thing I always liked was promoted to conductor on a years in there, because back then concentrate. line would could run anywhere tion of exterior and interior cam- about the railroad is it’s different line running in and out of Besse- ... you were on call 24-7, but you As the routes through the from 50 to 70 cars, according to eras and black box data every day. mer, responsible for receiving the only worked when they needed Gogebic Range began closing in Hampston, while on the main recorders, as well as computers “It’s never the same. You’re billing for the cars at each sta- you,” he said. “One year I worked the last few decades — the last line trains could be comprised of to help run the train. outside (a lot), you’re not sitting tion, indicating where the cars 42 days.” Soo Line train went through as many as 200 cars and stretch “It was so much easier back behind a desk — I’m not a desk were bound. Hampston explained he start- Ironwood in the early ‘80s, the 10,000 feet long. then,” Hampston said. “Now, person.”
From 1890 to 2016 we have been feeding the men and women of the Northwoods. Serving old favorites MERCER and new entrees for breakfast, lunch & dinner. Welcomes You • The original building was MERCER APPLIANCE constructed in 1890. Featuring: • In the early years, the business REFRIGERATORS – RANGES was a dairy store, famous for malts, DISHWASHERS ice cream, candy, soda-pop and WASHERS & DRYERS We’re the other sundries. problem solvers Phone: (715) 476-2815 (1 blk east of Hwy. 51 in downtown Mercer) —Over the next few decades it 2633 Railroad St., Mercer, WI 54547 went through several different ownerships. 715-476-2472 — In the early 1960’s it was known as Bob’s Dairy Bar THEYour Carharrt WAREHOUSE Headquarters, Sporting Goods, Hardware, Work & Sport Boots Now Serving Breakfast 7-11am Wednesday-Sunday • In 1966 the business was deeded to John and Esther Hayes who Areas Largest Selection started cooking the famous Broasted Chicken. Box 304, 4772 N. Hwy. 51 South BAR HOURS 11am - Close Mercer, WI 54547-0304 KITCHEN 11am - 11pm Daily • In 1990 it came into the hands of Bill Jr. and Tracy Pallin and was named Tracy’s Uptown Cafe. Dr. Conor Casey RANGE TAX & ACCOUNTING Hurley Office: • In 1998 it came under the ownership of 501 Granite St. OVER 25 YEARS PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE Kari Spets Hurley, WI 54534 WE CAN PREPARE ALL FEDERAL & STATE FORMS 715-561-2386 (Including Michigan & Wisconsin) —With updates and remodeling in 2000, Ashland Office: • Very Competitive pricing! it is what we know it today, 300 9th Ave. W. • Fast turn around 3-5 days Uptown Cafe. Ashland, WI 54806 Your • No Appointment Necessary 715-682-2396 partners • Walk-ins Welcome for a • 2 locations to serve you all the comforts of lifetime CALL FRITZ for a QUOTE Breakfast Burgers of oral home cookin’ Mercer Dental Office 209 W. Silver St., Hurley ~ 2694 Cty. J., Mercer 5222 Hwy.51, Mercer, WI 54547 health 715-476-2233 715-476-3432
Broasted Chicken Soups SchellgellFREDERICK LawJ. SCHELLGELL-Attorney Offices, S.C. Over 20 years professional experience CREDIT PROBLEMS? We Can Help . . . . We can assist you with Friday Fish Fry Bankruptcy filings, Federal and State Income, Payroll & Excise, Tax liabilities & Disputes P: 715.476.3432 VERY COMPETITIVE PRICING! F: 715-476-3418 CALL FRITZ 715-561-2643/476-2233 518 E. McLeod Avenue FULL for a QUOTE E: [email protected] Ironwood, MI 49938 MENU ALSO Hurley, WI Mercer, WI 5222 Hwy. 51, Box 146 906-932-3321 715-561-2643715-476-2233Mercer, WI 54547 AVAILABLE Fax 715-561-2673Fax 715-476-2219 THE DAILY GLOBE • YOURDAILYGLOBE.COM HISTORY TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 2016 l 7 Many area mascots date back to 1920s By PAT KRAUSE experience. There are references before that to Former Speedboy and Red Devil foot- In the early 1930s, around the time and LARRY HOLCOMBE Ironwood basketball coach Pete Wakefield’s teams wearing red, includ- ball coach Pat Gallinagh, former Speed- Bessemer’s football team won two con- [email protected] Lewinski and former superintendent ing a “basket ball” game a few years ear- boy coach Mark Mazzon said the “Speed- secutive U.P. titles, the team was also Local sports teams have always had Percy Smith said Ironwood’s nickname lier between Wakefield and Ironwood’s boy” story passed down to them was that known as the Golden Hurricane. different and, some would say, unusual came during the heydays of mining. Red Devils, where Ironwood was forced Bessemer was playing at Massie Field Oct. 20, 1931, the Daily Globe pub- nicknames. When miners came up after working a to wear white shirts because when both and Bessemer running backs kept lished a story about “the Golden Hurri- Cardinals is a fairly common name in full shift, their work clothes were red teams wore red there were too many bad breaking away from the defense and cane that represents Bessemer” playing the sports world, but area sports fans from the iron ore they picked up working passes to the wrong team. scoring touchdowns, because no one on against coach Roy Melvin’s Hurley have sometimes wondered out loud underground. People began to say that Bill Ceccon, of Hurley, said he the defense could catch them. Midgets. about the origin of nicknames such as they looked like “red devils” and some- believes the first reference to Midgets Another version of the new nickname The Hurricane fades from the Daily Red Devils, Midgets and Speedboys. how the nickname transferred over to came in 1924 during the football season. was that a very fast Bessemer running Globe’s pages in the mid-1930s, but the The Daily Globe sports department Ironwood’s sports teams. Roy Melvin was Hurley’s coach that year back was running down the sidelines for Speed Boys’ name continued on. decided to do some historical research Some historians have noted some of and the team always seemed to be small a touchdown and a fan yelled out the Speed Boys slowly became Speed- and there were a lot of blank looks from the miners were actually high school in size around that time. players had a lot of speed and the news- boys, not to mention Speedgirls, in the people to questions of how nicknames boys who worked in the mines. They “A Daily Globe writer named the paper picked up on it. 1970s in homecoming signs that appear came about. That’s because many of the went to high school and played sports. team Melvin’s Midgets and the name Daily Globe sports writer “Sonny” in the yearbook, on uniforms and finally people who would know this subject best The first mention of the Ironwood stuck,” Ceccon said. Sonnysen wrote this on Oct. 7, 1924, painted on the House of Noise floor in are no longer living and many nick- Red Devils in the Daily Globe came on Melvin also coached the Hurley about the Bessemer football team: the 1990s. names seem to have originated in the Dec. 20, 1924, in a story about the “bas- Midgets basketball team. A Feb. 23, “What title could be more fittingly The Gogebic Community College 1920s. ket ball” team. They were set to play the 1925, Daily Globe story tells how Hurley applied to the Bessemer High School Samsons draw their name from coach Many sources said older relatives Wakefield Open Pitters, a mascot name will soon host Butternut on a Friday and eleven than “The Speed Boys?” Speed, Sam Dubow, who was hired in 1946 to passed down information to younger that has few mentions in the Globe’s then Coach Melvin will travel with the speed and then some more speed has re-start the college’s athletic depart- family members on how the nicknames pages. Midgets to Wakefield on Saturday for a characterized every game that they have ment that had been dormant since 1937. developed. Wakefield’s team is first referred to game. The Saturday game was to be pre- played this season. Going into every con- The Daily Globe quickly made the The Daily Globe contacted current as the Cardinals in the Globe on Sept. ceded by a game between the Hurley test outweighed, they have fought game- change from the Junior College Jaycees and former coaches and fans with a lot of 17, 1929. girls and Wakefield girls. ly and made a splendid showing.” to Samsons that season. Who are we? Many ethnicities settled here, shared cultures By ED SANDENE imagine coming to this new Special to the Globe world with all of these different BESSEMER — Who are we? ethnic groups all of whom have to