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Photographs of Dickinson County · PHOTOGRAPHS OF DICKINSON COUNTY, ... Company made extensive...

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PHOTOGRAPHS OF DICKINSON COUNTY, MICHIGAN [Compiled and Captioned by William John Cummings] 1 BREEN TOWNSHIP: Organized March 16, 1877; Part of Menominee County Calumet Mine, Breen Township: Established in 1882 Calumet Mine Location, ca. 1910-1913
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PHOTOGRAPHS OF DICKINSON COUNTY, MICHIGAN [Compiled and Captioned by William John Cummings]

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BREEN TOWNSHIP: Organized March 16, 1877; Part of M enominee County

Calumet Mine, Breen Township: Established in 1882

Calumet Mine Location, ca. 1910-1913

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Foster City, Breen Township: Established in 1884

The Morgan Lumber & Cedar Company Sawmill, ca. 1905 : The Morgan Lumber & Cedar Company made extensive alterations at its Foster City sawmill in the early spring of 1905. A 40x50-foot addition housed the shingle mill equipped with two double block machines and ten knot saws capable of producing 160,000 shingles per day. The main building, 50x120 feet, contained a bandsaw, resaw, edger, trimmer, tie machine and shingle bolt saw. The mill had the capacity of 45,000 feet of lumber per day. A planing mill and electric light plant completed the Foster City sawmill complex, pictured here at about the time the improvements were made. Note the cone-shaped sawdust burner at the left, the lumber carts on the wooden tramways and the horse-drawn slab carts below. A large number of the mill’s employees posed for the photographer. [Lola (Wickman) Hallenbeck]

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Returning from a Picnic at Norway Lake, near Foster City, ca. 1901-1902: These Foster City residents were returning from a picnic at Norway Lake when this photograph was taken in about 1901-1902. The cone-shaped sawdust burner from the Morgan Lumber and Cedar Company’s sawmill can be seen in the distance between the heads of the two horses at the left. Houses on Boarding House Hill can also be seen in the background and the little schoolhouse is barely visible at the upper right. [Beatrice Blomquist]

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View of the Wood Yard of the Morgan Lumber Company with Boarding House Hill in Background, Foster City, ca. 1918-1925: [William John Cummings]

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Bridges Over the Sturgeon River with Early Automobi le, Postmarked February 3, 1911: This postcard view shows the wooden bridge crossing the Sturgeon River in the foreground with the automobile and the railroad bridge above in the background. [William John Cummings]

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Bridge Over the Sturgeon River with Early Automobil e and Boarding House Hill in Background, Foster City, ca. 1910: [William John Cummings]

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Morgan Lumber & Cedar Company Boarding House, Foste r City, Mich., ca. 1910: The boarding house, at left, and an unidentified building, shown in this view by Conant, a photographer, (above) postmarked Foster City, June 17, 1910, were located on Boarding House Hill. A similar view by Brukardt (below) shows the same two buildings and was postmarked Foster City, December 5, 1915. [William John Cummings]

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Morgan Lumber & Cedar Company Superintendent’s Resi dence and Boarding House, ca. 1910-1915: This postcard view shows the superintendent’s residence at the left and the boarding house at the right. Note the stone wall in front of the superintendent’s house. The boarding house looks as if it were enlarged when compared with the previous views. [Beatrice Blomquist]

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View of Foster City Showing Stacks and Lumber and H omes Opposite Mill Pond, Postmarked June 6, 1910: The Morgan Lumber & Cedar Company Mill is shown in part at the extreme right of this view postmarked June 6, 1910, with the sawdust burner. Stacks of drying lumber appear between the mill and the railroad tracks in the foreground. A corner of the building next to the company store can be seen at the extreme lower right. Note the houses across the Sturgeon River on the other side of the mill pond. [William John Cummings]