We, who descended from those begin this new life. who settled this area in the mid The mines were the place to late 19th century? where most of the mixing of the They came from Europe to different ethnic groups took mine the iron, saw the white place. The men who worked in pine, farm and set up a business. the forests were mostly Finnish There were at least 16 languages and Swedish, with an occasional spoken, the Ethnic Commons French Canadian or other Park in Bessemer highlights the nationality taking part. six who were here in the greatest The mining locations were numbers. somewhat mixed so the wives The flags represent the had a chance to experience the Swedish, Finnish, Polish, Italian, formation of new friendships. Cornish/English and Croatian. This gave them exposure to the Many died or were injured in other languages and customs. the mines, there was discrimina- In Palms Location, there were tion and descriptive names for Italian, Finnish and English the different ethnic groups. The families who all learned to live places where they lived also had with each other. descriptive names based on some In time it was the children of aspect of their ethnic back- these families, who became ground. They all brought some- schoolmates which, of course, thing to the area which, in time, gave them a common back- helped to unite them. ground. This was a new mile- The Cornish brought the stone in the integration process pasty. The Italians brought sala- and something which would help mi, wine, and spaghetti; the to complete this process. Finns brought the sauna; the This process was the same in Swedes had smorgasbords; the all of the other mining locations. Polish had their Kielbasa, Piero- The children would go to school gie and other foods. Other ethnic and meet children from different groups also contributed with ethnic groups. Often they became their food and customs. friends and as such would social- One can only imagine these ize and visit each other. In time young European men and women many would marry into a differ- learning to cope with their new ent ethnic group so in time the surroundings. We have to nationalities would become remember that they were mostly Submitted photo mixed. young people who wanted to A GROUP of miners gathers with their lunch pails at the top of a shaft, ready for a day’s work underground. The question was “Who are achieve something in life which we” and the answer to the ques- they felt could not be done in the paired as partners and many immigrants faced due to the dif- his native language. He thought Finnish. There are other stories tion is, we are now Americans, Europe of those days. learned each other’s language. ferent languages spoken. he was learning English in the of miners trying to correct some- with a rich heritage that was In the mines, these young men Some of these stories serve as an One story concerned a miner mine where he worked, but in one’s language with words that formed by mutual hardship and of different nationalities were illustration of the hurdles the who spoke and understood only fact he had been learning were not correct either. Just experience.
SUPPORT THE HIAWATHA RESTORATION PROJECT Liberty Bell Chalet Please help us reach our goal of $25,000! 109 5th Ave. S. • Hurley, Wisconsin Thousands of people, across generations have come to see and enjoyed the Hiawatha statue, since it was first 715-561-3753 erected in 1964. But over the years, the fiberglass has • Complete Motorcycle Service • Machine Shop • Fabrication Serving Lunch – Monday-Thursday 11-2 p.m. cracked, the paint has chipped and some TLC is • Welding • Leather Goods • Parts & Accessories • Vinyl Graphics Serving Dinner – 7 Days a Week at 4 p.m. needed! While restorations have happened before, the time has come for it to be done again. And the longer (906) 932-9080 it sits in disrepair, the more it will cost to get it fixed! 220 E. McLeod Avenue, Ironwood, Michigan 49938 Fresh Bakery Breads • Muffins Pieces have Camera Cookies already fallen off!
& Sound Serving Ronnie’VIDEO DUPLICATIONs Hot & Ready Pasties ON SATURDAYS We copy these media formats to DVD or VHS tape: VHS-C – 8mm – Hi8 - Digital 8 How does (A part of Hiawatha’s Piece Pipe that Mini DV-DVD - Super 8 – Reg 8 – 16mm fell after being hit by high winds) and Beta - Reel to Reel / Cassette - 45-78-LP Pizza and Caesar You can help by sending contributions to 906-932-3901 SOUND FOR DINNER? Ironwood Chamber of Commerce 230 E. Aurora, Ironwood P.O. Box 45, Ironwood, MI 49938 or go to YOURPLACERENTAL.COMYOURPLACERENTAL.COM Come Dine With us on GoFundMe.com/Hiawatha2016 For more information, call the chamber at This is your Upper Peninsula Vacation Home. Saturday Night Enjoy our 906-932-1122 or email [email protected] Available Year round Prime Rib Special in Ironwood, MI. HIAWATHA STATUE FUN FACTS Call anytime and leave a message • 52 years old, erected in 1964 a message • 52 feet tall and weighs 8 tons 906-932-3892 Come See Our • Purchase cost was $10,000 in 1962 • Entire project cost was $15,000 Check out our website at Selection of Wines www.yourplacerental.com • Technically the second tallest Indian statue in the U.S. • Real life Hiawatha was a Native American leader and A VACATION HOUSE FOR A REASONABLE PRICE! co-founder of the Iroquois Confederacy 8 l TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 2016 HISTORY THE DAILY GLOBE • YOURDAILYGLOBE.COM Sturgul starts Mining on Range begins in 1884 group to study By ED SANDENE Special to the Globe Mining started along the Penokee local history and Gogebic Range in 1884 and contin- ued into the early 1960s. By TOM STANKARD The only mine that produced ore in [email protected] Ashland County dates to 1886. It was HURLEY— People say Paul Sturgul has located southeast of Mellen and was a good memory. called the Berkshire, or Hoppenyan Sturgul, an attorney in Hurley, said his- mine. tory is his “first love” and he passionately Iron ore was discovered in Iron studies local history, geography and geology County earlier, in 1856, but develop- as an advocation. ment didn’t start until 1887. This While studying at the University of Wis- development was called the Tyler’s consin, Sturgul said he frequently visited its Fork mine, named after Captain TFL “wonderful” state historical Tyler. society on campus. There, More explorations and discoveries Sturgul said he spent were made in the Upson and Iron Belt many hours researching area. There were many shafts, most of the region’s history. which didn’t produce much ore. The He spent time reading Plummer headframe is the only one through a collection of local still standing. newspapers that were pub- Larger productions started in the lished in Hurley, Ironwood, Montreal area, with several companies Bessemer and Wakefield. being involved. The major producer Sturgul said he also was the Montreal River Iron Mining enjoys public speaking. He Company, which was formed in 1882. credits his public speaking Paul Sturgul There were numerous Montreal shafts, ability to his former speech many of which were connected under- teacher, Helen Weiser. ground. Sturgul said Weiser recognized his ability Continuing east along the Gogebic and encouraged him to cultivate his inter- Range were numerous explorations est. In high school, Sturgul said he was on and shafts. the forensics team. In Hurley, there were many shafts, “I owe a debt of gratitude to Ms. Weiser,” again under different names. The Cary Sturgul said. mine, which was located south of town, Submitted photo In 1981, Sturgul gave a presentation in was the most modern and the last to The Colby Mine located in Bessemer was the first iron mine on the Gogebic Range and began operation in 1884. Minneapolis about the Gogebic Range’s eth- shut down. nic groups. He said a segment about the The same pattern of development The equipment used to hoist and Italians in the Gogebic Range was pub- was occurring on the Michigan side. stock the ore was larger and faster lished. The early mine shafts were placed near than that which was used in current After the conference, Sturgul said his his- the ore bodies which were near the sur- mining operations. The ore skips could tory research lay dormant while he was face. These were later combined under- hoist 15 long tons at a speed of 2,400 building his elder law practice. ground into larger and deeper opera- feet per