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Overview of Morgan Lumber & Cedar Company Mill Take n from Boarding House Hill, Foster City, Postmarked December 5, 1911: The Morgan Lumber and Cedar Company was incorporated in 1900 by Tom Morgan, of Oshkosh, Wisconsin, when he purchased the Harmon Lumber Company in Foster City. The Morgan Lumber and Cedar Company closed its mill in Foster City in 1923. Postmarked December 5, 1911, this postcard view, taken from Boarding House Hill, shows the corner of the company store at the far right and an overview of the mill operations. Note the stacked logs at the far upper right and the rough-sawn boards at the lower left. An item in the March 2, 1905 edition of The Iron Mountain Press noted a 40’ x 50’ addition was built on the shingle mill, equipped with two double block machines and ten knot saws. The daily capacity of the shingle mill was 160,000 shingles. The main building was 50’ x 120’ and contained a bandsaw, resaw, edger, trimmer, tie machine and shingle bolt saw. The daily lumber capacity of the saw mill was about 45,000 feet. There was also a planing mill and electric light plant in connection with the mill. At that time the company employed about 250 men in its camps and at the mill. [William John Cummings]

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Foster City, Morgan Lumber & Cedar Company, ca. 191 0: This postcard view of Foster City, taken in about 1910 from across the millpond, gives an overall view of the Morgan Lumber and Cedar Company’s sawmill complex. The white building just to the left of center bearing the company name was the company store. The sawmill itself, complete with the silo-like sawdust burner, can be seen at the right. The large residence directly above the company store housed the superintendent, while the boardinghouse to the right sheltered many employees. [William John Cummings]

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Morgan Lumber Co., Foster City, Mich. ERB , (showing sawmill with sawdust burner at right, store in background at far right and logs in hot pond in foreground), no postmark, but dated September 19, 1910 with message in Swedish (real photo, KRUXO stamp box, 1910-1920’s) [WJC Photo]

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St. Joseph’s Catholic Church and Longfellow School, Foster City, ca. 1910-1915: St. Joseph’s Catholic Church was constructed in 1906 in Foster City, Michigan. St. Joseph’s Parish was founded in 1890 as St. Lawrence’s Parish in Metropolitan, and a church was built there. When the Metropolitan Lumber Company ceased operations just prior to 1900, many of the people who had been employed in Metropolitan went to work at the Morgan Lumber and Cedar Company sawmill in Foster City. The lumber company donated the property and the lumber to build St. Joseph’s Catholic Church. Using the ideas of Father Robarge for a centrally-located church, Pat Milligan and Archie Farrell made the plans. The contractor, Art Wilson, with carpenters Fred and Nels White, residents of Foster City, built the church which was completed without indebtedness. The bells, statues and vestments from the old St. Lawrence Church were transferred and used in the new church and the St. Lawrence Church was boarded up. On February 20, 1907, Charles Arthur Oren Farrell was the first child baptized in the church. The Longfellow School, referred to in the Iron Mountain Press as the Breen Township School when under construction in June of 1910, is pictured at the left. John Lindsay, of Escanaba, had the contract for erecting this school. The cement basement was made by Mr. Sorby, of Escanaba. A stone wall was built along the south side of the school grounds. [William John Cummings]

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Longfellow School, Foster City, postmarked June 17, 1911: [William John Cummings]

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Breen Township Hall, Foster City, Michigan, ca. 191 0: According to a caption for a different postcard view found on page 270 in Michigan’s Breen Township, Dickinson County: The First Hundred Years 1878-1978 by Beatrice M. Blomquist, the Breen Township Hall at Foster City was used not only for caucuses, elections and other township business, but also for church services, social gatherings, dances, Christmas programs, movies and masquerades in the early days. Doctors had their offices in this structure. Many elementary students attended school for the first time in this building. An ice cream parlor and a pool room also occupied space here. In the same book a section entitled “History of Breen Township Schools from 1900-1923” by Esther Peterson Dawe (pages 238-244) stated: On November 29, 1905, the board noted the crowded conditions at the Foster City School. It was decided to use a room in the Town Hall, provide seating and furnishings for the primary grades and engage a teacher at $40.00 per month. An item excerpted from Foster City Facts, a column appearing sporadically in the Iron Mountain Press at the turn of the century, published in the December 21, 1905 edition, provides further contemporary documentation: After the holidays a school room will be established in the town hall with an extra teacher in charge to accommodate the increased number of pupils. The classes taught there will consist of the primary and first grade. At this time documentation dating the construction of this building has not been found. [William John Cummings]

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Hardwood, Breen Township: Established in 1884

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Hardwood, Hotel and Saloon, ca. 1909 The postcard view of the Hardwood saloon and hotel pictured above dates to about 1909. Axel Pearson and John Anderson posed with the team and wagon stopped in front of the saloon. The other three men pictured were Jack McKaskel, bartender, Andrew Johnson and Emanuel Peronto. Martin Coonan ran a hotel in Hardwood in 1905 and Henry Charlebois had a saloon. By 1907 Joseph Felardeau was running a hotel and saloon, and Joseph Kelly also ran a saloon. In 1909 Fred La Duke ran a hotel and saloon, probably the one pictured, and Alex Beachthel [sic] had a saloon. Albert Reacek ran this hotel and saloon by 1911. The buildings were later destroyed in a fire. Archie P. Farrell also ran a hotel and saloon in Hardwood between 1907 and about 1919. [Beatrice Blomquist] Hylas, Breen Township: Chicago & Northwestern Rail road Station

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Michael Kenny Farm, Hylas, ca. 1900-1915: Taken during the first decade of the twentieth century at the Michael Kenny farm at Hylas, Breen Township, this photograph documents the use of oxen in logging operations in Dickinson County. The pair of oxen hitched to the bobsled in the background pulled a load of straight logs while the horses behind pulled a sprinkler used in building ice roads to allow logging sleds to move along more easily. Note the dog in front of the driver of the sprinkler and the water barrel at the far right. Oxen were used as “horsepower” in many of the camps in the early days. Two oxen weighing from 1200 pounds to a ton each, hitched in a yoke, were more powerful than a team of horses of the same weight. In deep snow they worked more easily and efficiently than horses. [Beatrice Blomquist] Spruce, Breen Township: Chicago & Northwestern Rai lroad Station

BREITUNG TOWNSHIP: Organized March 16, 1877; Part o f Menominee County

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Breitung, Breitung Township: Established in 1920 East Breitung, Breitung Township: Established in 1 924 East Kingsford, Breitung Township: Established in 1924 Ferndale, Breitung Township: Established in 1920 Granite Bluff, Breitung Township: Established in 1 890

Granite Bluff Sprinkler, ca. 1910: Sprinkler sleighs were used in the logging camps to make ice roads to facilitate hauling loads of logs during the winter months. A gouger was used to cut the width of the sleigh runner into the ice to prevent the sleigh from leaving the road. A teamster drove the sprinkler sleigh. Another lumberjack in charge of sprinkling the water contained in the huge wooden box. There were a number of holes in the rear at the base of the box sleigh which could be opened or closed by using wooden “pins.” Icing the roads was often done at night, when the temperatures were below freezing. Ice roads enabled a team of horses to pull enormous loads of logs. At times two or three teams were used to “break” the load – to get the load moving – and were then quickly unhitched, leaving the hauling team to complete the trip to the rollways. Postmarked February 6, 1910, at Granite Bluff, Michigan, this postcard view shows a relatively flat-topped wooden sprinkler sleigh icing a logging road. Notice how slick the ice appears, and the heavy cogged shoes on the team of horses which gave them better traction. The teamster, seated on the sleigh, held the reins, while the lumberjack in charge of discharging the water puffed on his clay pipe. Note his low footwear