minute, with two skips operat- Recently, Sturgul has found more time tions. ing in balance. for his history passion and has enjoyed giv- The Geneva mine, located between A comparison would be the ore skips ing or facilitating several presentations Ironwood and Bessemer, took over the at the Penokee Mine. They were capa- about the region’s history. operations of several early mines. ble of hoisting seven tons at a speed of Last year, Sturgul spoke at the Upper These included the Davis mine to the about 1,200 feet per minute. Aerial Michigan Historical Society convention in west and the Puritan mine to the east. tramways were used to stockpile the June. He said an individual heard him Later, development of the Peterson ore instead of wooden trestles as in speak about Hurley’s early history and mine in Yale location started at the existing mines. In addition, they had asked him to give another talk at a history Puritan mine. They ran a drift east- two tramways so they could separate conference in Marquette in September. ward to later connect and become part the Bessemer and non-Bessemer ores. In October, Sturgul gave a similar speech of the Peterson mine. Also included They also had pockets into which the on Columbus Day at the Iron County Memo- were the Ironton and Colby mine oper- skips could dump the ore. These pock- rial Building. He said it was well attended ations. The Peterson mine was the ets could hold enough ore to load a 70- and he received positive feedback. newest mine on the Gogebic Range and ton railroad gondola car without Sturgul said he is fascinated by the “fron- the last one to close. respotting it. Another problem was the tier phase” of Iron County, stretching from Extensive drilling and exploration stocking of ore for five or six months the 1880s through the 1920s. that started in 1942 and continued during the winter months when there He refers to the Gogebic Range as part of through 1949 showed that ore existed was no shipping. They had to have the “Silicon Valley” of the last century. below the previous mining depth of room for approximately 1 million tons “The captains of industry — Mark 2,100 feet at the old Puritan, Ironton in a limited area. The solution was to Zuckerberg, the Steve Jobs and Bill Gates — and Yale mines. Diamond drilling have the aerial tramways which could in 1900 were people in mining and steel,” he showed that the ore continued to a make stockpiles up to 70 feet high. Submitted photo Daily Globe image said. depth of 4,000 feet and probably deep- As previously mentioned, the Peter- THE PETERSON Mine headframe once ON THE COVER: The Plummer Mine, Sturgul recently formed the Range Histo- er. son mine was the newest and most stood in Yale Location in Bessemer. located in Iron County, is the only head- ry, Geography and Geology Club, partially The drilling results led to a conclu- modern of the Gogebic Range mines. frame still standing here. focusing on the area’s frontier phase, before sion that the size of the ore bodies in The hoisting of ore in the new shaft and the Europeans settled here. the exploration would support a mining the stockpiling of ore with the new Tilden shafts of which there were 10, ka No. 4 shaft. The shaft reached a During the last meeting, Sturgul invited operation that would produce more ton- aerial tramways began in 1955. Unfor- the last one is located southeast of the depth of 3,650 feet and also became the Amorin Mello, of Bayfield County, to discuss nage than the mines that were operat- tunately, the demise of the under- Steiger Lumber Company operation. hoisting shaft for the Anvil-Palms mine Ironton, which is now Saxon Harbor. ing on the Gogebic Range. The ground mines began in the 1960s and Next came the Palms and Anvil in 1951. Sturgul said Ironton was a supply town unknown costs were the great depth, this new modern mine closed down mines, which were later connected to East of Ramsay is the Plymouth that was the headquarters for the Wisconsin water problems and high construction operations in February 1966. the Eureka Mine in Ramsay. There open pit mine which is now filled with and Lake Superior Mining and Smelting and development costs. Therefore it Continuing east from the Peterson were several shafts in the Ramsay area water. Company. He said Ironton was part of an was apparent that nothing short of a mine there is the Colby mine which also, such as several Eureka shafts, the Wakefield also had numerous shafts ambitious, but ultimately failed effort to large operation would be economically was the first mine on the Gogebic Asteroid and Mikado shafts which later such as the Brotherton, Pike, Vicar, mine the Penokee-Gogebic Range in the feasible. Range, opening in 1884. Then came the became combined with the newer Eure- Comet and Sunday Lake mines. 1850s.
Celebrating GOGEBIC 30 Years RANGE BANK www.gogebicrangebank.com In Business . . . F YY H .. h H D I D AAM C h t cosur vah ocrae• S ocrae• vah t cocosur sniotclelt rur ae orloxp• E orloxp• ae rur tsifactr er hidd en tvcos• Di er hidden ttvcos• ursaerer es Serving the Gogebic-Iron Range for all taht imt e ffoo gr tog your financial needs since 2002. • TToo t mhur sue eums • TTee yl sol otur yro vceieo rp tn uig• S uig• tn rp vceieo emv iae l ertletwsen s h H M S - M l Dairoem aayy - L Dobay yar y . . . We Salute M - Sao t NNn mn-4poot WW H vauro- rs yy,, ca ala adehl Our Loyal Employees! BIG ENOUGH TO COMPETE.... SMALL ENOUGH TO CARE 1000 Yale Avenue, Bessemer, MI 150 N. LowellL l SSlewo St. • Il Ironwood,ort. nnww , MI 49938doo 49938 Bessemer 906.663.4520 906-932-0287 667-0277 Ironwood 906.932.7646 www.IronwoodAreaHistoricalSociety.orgww ww..I or nnww dAoo yy.ycietolSaicrotsiaHerdA .o gr THE DAILY GLOBE • YOURDAILYGLOBE.COM HISTORY TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 2016 l 9 Ontonagon Memorial Building sees busy 92 years
By JAN TUCKER “We feel we have the best of both [email protected] worlds: The building is slowly being ONTONAGON — The Ontonagon restored to look like the original, but Township Memorial Building has been with state-of-the-art materials that will called by many names. Among them are save money,” Chabot said. community building, library and the- The restoration of the windows has ater, in the 92 years of its existence. It not only been historically accurate but has also had as many or more uses dur- has cut in half the heating bill. ing that time. “Although the windows look like the According to a biography by Andy originals, they are the highest quality Lockhart, area historian and former energy-efficient windows we could find,” long time township clerk, the impetus he said. for the building came following lobbying The window replacement will contin- by the Exchange Club, an Ontonagon ue until all are covered, but Chabot said businessmen’s group, and a vote of 448- there are also other plans for the build- 194. The suggestion by the Exchange ing. Club and others was to make the build- All the lights in the library have been ing a memorial to Ontonagon veterans upgraded with efficiency lights with of World War I. other cost savings. The township plans Lockhart reported that site acquisi- to install 1920s-style outdoor lights to tion and construction of the building resemble the early street lights as was $75,000. Construction began in shown in the original pictures of the 1923 and the building was occupied in Memorial Hall. 1924. Looking even further into the future, The uses of the building varied Chabot hopes some day the township through the years. Trees surrounding it could afford to move its work into its had dedication plaques at their bases own not so crowded offices and leave the with the names of World War I veterans. first floor to make room for the ever- In 1925, The American Legion Post was expanding library and second floor the given permission to display a captured theater. World War I German cannon on the It is obvious that whether it is called grounds. the Memorial Building, theater, or com- Through the years the American munity building, as the structure heads Legion, Boy Scouts, service clubs, school toward its 100th year, it remains both a sponsored activities and library occu- structural and functional icon in Onton- Submitted photo pied the building. In the 1970s and ‘80s agon. THIS PICTURE is the earliest one known of the Memorial Building in Ontonagon. It is from 1936. the