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with rubber bottoms and leather tops called shoe packs which were worn in cold weather with several pairs of socks. The heavy socks lumberjacks typically wore were called German socks. The teamster was identified as Nels P. on the back of the postcard. [William John Cummings] Lake Antoine, Breitung Township: Established in 18 90 Merriman, Breitung Township: Established in 1892 Quinnesec, Breitung Township: Established in 1877

Quinnesec Avenue, Looking North, with Quinnesec Hot el, ca. 1880-1881: Dating about 1880-1881, this view of the east side of Quinnesec Avenue looking north in the village of the same name encompasses the area between Pine Street on the south and Brule Street and beyond on the north. The Chicago & North-Western Railway tracks are in the foreground. The Quinnesec Hotel was managed by A. Clement around this time. A bit farther up the street is the Commercial Dining Hall which was run by W.W. Felch. Wright Brothers, a general store run by Jason K. and Anson W. Wright, is just up the block. The two-story brick building on the north side of Paint Street is Buell’s Opera House. [Alice (Massie) Riekkola]

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Quinnesec Avenue, Looking North, ca. 1903: This view of Quinnesec’s business district was taken in about 1903. The photographer was standing at Pine Street looking north on Quinnesec Avenue. Buell’s Opera House, the two-story brick building at the left, was located at the northeast corner of Quinnesec Avenue and Paint Street (now U.S. 2). All of the buildings south of Paint Street burned in the fire of May 18, 1906, with losses in excess of $75,000 suffered throughout the village. Buildings pictured above which burned in the fire located on the west side (left) of Quinnesec Avenue were Thomas McKenna’s saloon, James Malone’s saloon, John Marsch’s livery stable, Mrs. P. Smith’s home, Mrs. Patrick McKenna’s store and saloon, a store belonging to the estate of Mrs. John McKenna, Charles Paquette’s barbershop and J.H. McKenna’s store. On the east side (right) of Quinnesec Avenue were two stores owned by Mrs. John St. Denis, John Crane’s vacant saloon, Matt Bryngelson’s vacant saloons (two buildings on one lot), the Wright Brothers’ vacant store and two vacant lots at the corner. The first sign at the right reads Miss L. (Luella) St. Denis & Co. Luella St. Denis was the postmistress and ran a small stationery and confectionery store in conjunction. The second sign identitries The Club which must have been a saloon in John Crane’s building. Note the hitching posts in front of the buildings and the board sidewalks. [John Alquist/Breitung Township]

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Buell’s Opera House, Corner of Quinnesec Avenue and Paint Street, ca. 1880: John Lane Buell’s opera house in Quinnesec, considered one of the finest in the Upper Peninsula, was located on the northeast corner of Quinnesec Avenue and Paint Street (now U.S. 2). The opera house opened to the public Tuesday, December 30, 1879, and served as the social and cultural center of the village for many years. The second story contained a large dance floor and auditorium with a stage. In this photograph, probably taken in the summer of 1880, a sign in the left store front window notes the Menominee Mining Company general offices were located within. In the window to the left of the right store front is the sign for Joseph Schaller, druggist, while the sign for Charles E. Steller’s jewelry shop appears in the right window of this same store front. Under the awning on the side is a restaurant, and next-door is the office of The Menominee Range, the county’s first newspaper. This photograph dates no later than the spring of 1881 when the newspaper was moved to Norway. The opera house burned August 23, 1925. [Alice (Massie) Riekkola]