Ontonagon County District Court used the building. The large auditorium was used for dances, plays, wedding receptions and theatrical presentations. A kitchen off the auditorium was also available for special events. Lockhart explained that a motion picture projec- tion booth was located behind the audi- torium balcony, although it was never used. In 1983, the second floor was leased to the Copper Country Mental Health Service and an entire facelift was done with small offices built and the stage walled off. They stayed in the building for seven years and when they left, the second floor was deserted. That is when Carol Reid and Tom Strong and other friends visited the Ontonagon Township Board meeting with an idea to make the second floor a theater. The community rolled into action and the changes made to the auditorium by the Copper Country Mental Health Ser- vices were ripped out and the area stripped down to its original stage and balcony. With in-kind support from local con- tractors, community donations and grants, about half a million dollars has produced a first-class Theater of the Per- forming Arts. Performers from many venues indicate they are surprised by the beauty and function of the theater. The present Township Clerk Bill Chabot and the township board have worked for several years to restore the Memorial Building to its past look while at the same time bringing it into the world of modern technology. Submitted photos They have systematically installed IN AN effort to remind residents and visitors of the history of Ontonagon, village clerk Bill Chabot and the township board have had installed on the outside the historic Memo- energy windows that mimic the windows rial Building large pictures of the community’s past. The first Ontonagon County Courthouse, built in 1899, is seen at top left. Below left, is a photo titled “Risen from the Ashes” of the earlier building. showing the town rebuilding after a late 19th century fire. At right are more modern photos of downtown Ontonagon. The Gogebic Range Libraries
Business Hours Tuesday – Sunday: 11am to 10pm Closed Monday 906-364-7588 Patrick J. Niemi has been writing since 1989. His latest novel, South Shore II-The Heavensplitter, is a continuation of Regular Menu With the amount of resources available at your South Shore I-The Early Years. Both novels are part of an eight Available during normal business hours public library, a wealth of knowledge, book series. The first novel, Walking Alone, follows a young information and history can be learned. woman’s decision to enter the convent to become a nun. The Lunch Buffets & Salad Bar Libraries offer us a chance to experience the second novel, Friday’s Edition, is about a college student who Tuesday – Friday & Sunday: 11am to 1pm publishes an illegal underground newsletter on campus that past, present and future in a helpful, friendly uncovers and publishes some deadly secrets about the Dean Dinner Buffets & Salad Bar setting. of Students. The fifth novel, Friday’s Edition II-Animalistic, is Thursday – Saturday: 4pm to 7pm With access to books in print, digital and audio currently in process and a 2016 release is planned. formats. Online resources, databases and The novels are fiction/suspense and cover wide variety of in- Friday Fish Fry triguing and sometimes controversial social issues based upon 4pm to 9pm • Includes Soup & Salad Bar reference materials. Even movies, periodicals the author’s personal experiences and observations. All of his Mexican Menu and special events! novels can be found in local book stores and on All Day Sunday • Chinese Also Available Support your local library! Amazon.com in printed or Kindle versions. See what you can learn today! $1.00 OFF Thursday & Friday Evening Buffet Only Ironwood Carnegie Library Bessemer Public Library One coupon per table, Dine in only, Exp. 4/30/16 Est. 1901 Est. 1908 235 E. Aurora St. 411 S. Sophie St. FULLFULL BARBAR NOWNOW OPENOPEN 906-932-0203 906-667-0404 Dine In • Carry Out • Catering • Banquet Wakefield Public Library Marenisco Public Library Est. 1934 Est. 2011 215 S Suffolk St. • Ironwood, MI • 906-364-7588 401 Hancock St. 319 Fair St. www.goldendragonmenu.com 906-229-5236 906-787-2501 10 l TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 2016 HISTORY THE DAILY GLOBE • YOURDAILYGLOBE.COM Colby Mine, Bedore lives long life Milwaukee and Lake Shore of service in Ironwood Railroad begin By JUSTIN LIBTEROSKI who lived with [email protected] her off and on IRONWOOD — Evelyn in the 1970s, 1880s land rush Bedore was born on Sept. 29, remembers her By ED SANDENE 1900, in Nash, Wis., and began catering busi- Special to the Globe an eventful life, much of it in ness that she There were three iron mining Ironwood, that lasted into the continued well areas in the Upper Peninsula. early 21st century when she into her 80s. These were the Marquette passed away at the age of 107 on Her business Range, which had the first Jan. 29, 2008. catered to recorded iron ore shipment on Her life was filled with many many events, the Great Lakes. This happened achievements that impacted the Evelyn i n c l u d i n g on July 7, 1882, when the Mar- lives of many in the area. Bedore mother and quette Iron Mining company Early on in her life, she drove daughter ban- shipped six barrels to New Cas- a gravel truck for the Ashland quets, weddings, birthdays and tle, Pa. County Highway Department funerals. The Menominee Range during World War I. In 1918, she Bedore was known to cater deposit was discovered in 1848 married Clifford Bedore and four or five funerals in a day, and prospecting began in 1872 together they moved to Ironwood each with their specific menu. and mining started five years in 1923. Another service that Bedore Submitted photo later. MINERS AND a mule work on the trestle near the Tilden Mine’s No. 10 shaft, which had a steam hoist. During this time, she served provided to the community was In this area, Gogebic Range the Ironwood community in her involvement in the Ironwood iron ore was discovered in 1848 story which can be found in vari- years, the Palms shaft was used mine in that area. They can be many ways. Women’s club. She was one of the by a Dr. Randall, a geologist. ous publications. In any event he to lower materials and as an found throughout the mining She was an member of the women who spearheaded the Other discoveries were made appeared to have been the driv- escape hatch. The Eureka shaft regions in the U.P. The miners Episcopal Church of the Trans- restoration of the stained glass later but actual mining didn’t ing force in getting investors and in Ramsay was used to hoist the and families who lived in these figuration, The Ironwood windows and prevented the city start until the Colby Mine in land leases needed to get the ore from the remaining pillars in locations were mainly immi- Women’s Club and the Tele- from tearing down the Memorial Bessemer was opened in 1884. mine operating. the Anvil Palms ore body. grants from Europe who came phone Pioneers of America. She Building, raising a tax millage to This same year the Milwaukee A major stockholder in the The Eureka mine in Ramsay here to work in the mines. also served on the advisory board restore it, said Decur. and Lake Shore railroad platted Colby operation was Samuel had also combined operations of The companies also provided that established Ironwood Junior Many of her projects and the city of Bessemer and started Tilden. Another Colby shaft was the Asteroid mine and the Mika- medical services, such as doctors College, now Gogebic Communi- achievements received recogni- extending railroad tracks here. sunk east of the Colby and it was do mining operation. The latter and even a hospital, which was ty College, helped initiate a tion in the form of awards and They wanted to get in on the named the Tilden mine. More two were early developments located in Anvil. The locations nutrition program for Newport accolades. According to Decur, transportation of the iron ore to Tilden mine shafts were sunk, all dating to the late 1800s and were largely self-sufficient so school children and before the she never did anything for recog- the lake ports. When the Colby of them going toward the east of early 1900s. There were many of that all of the family needs could senior citizen nutrition program, nition but for the betterment of mine