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Pioneer School, SW Corner of Bluff Street and Paint Street, ca. 1880-1895: Said to have been built in 1877 by John Lane Buell, the founder of Quinnesec, the Pioneer School, the first constructed in Breitung Township, was located on the southwest corner of Bluff Street and Paint Street (now U.S. 2) with the front door facing north. A board sidewalk from the school to Quinnesec Avenue was built in May, 1879. On June 23, 1879, school was discontinued in an attempt to prevent the spread of scarlet fever. A second story was being added in late October, 1879, to accommodate all the pupils in attendance. The addition was finished by mid-December, when the workmen enclosed the grounds with a fence. A one-story library building facing Bluff Street was attached to the school by a hallway and was undoubtedly the area’s first such repository. The library’s record book for 1882-1883 listed over 1,500 books on the shelves. The borrower had his or her name recorded in the record book, and under the name was a list of the books borrowed, plus their condition upon being loaned and returned. In April, 1883, Breitung Township allocated $500 for the purchase of additional books. Later, as the population increased, it became necessary to use the library as an additional classroom. The early pupils did not have school seats until August, 1881, when seats were purchased at a cost of $273.17. Additional school furniture was purchased in September, 1881, for $464.87. School teachers in 1881 were Jennie Atkinson (salary of $50 per month), Marion Burdon and Ora Lathnop (salary of $45 per month each). Hattie Dodge also taught in 1881. The school was later moved to a lot west of the school (southwest corner of Menominee and College Streets). A brief item in the Iron Mountain News for Friday, May 23, 1924, noted: One of Quinnesec’s oldest land marks, passed into ashes when the old Quinnesec frame school caught fire and burned to the ground. The origin of the fire is unknown. The building had been condemned for a few years for school purposes and had been used as a warehouse. [John Alquist/Breitung Township]

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Randville, Breitung Township: Established in 1890

Randville Depot, ca. 1910-1915: Richardsburg, Breitung Township: Established in 19 17 (Indiana Mine) West Breitung, Breitung Township: Established in 1 920 Youngs, Breitung Township: Established in 1911

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FELCH TOWNSHIP: Organized October 9, 1882; Part of Marquette County Felch, (Platted as Metropolitan in 1881), Felch Tow nship: Established in 1881

Felch, Main Street, From Solberg’s Hill Looking Nor th, with Chicago and Northwestern Train ca. 1916: This 1916 postcard view of Felch’s Main Street was taken from Solberg’s Hill looking north. The Chicago & North-Western Railway Depot is visible in front of the passenger car at the right. Behind this passenger car the residence of H.R. Burkardt, section foreman, can also be seen. The second building beyond the Burkardt house was Andrew Rian’s new store, a stone and brick structure erected during the summer of 1912. Rian’s former store was located directly across the street. Beyond Rian’s new store is the Rian Hotel, and beyond the hotel is the Rian residence. Dr. Whiteshield, of Detroit, decided to open a practice in Felch in August, 1910, and leased the residence in which he practiced both medicine and dentistry, and also operated a drug store in the basement. Note the early automobiles along the street. [Beatrice Blomquist]

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Andrew Rian Family in Wagon in Front of Rian Hotel, Metropolitan, ca. 1902: The Andrew Rian family posed for the photographer in front of the Rian Hotel in Metropolitan (now Felch) in their three-seated wagon in about 1902. Olaf, Anna and Minnie Rian are seated in the front seat. Mr. and Mrs. Andrew (Anna Beseth) Rian are seated in the middle with Gilbert. Mr. and Mrs. Martin (Mary Beseth) Rian are seated in the back seat. Andrew Rian and Martin Rian were not related, although both came from Borsa, Trondheim, Norway. Andrew’s first wife, Anna Rosvold, died in mid-October, 1899, before the construction of the hotel was completed. Note the turned posts and spindles used to form railings and decoration on the hotel’s porch and balcony. [John Aune] Felch Mountain, Felch Township: Established in 188 1

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Groveland, Felch Township: Established in ____

View of Groveland and Mines, ca. 1910: Henderson, Felch Township: Established in ____

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Metropolitan, Felch Township: Established in 1881 (Name changed to Felch)

Metropolitan’s Business District With Railroad Hand car, 1902: The portion of Metropolitan’s business district in Felch Township visible in this 1902 photograph includes, from left to right, the Chicago & North-Western Railway Depot, the Western Union office, an ice house and a store building in which the post office was located. Polk’s Michigan State Gazetteer and Business Directory for 1901 listed Charles Havens as the railroad express and telegraph agent and Mrs. K. Kandels as postmistress and proprietor of a general store. Note the elevated board sidewalk used to facilitate loading and unloading supplies from railroad cars and the early handcar in the foreground. [Susan Anderson]