opened and the ore body Colby Hill. Shaft No. 9 is the these early developments and be met there. There were nearby she served many special meals to the community and the good of was proven, one of the greatest fenced-in location on Osmose shafts locate all of the way from grocery stores, a post office, residents, according to a the town or people. “She was land rushes of the north country Road. Yale location to Ramsay. These schools and in Anvil there was a spokesperson with the Ironwood always doing something for the began. Within a year, seven A little farther east and north were shallow mines which were company community building Area Historical Society. community. She was just a very mines were in operation and is Tilden shaft No. 10. absorbed by larger operations as which provided a bowling alley Jim Decur, Bedore’s grandson hard working lady,” Decur said. 2,000 miners were employed Not long after, in 1886, the mining technology improved. and space for social gatherings, between Sunday Lake and the Palms mine began shipping ore. Anvil Location was a compa- such as parties. The Catholic Montreal River. They started shipping ore in ny-owned housing development. church used this building for The Colby mine was named 1886 and by some reports, The company rented the homes church services. The companies Goudie sisters had long after Charles Colby, a railroad became the first major iron ore and took care of all of the main- let the families use land for pas- man, who owned the mining producer on the Gogebic Range. tenance and even provided a ture and hay making as many of lease. Then there is Colby Hill The Palms mine alone shipped water supply until city water them had a cow or two. They also careers at Luther L. Wright with Moore Street. Nathaniel more than 9 million gross tons by became available. These housing provided the electricity and By JUSTIN LIBERTOSKI Wright in 1910, Moore was a mining captain who 1950. In 1923, the Anvil and developments were called loca- [email protected] where she was involved with the origin of Palms mine combined to form tions and were usually named IRONWOOD — Teachers taught English the Colby mine. This is another the Anvil Palms mine. In later after a major investor in the MINING — page 14 have played an influential role and was Dean on the education of younger gen- of Girls from erations throughout history. Sis- 1927 to 1943. ters Jean and Janet Goudie were The Goudie The Fabric Patch important figures in the educa- sisters are well Quilting Headquarters of the North tion of Luther L. Wright High remembered in School students from 1906 to the area and CREATIVE 1950. have received Vintage • Choose from over Jean Displays! Janet Goudie was born in many honors 4000 Bolts of England in 1882 and moved to Goudie and awards. Quilting Fabrics RubberstampingSPIRITS & More Ironwood with her parents as a Included in • Huge Selection of child. She graduated from these awards Quilting Books & Largest Stamping & Scrapbooking Luther L. Wright and received a were the con- Craft Patterns Headquarters in the U.P. bachelor’s degree from the Uni- secutive dedi- versity of Michigan and her mas- cations to them MAIL ORDERS AVAILABLE Unique scrapbook papers for our area ter’s degree from Columbia Uni- of the Hematite versity. yearbook by the Largest selection in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula “2 redheads stampin’ & scrappin’ ” She taught Latin, algebra and classes of 1951 and Northern Wisconsin English and was junior class and 1952, Open M-F 9:30-5:00, Sat. 9:30-4:00 www.creativespiritsstamping.com advisor at Luther L. Wright according to a beginning in 1906. spokesperson Shop Our Online Store! Jean Goudie was born in Iron- Janet for the Iron- www.fabricpatch.com Check us out on facebook wood in 1887. She graduated Goudie wood Area His- from the University of Michigan torical Society. 100 W. McLeod Avenue, Ironwood, MI 49938 • 906-932-5260 in 1909 and continued her educa- “They were Authorized Dealer for Husqvarna Viking 121 N. Lowell St., Ironwood, Michigan tion at the University of Chicago remembered, not only as teach- Sewing Machines & Sergers Across from the Historic Depot (906) 932-8442 and the University of Colorado. ers, but also as friends,” said the She began teaching at Luther L. spokesperson.
HITT’S FINE FURNITURE CHIPPEWACHIPPEWA Sets VALLEYVALLEY BANKBANK 5211N Hwy 51 Mercer WI 54547 715-476-2323–877-350-2323 Prices starting at 1710 E Cloverland Drive $299 Ironwood MI 49938 Twin set $469 906-932-411–888-734-4877 Full set 5 & “Celebrating 2 years of service $539 10 year Queen set www.RemaxActionNorth.com in the Gogebic/Iron Range March 2016” $749 warranty 1917 - First chartered by the State of Wisconsin in the small King set • Waterfront Homes • Cabins • County Homes pioneer community of Winter. Offering basic banking We also carry adjustable and up bases products and services being offered. -Survived the Great Depression • Waterfront Lots • Acreage • Businesses 1936 - First additional office expansion took place after buying the Radisson Bank 1978 - Present stockholders took control of the bank In 2006, Dean Lantta & Kathy Tutt decided that 1990 - Office was opened in Bruce they would combine their expertise in the real estate 1994 - Office opened in Hayward business and open their own real estate offices. 1999 - Office opened in Weyerhaeuser Prices starting at 2003 - Expanded northward to Lake Nebagamon, They opened an office in Mercer and in Hurley and 2004 - Expanded eastward to Lac du Flambeau. $1069 became Remax Action North Realty with 5 agents. 2007 - Two new offices were added in the northern Twin set Wisconsin communities of Bayfield and Iron River $1199 In July 2007, they purchased the J.W. Huss Realty 2010 - Office opened in Washburn Full set Office in Ironwood at 1710 E Cloverland Dr. Once $1399 2012 - The bank continued growing by adding locations Queen set they purchased J.W. Huss, they closed the office in in Ashland and Superior $1699 2014 - Chippewa Valley Bank opened its 13th location in King set Hurley and currently have the two offices in Mercer the Hurley/Ironwood area FREE Local Delivery...FREE Regional Delivery Up To 60 Miles On Orders Of $299 Or More (Stop For Details) & Ironwood. They cover all of Iron County, WI and FREE Removal “The Furniture You Want...The Way You Want It!” 90 Day Free Financing with Approved Credit HOURS: LOBBY: Mon.-Fri. 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Free Layaway Plan Gogebic County, MI and parts of Ontonagon DRIVE UP: Mon.-Thurs. 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m., County, MI. The business has grown throughout the Fri. 5:00 p.m., Sat. 9:00 a.m.-Noon years and currently have 3 agents in Mercer and 8 TCompleteT FinishedS or Unfinished,INE UpholsteryFU and BeddingRN ForI AllT RoomsUR I ’-EverythingF You Need To Make Your House A Home. E agents in Ironwood. Their agents live and work in H HOURS: HURLEY • 13365N Hwy 51 • 715-561-2618 128 E. Aurora St., Ironwood, MI 49938 906-932-4400 Mon.-Fri. 9-5 the local communities. Remax Action North Realty 504 Main St. West, Ashland, WI 54806 715-682-8900 Sat. 9-3 www.chippewavalleybank.com otherother hourshours by looks forward to servicing your needs in both areas. Website: hittsfinefurniture.net by appointmentappointment THE DAILY GLOBE • YOURDAILYGLOBE.COM TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 2016 l 11 entire history (of the hill), proba- HISTORY Wolverine bly the worst accident we had was a sprained ankle, or sprained knee, or something like that,” Supercynski said, noting From page 3 the history involved 50 to 60 peo- loving care.” ple per event, each taking a cou- While outsiders may perceive ple of runs per day, with multiple the sport as dangerous, Super- events per year over the 20-year cynski argues because of its con- period. trolled conditions, data from the Wolverine’s “trail system con- International Ski Federation sists of eight trails that provide shows it’s as safe as cross-coun- 25 kilometers of both skate ski- try skiing. ing and track-set skiing and four “If you want to get hurt you marked snowshoe trails,” accord- take up snowboarding ... or ing to the trail’s website. downhill skiing,” he joked. More information on the cur- “We jumped 20 years on rent state of the trails can be Wolverine Hill and ... over the found at wolverinenordic.com.
Justin Libertoski/Daily Globe IRONWOOD AREA Historical Society Vice President Sandy Sharp, left, and treasurer Dan Berlin stand in front of one of the museum’s new exhibits. Ironwood Historical Society aims to ‘collect, preserve and interpret’ community’s heritage Submitted photos By JUSTIN LIBERTOSKI Sandy Sharp there are around 50 The society runs on volunteers Collecting artifacts and keep- THESE IMAGES are of a ski jump on Curry Hill, above in 1911 and below [email protected] members in the historical soci- who give tours and perform other ing records of the history of the in 1922, that was near where the fairgrounds are today. IRONWOOD — The Ironwood ety. “We are always looking for duties. area for younger generations is Area Historical Society was new members. Members are very The historical society offers important for the society, Sharp founded in 1979 with the mission important to us,” said Sharp. many different services and said. “We’re preserving it for the to “collect, preserve and interpret The depot building is open resources, such as a website and, younger generations so it exits, it the heritage of the Ironwood Memorial Day through Labor more recently, a research center. will still exist in their time. It area, and instill an appreciation Day from noon to 4 p.m. In the The center includes many differ- makes you appreciate where of the local history through winter months, the building is ent maps, photos and records you’re from and it gives you pride exhibits and educational pro- still open where people can view throughout the history of Iron- in your home town.” grams.” the artifacts, but there are no wood. In addition to the depot build- The original building for the guided tours. It is also open to The museum houses many ing, the historical society also historical society was located on appointments in the winter time. artifacts, ranging from mining operates a satellite location in McLeod Avenue. In 1986, the his- The building is kept heated in photos to artifacts from the depot the Ironwood Memorial Building. torical society leased the old the winter as it also houses the building itself. “We do receive a Upcoming events for the his- Chicago and North Western Rail- Ironwood Chamber of Commerce. lot of donations of artifacts,” torical society include two travel- road depot from the city and “We are very fortunate to have a Sharp said. “We don’t take just ing exhibits from the Beaumier began restoring the building in facility like this to be able to anything. It has to be Ironwood Heritage center in Marquette 1988 through fundraisers and have this much and have it cli- history. We are always looking coming to Ironwood July 4 volunteer hours. matically controlled,” said trea- for donations, especially pic- through Festival Ironwood, and According to Vice President surer Dan Berlin. tures.” again in the month of August.
ESSEMER OST EN S LACE B VFW P 3673 BStop in ’for OldP Fashioned “Hand Dipped” Ice Cream Cones, Malts, Shakes & Sundaes We are proud to be a part of Ironwood’s history!
Check out our Daily Specials Monday - Saturday 5am-6pm HALL RENTAL FOR EVERY OCCASION • BINGO EVERY MONDAY Sunday 5am-3pm Tuesday: Burger Night Friday: Fish Fry Saturday: Pizza Night 112 W. Aurora St., Ironwood, MI 49938 906-932-5114 605 Lead Street • Bessemer, MI • 906-667-0812
“We’re in your neighborhood, when quality counts, with expert advice.”
E5108 Jackson Road, Ironwood, MI 49938 (Logo used from 1953 to 2011) (906)932-2311 With other location in: State Farm, well known for being a "good • Caspian, MI neighbor" by "being there" for our customers, www.forslund.com was founded in 1922 by retired farmer and insurance salesman George Jacob Mecherle. Originally a single line auto insurance The History of Forslund Building Supply company, State Farm now offers nearly Carl and Lillian Forslund started our company in Ironwood, MI 100 products and services, in 5 different lines in 1950 as a sawmill with a small retail sales office. In 1962, of business. To help customers manage today and prepare for tomorrow with more than a new office and warehouse were built at the present Iron- 18,000 agent offices. wood location. Many expansions were added over the years at the Ironwood location. Paul Forslund started full-time at the company in 1970, semi-retiring January 2015. Gus Forslund, the third generation, started with the company full time in 2005 and took over as President in 2015. In 1974, the company (Logo used from 2012 to Current) was incorporated under Forslund Building Supply, Inc. The Iron River/Caspian store was started in 1996. In 2001, we moved the Iron River store to a 12,000 square foot store in Caspian, MI. The Ironwood location is a Do-It Center and Caspian is a Do-It-Best Store. Both stores service an approx- imate 60 mile radius.
We are proud of continuing our business relationships with our customers and vendors for over 60 years. 12 l TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 2016 HISTORY THE DAILY GLOBE • YOURDAILYGLOBE.COM Catholic church history in Ironwood marked by changes The parish’s first school was con- n One parish became structed in 1908. Ten years later, finan- three and then one again cial difficulties caused the parish to close the school. The building was By TOM STANKARD demolished in 1944 and the property [email protected] was sold. IRONWOOD — Since Ironwood’s After the the churches merged in first Catholic church was established in 1986, attempts to sell the St. Michael 1885, parishioners have come together building were unsuccessful and the as one body through faith. church was demolished. What was originally one church, became two and then three — St. Holy Trinity Ambrose, St. Michael and Holy Trinity In 1907, the Slovakian, Croatian, — as the area’s population flourished Slovenian and Bohemian members of St. through the middle of the 20th century. Michael Catholic Church petitioned But in 1986, the Diocese of Marquette Bishop Frederick Eis for their own merged the three churches back into one parish. parish, forming Our Lady of Peace By June 1909, final permission was Catholic Church. Chuck Gervasio, a dea- received for a new church on Ayer con serving at OLOP, said the consolida- Street. The first Mass was said on Jan. tion resulted from a shortage of priests 2, 1910. and an overall decline in membership Two years later, the church sanctuary because the iron ore mines closed. was enlarged to accommodate the grow- ing number of parishioners. A sacristy was added and a rectory was construct- St.In Ambrose 1885, Rev. John Hennessy, an ed in 1914. The church was enlarged assistant priest serving in Bessemer, again in 1916. started offering Mass in the Ironwood During the 1940s, interior decoration schoolhouse on Vaughn Street. Approxi- took place. During the 1950s, the parish mately one year later, St. Ambrose hall was renovated and a modern Tom Stankard/Daily Globe Catholic Church was constructed, estab- kitchen was added. Over the next two OUR LADY of Peace Catholic Church was formed in 1986 when St. Ambrose, St. lishing the area’s “mother church.” A Submitted photo years, the exterior the church and recto- Michael and Holy Trinity churches merged. parish rectory was built in 1890 before ST. MICHAEL Catholic Church was ry were renovated. Rev. Martin Kehoe, the first resident formed by Polish, Hungarian, Slovak, In 1943, Rev. Carl Petranek estab- pastor, arrived. Slovenian, Bohemian and Croatian lished a catechetical school and enlisted School, which opened its doors in 1962 Four years after organizing, Our As his first order of business, Kehoe parishioners of St. Ambrose in 1891. It the Slovak Dominican Sisters of Oxford to first through fourth grades. Lady of Peace was struck by fire. The worked on establishing a school to help stood on McLeod Avenue. to serve as teachers. In 1952, parish- The grade school later merged with blaze on Friday, July 13, 1990, grow the parish. Construction was com- ioners purchased a home on West Ayer the St. Ambrose school, and in 1986 destroyed the sanctuary, and smoke and pleted in 1892. building. In 1926, the new building and Street for a covenant. The Sisters ran moved to the Vaughn Street building. soot damaged most of the church. According to the diocese, St. Ambrose rectory were dedicated. the Holy Trinity-St. Michael Grade The former building was sold and con- While Masses were held in the parish parishioners were “blessed” by the 40- Monsignor Joseph Seifert, Moriarty’s verted into apartments. school gym, plans were made to repair year pastorate of Rev. Jeremiah Moriar- successor, oversaw the construction of a After the churches merged, Holy the church. The altar was moved for- ty, from 1912-1951. new convent for the nuns who worked at Trinity was demolished. Its furnishings ward as part of the