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Theodore, Felch Township: Established in 1881

William Wickman with Turkish Remedy Co. Wagon, Theo dore, ca. 1910-1915: The sign on the side of William Wickman’s wagon reads Turkish Remedy Co. Family Medicines and Extracts. Wickman, pictured here in front of his home in Theodore in the early teens, was a familiar sight as he peddled his wares from house to house throughout rural Dickinson County. [Lola (Wickman) Hallenback] Turner, Felch Township: Escanaba & Lake Superior R ailroad Station

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NORWAY TOWNSHIP: Organized December 30, 1880; Part of Menominee County

Frederickton, Norway Township: Established in 1879 Ingallsdorf, Norway Township: Established in 1879 South Norway, Norway Township: Established in 1894 (never populated) Sturgeon City, Norway Township: Established in 189 4 (never populated) Parmenter’s Mill, Norway Township: Established in 1892 Sturgeon Mill, Norway Township: Established in 189 6 (formerly Parmenter’s Mill)

Partial View of The O.C. Lumber Co. Plant, Sturgeon Mills, Mich., ca. 1909: Postmarked Vulcan, Michigan, July 15, 1909, this postcard shows a partial view of the O.C. Lumber Company sawmill at Sturgeon Mills, a small settlement located on the Sturgeon River between Vulcan and Loretto. Note the log being pulled up into the sawmill form the millpond at the right. [William J. Cummings]

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Vulcan, Norway Township: Established in 1877

The Vulcan Hotel, Vulcan, October 1, 1880: The Vulcan Hotel, said to have been opened by Lewis Young Whitehead in 1878, was the first hotel on the Menominee Range. In late November, 1879, workmen were putting up a large addition to accommodate guests. A printed caption on the cardboard mount below this photograph reads: VULCAN HOTEL, Mich., Lew Whitehead, Proprietor. Photographed October 1st, 1880, by L.C. Miller, Green Bay, Wis. The hotel was located on the west side of Mission Street, and some early log residences typical of early settlements on the Menominee Range are visible to the north of the hotel. Note the combination of log and board-and-batten construction and the unusual fence. In addition to serving as a hotel, the structure later served as a store and was Vulcan’s post office until the new town hall was erected in 1904. In October, 1905, Whitehead razed this pioneer landmark. [Dr. John Newkirk]

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Norway Township Hall, Vulcan, Michigan, ca. 1910: On October 29, 1904, Newman and Johnson began building the Norway Township Hall, a two-story brick building measuring 40 feet by 70 feet, in Vulcan, Michigan. According to the Vulcan, Michigan, Centennial Book 1872-1972, the new Norway Township Hall and Opera House was dedicated on November 25, 1905. Since the school had no gymnasium or auditorium, the town hall was used for basketball games, school parties, plays, recitals and recitations, as well as grade school and high school graduation exercises. The town hall was well-suited as originally built, as there was a stage at the east end and a spectator gallery at the west end, making the “opera house” an adaptable, multi-purpose structure. The column Vulcan Varieties appeared sporadically in Iron Mountain Press at the turn of the century. Excerpts help document the town hall construction, as follows. October 27, 1904: The contract for building the new town hall was awarded last Monday night to Newman & Johnson. The building will be 40x70, two stories high, and will be constructed of brick. The brick will be purchased from W.J. Turner. November 3, 1904: The work of excavating for the foundation of the new town hall was started last Monday. December 15, 1904: The foundation of the new town hall is completed and everything is ready for further work. April 27, 1905: The town-hall is enclosed and the interior work is progressing rapidly. The building will be completed by the first of June. October 5, 1905: Since the completion of the new town hall building, and the consequent removal into it of the post-office, thus vacating the old landmark which for so many years was used as a hotel,