renovations. Moriarty encouraged the parish- the school and the construction of the were given to other parishes. The recto- On March 17, 1991, Bishop Mark ioners to support constructing a larger parochial grade school, which stands ry was sold and still stands. Schmitt rededicated the renovated sanc- today. tuary. In April 1965, Monsignor Joseph J. In 1996, an addition was built on the Dunleavy became pastor. According to OurIn Lady June of of Peace 1986, the three parishes south side of the church, connecting the the diocese, he oversaw the demolition of consolidated to form one — Our Lady of church, parish rectory and school the old St. Ambrose High School and the Peace Catholic Church — under the eyes together. The addition contains a barri- moving of the classes into the grade of Bishop Mark Schmitt. At the time of er-free entrance, handicapped restrooms school building. A gym was also added. the merger, the church buildings were in and St. Joseph Room — a gathering relatively good condition, but the place off the sanctuary. region’s economy was suffering, Gerva- In 1999, the vacant convent was ren- St.Local Michael Polish, Hungarian, Slovak, sio said. ovated into the parish rectory and the Slovenian, Bohemian and Croatian Gervasio said Schmitt realized a former rectory became offices. parishioners of St. Ambrose came change was needed. together to form their own church, St. When the public heard the news, Ger- Michael Catholic Church, in 1891. vasio said parishioners were “a little ParishIn 1986, School the former St. Ambrose and The new parish included about 250 shocked,” and some of those at St. Holy Trinity-St. Michael parish schools families. It purchased two lots on Michael and Holy Trinity were upset consolidated and were renamed the McLeod Avenue and constructed a wood- that their churches were closing. Ironwood Catholic Grade School. The framed church and an adjoining rectory. The new parish celebrated its first next year, the school was renamed Our Rev. Anselm Mlynarczyk was the Mass on July 5, with new pastor, Rev. Lady of Peace Catholic Grade School. church’s first pastor. Norbert Landreville. At the start of the In 2004, after the closing the St. In 1907, the Slovak, Hungarian and Mass three banners signifying the three Sebastian Catholic School in Bessemer, Croatian parishioners left to form Holy parishes were carried forward. During the school was renamed All Saints Trinity Catholic Church. According to offertory time, the banners were retired Catholic Academy. the diocese, the majority of the remain- and a new banner for Our Lady of Peace ing parishioners were Polish. was presented and elevated in the sanc- Over the years, many improvements tuary, signifying the oneness of the MovingDespite Forward a “severe drop” in population were made to St. Michael. Rev. Fabian parish, Gervasio said. over the last decade, Gervasio said he Pawlar had the church veneered in brick Submitted photo Gervasio said Landreville “brought a and parish pastor Rev. Robb Jurkovich Submitted photo during his 30-year pastorate. In the HOLY TRINITY Catholic Church was hurting community together. help to continue the work of the church, THE ORIGINAL St. Ambrose Catholic 1940s, the church received new pews, formed by Hungarian, Slovak, Slovenian, “He was very charismatic and he supporting the elementary school and Church was built in 1886 on Vaughn hardwood flooring, an organ and a Bohemian and Croatian parishioners of tried to bring back the true feeling of providing outreach programs to the com- Street. It was rebuilt in 1926. steeple. St. Michael in 1909. It was on Ayer Street. unity,” he said. munity.
In December of 2001, the first informal meeting was held. And by March 2002, we were recognized as a non-profit organization. Come visit Dawn’s Never Inn The purpose of this organization is to promote and at the Top of the Lower Block! preserve the history of the Bessemer area. Historical Dawn’s Never Inn opened it’s doors on January 19, 2007 after materials shall include any items pertaining to the extensive cleaning and remodeling. Stan and Dawn, purchased history and the heritage of this area, and said items the antique bar located on Silver Street in historic Hurley, will be shared and displayed in a museum setting. Wisconsin. Historic Hurley offers many stories of the hey days of early The building for our museum became a reality Wisconsin. Santini Hotel now Dawn’s Never Inn opened their thanks to the Bessemer Downtown Development doors in the early 1900s. Depending on who you talk to the Authority. We signed a lease on June 30, 2003 and three pillared back bar has a unique origin. began renovating the building to suit our needs. One of the history lessons says that it was built by the Brunswick Corporation as a commission piece for a bar in Calumet, It now houses a collection of local relics, artifacts, Michigan in the late 1800s. The bar was moved around to documents and pictures from previous generations. multiple establishments until it was placed in the newly built Santini Hotel in 1925. Others believe it was carved in the Houghton/Hancock, MI area. And then moved here from Jessieville. ESSEMER REA Walking in, one is struck by the beauty of the original hand B A carved back bar. Along with a juke box that has music for every ERITAGE ENTER age; there is a working player piano just through the leaded glass H C saloon doors. Normal Open Hours: Dawn’s Never Inn offers beer on tap and many other favorite From Memorial Day to Labor Day drinks. While you are enjoying your drink, help yourself to Friday & Saturday from 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Dawn’s special pretzels and popcorn. Or if you need something hardier you can purchase a pizza. Plus during Pumpkin Festival and the Dawn’s Never Inn is open 5:00 p.m. daily, Monday thru Bessemer Blast 4th of July Festival Saturday; Closed on Sundays. Come in and see if you can catch www.bessemerhistoricalsociety.com Dawn at Dawn’s Never Inn. 403 S. Sophie Street (on the Main street) P.O. Box 148, Bessemer, MI 49911 29 SilverDawn’s St., Box 221 • Hurley, Never WI 54534 Inn• 715-561-2090 THE DAILY GLOBE • YOURDAILYGLOBE.COM HISTORY TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 2016 l 13 Hamilton Club had many uses over the years By TOM STANKARD In the mid-1950s, the owners [email protected] stopped running the movie the- MONTREAL, Wis. — Vic ater and converted the space into Calore, of Hurley, remembers a recreational center for youth. going to the Hamilton Club in Calore said he enjoyed play- Montreal “like it was yesterday.” ing ping pong and basketball When he was a kid, Calore there. said his father, Victor, worked In 1963, the owners converted for the Oglebay-Norton Mining the recreation room into a ski Company in Montreal and they lodge with 10 dorm rooms. Each liked to hang out at the Hamilton room had bunk beds and could fit Club that was located south of 10 people. Bathrooms were Wisconsin 77 in Montreal. added to where the stage used to Calore said his dad also be. worked as a pin-setter in the A fire in 1968 destroyed the 1920s for the club’s four-lane upstairs ski lodge. bowling alley. Calore said he helped the own- Calore spent a lot of time at ers rebuild the upstairs area. It the club and befriended Joe was converted into a beer bar, Galioto and his parents, the catering to 18-year-olds who club’s owners, John and Irene could legally drink beer, but not Galioto, also known as Mr. and liquor, in Wisconsin in the 1960s Mrs. G. and through 1970. While hanging out there, Calore and Joe Galioto turned Calore would watch movies at 18 around the same time as the the theater upstairs. bar opened. Next to the movie theater was The place drew college kids a meeting room where he went to from northern Wisconsin, as well Submitted photo Boy Scout meetings. as Northern Michigan University THE HAMILTON Club once had a bowling alley, gym, soda fountain and movie theater, was converted into a ski lodge and later renovated after a Downstairs, he enjoyed the in Marquette and Michigan fire into a bar. soda fountain. He also liked to Technological University in bowl and occasionally got his Houghton to listen to a variety of Hamilton Club. The group did olds to drink all forms of alcohol. retire. ing bar at the Hamilton Club. He hair cut at the barbershop inside bands. He soon became a bar- some recording in the mid-1960s, As a result, Calore said the beer For many years, the building recently met up with Electra the club. tender. including their most-known bar business dried up as the 18- was boarded up, and was demol- member Jerry Fink and his wife. When he got older he, too, He remembers a particular tune, “Dirty Old Man.” year-olds headed to regular bars. ished not long ago. They stopped by the former loca- worked as a pin-setter and band, the Electras from Ely, In 1971, Wisconsin’s drinking A year later, Mr. and Mrs. G Calore befriended the mem- tion of the Hamilton Club, and helped with janitorial duties. Minn., which often played the laws change to allow 18-year- decided to close the club and bers of the Electras while tend- Calore said Fink “shed a tear.” Bessemer group promotes, preserves history
By JUSTIN LIBERTOSKI According to society president Ed are occasions where we will do some- [email protected] Sandene, there are 138 members from thing special,” said Sandene. BESSEMER — The Bessemer Area all over the United States and a half The historical society will accept Historical Society began in 2001 when dozen volunteer members who regular- donations from anyone who may have it held its first informal meeting on ly work at the museum. an artifact of interest and, “If they’re Dec. 15. The group soon crafted a mis- The museum is open from Memorial decent and something we don’t have,” sion statement that says, “The purpose Day to Labor Day. The regular hours, said Sandene. “(Donations) build up of this organization is to promote and apart from longer hours over Memorial over the winter and I try to get them preserve the history of the Bessemer Day weekend and the Fourth of July organized,” said Vice President Dan area. Historical materials shall include weekend, are Friday and Saturday Cvengros. any items pertaining to the history and from 1 to 4 p.m. Sandene said while he doesn’t have the heritage of this area, and said The museum is organized into dif- a favorite single artifact in the muse- items will be shared and displayed in a ferent sections such as mining, busi- um, his favorite part is getting to share museum setting.” ness, education, fashion, military and the mining slideshows with visitors. They began holding meetings in home life, and features many donated “We feel that it is important for the places such as the library and eventu- items from as far back as the late young ones to see and hear about the ally filed their articles of incorporation 1800s. The museum puts on guided history of the area. During the mining with the state as a nonprofit organiza- tours for the Bessemer school students. and logging slide shows they ask ques- tion in 2002. It also receives an annual visit from tions or make comments about a rela- In 2003, the Bessemer Downtown Craig Korpela’s Olivet College class tive that did what we are talking Development Authority helped the located in Olivet in the Lower Peninsu- about,” said Sandene. society find its building on Sellar la. Upcoming events and plans for the Justin Libertoski/Daily Globe Street. Volunteer members worked to Another thing that the society has historical society include a possible BESSEMER AREA Historical Society President Ed Sandene stands next to a display case renovate the building to fit the needs of done in the past has been honoring ethnic event that will take place at the containing samples of ore that were collected from the mines. the museum. local people, including teachers. “There Ethnic Commons Park in the summer.
DAILY GLOBE Corullo
YOUR GOGEBIC RANGE DAILY NEWSPAPER FOR 98 YEARS Forest Products CORPORATION LOCAL, REGIONAL, STATE, NATIONAL & WORLD NEWS & SPORTS 300 S. Massie Avenue • Bessemer, Michigan 49911 IN PRINT & ONLINE Phone (906) 667-0275 • Fax (906) 663-4757 RAY CORULLO - OWNER
NOVEMBER 20, 1919 1ST EDITION
Ray Corullo is a member of the Michigan Association of Timbermen (MAT), a non-profit association headquartered in Newberry, Michigan. With a commitment to sustainable forestry, the association promotes understanding of forestry among policy makers and the general public. Proud to be part of the community for over 34 years!
ALWAYS LOCATED AT 118 E. MCLEOD AVE., IRONWOOD, MI 14 l TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 2016 HISTORY THE DAILY GLOBE • YOURDAILYGLOBE.COM Little Finland helps keep culture alive By ISABELLE KLEINSCHMIDT ing mining, logging, and farming, and [email protected] bringing with them their rich culture, KIMBALL, Wis. — For more than 50 music and foods.” years, Little Finland has been offering a Other founding members include place to share Finnish history, arts and Sulo Kaari, of Hurley; John Sola, of crafts, baking, culture, language and Kimball’ Eino Nevala, of Kimball, and community. The center aims to do so for Reino Hauta, of Bessemer. A $1 pledge generations to come. drive took place for membership. Land Little Finland was founded as the was donated by Kaari and Leslie National Finnish-American Festival on Taipele. A trail on Little Finland’s April 3, 1964. grounds is named “Taipele Trail” in Many Finnish people settled in the honor of the donation. area because of the similar climate to Little Finland’s programs grew over their home country, for work, or to be time. A chorus and dance group was nearer to other family members already formed; smorgasboards, coffee and “dip- in the area. pings” were offered. The members raised In those days the local Finnish resi- funds in a number of ways, through dents lived in one-bedroom homes. They choral performances, gift shop sales, raf- lived in close-knit communities and fles, and bake sales for which the women worked together in the mines. would make hundreds of pasties and Isabelle Kleinschmidt/Daily Globe In 1964, the Montreal Mine had authentic Finnish baked goods. LITTLE FINLAND offers a variety of programs and facilities to help preserve the Finnish heritage of those who settled the area. recently been closed, and with many The grounds itself, where Little Fin- immigrants moving to larger cities for land is located on U.S. 2, “with the tall president, said the club house or “her- with authentic Finnish music, dance The gift shop will be open again in work, local folks of Finnish decent want- evergreens and the log cabins, looks just itage building” was built with the logs and food. In May, the National Finnish- mid-April. Seija Jarvenpaa offers ed to start something that would pre- like Finland,” said Elsie Nevala, who from an iron ore dock in Ashland when it American Festival Chorus will put on a Finnish language classes and group serve their heritage. has visited her parent’s home country was disassembled in the mid-1960s. Mother’s Day concert. tours are offered of the museum display- According to Elsie Nevala, a founding three times. Today, Little Finland offers a variety A Midsummer Festival has been cele- ing artifacts depicting the lives of the member of the National Finnish Ameri- The grounds offer a hiking and ski of activities for residents and visitors. brated annually since 1967. This year’s early Finnish immigrants, as well as the can Festival, organizers hoped to estab- trail, authentic log homes of Finnish “Look how active we are,” said Elsie event is set for June 25, with more historic buildings on the property. lish the center “in honor of their parents immigrants, a historic sauna, and a gift Nevala. Finnish foods, crafts, dance, music and a For information on Little Finland who had the courage to leave behind shop in the basement of the club house. Little Finland recently hosted its bonfire. All events are open to the pub- membership or programs, visit littlefin- their homes and families to forge a liv- Ken Hannula, the Little Finland’s annual St. Urho’s Day dance, complete lic. land.org or call 715-561-4260. SPANISH AMERICAN WAR VETERANS Mining
A PARADE hon- oring soldiers returning from From page 10 the Spanish water in those early days. American War To understand all of this, we have to think makes its way about the situation as it was at that time. Workers west down were needed, housing was needed for them, so the McLeod Avenue locations were built by the mining companies. The approaching families needed medical services, food and recre- Suffolk Street in ation. They were mostly immigrants from Europe Ironwood circa who didn’t have much; that’s why they left Europe 1901. Local his- and came here. torian Ivan Another reason that made this approach a Hellen, who necessity was many of the workers didn’t have provided the cars. They lived close to the mine, where they photo to the worked and so could walk to work. Daily Globe, Later, another convenience came about, which pointed out was the delivery of groceries by the local stores. there is no There was telephone service by that time so the Memorial Build- people could call in an order and it would be deliv- ing at the far ered on the delivery day. The stores had charge end of the accounts, which would be paid up on the mining street as it was company payday. I know from personal experience not yet built. the stores would carry you through a strike or lay- off, as long as you were a good-paying customer Submitted photo when you were working.
Kid’s Corner