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store and post-office, Lewis Whitehead, the owner of the property, has razed the old building to the ground. He intends to level off the ground where the old building stood and convert the entire corner into a beautiful lawn. Nov. 23, 1905: On Saturday, Nov. 25th, an entertainment will be given in the town hall under the auspices of the Ladies’ Aid Society of the First M.E. church. A good program has been arranged, consisting of drills, tableaux, recitations and music. [William J. Cummings]

Reath’s Crossing School, Near Vulcan, ca. 1890-1899 : The Reath’s Crossing School, built in 1879, served families with children living on the State Road. The distance to Vulcan was too far to walk and the children would have had to cross the river. Before this school was built, classes were held in the James Rice farmhouse. Farmers involved in constructing the schoolhouse included James Rice, Eugene Liberty and Richard Reath. The first teacher was Miss Burdock. This photograph was probably taken in the 1890’s. [Dr. David L. Reath]

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SAGOLA TOWNSHIP: Organized March 9, 1892; Set Off f rom Felch Township

Cary’s Spur, Sagola Township: Established in 1890 Channing, Sagola Township: Established in ____

Channing Looking South, ca. 1910-1915: This postcard view of Channing showing the east side of Railroad Street looking south from the northern end of the street probably dates from the late oughts or early teens. At the far left is the Railroad Eating House, operated for many years by Mrs. W.M. White, who sold her interest to Wilbur McClure in mid-July, 1912. The occupants of the next four buildings have not been identified. The building with the long front porch was Mrs. E. Vermullen’s hotel and saloon. The next building was R.E. Boll’s general store followed by the Belsch building in which Paul Khoury opened his general store in mid-March, 1910. [Menominee Range Historical Museum]

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Floodwood, Sagola Township: Established in 1887

Porter House, Floodwood, ca. 1902-1904: In April, 1902, Charles Doane began building his hotel, the Porter House, pictured here, to accommodate fishermen and hunters who came to the Floodwood area in northern Dickinson County in search of fish and game. By the summer of 1904 Doane was busy meeting the needs of many tourists from southern Wisconsin and Illinois who came to camp in the Floodwood area for weeks at a time. [Hazel (DeGAyner) Dault] Ford Siding (Channing’s original name), Sagola Town ship: Established in ____ Golden, Sagola Township: Escanaba & Lake Superior Railroad Station Holmes Siding (Sagola’s original name), Sagola Town ship: Established in 1889

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Randville, Sagola Township: Established in 1890

Randville Depot, ca. 1910-1915: No further information. [Possibly from Gene Derwinski/Dick Ferris]

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Sagola, Sagola Township: Established in 1889

First Sagola Lumber Company Mill, ca. September, 19 05: Conant & Son, Escanaba photographers, probably took this view of the Sagola Lumber Company’s first sawmill when they had their tent pitched in Sagola in September, 1905. The endless conveyor brought the logs from the millpond into the mill. The transfer shed, located at the far right, was where the boards were sorted by variety of wood and then stacked in the yards to air dry. Water barrels lined the sawmill rooftop for use in case of fire, and the wire cage on the smokestack helped contain sparks. The planing mill can be seen at the left in the background near the millpond. [Ida Swanson]

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Sagola Looking South from Lumberyard, ca. 1910-1915 : This postcard view of Sagola, probably taken in the early teens, shows the village looking toward the south from the lumberyard. Two tramways can be seen curving to the southeast. In the distance the town hall is visible, located at the southeast corner of First Street (running north and south) and Sagola Avenue (running east and west). One block farther south the Catholic church and the schoolhouse, constructed in 1908, can be seen on the west side of First Street past the intersection with Channing Avenue. [Dr. John Newkirk]

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Bicyclists in Front of Sagola Lumber Company Store, July 4, 1905: Nine Sagola bicyclists dressed in their finest summer apparel posed in front of the Sagola Lumber Company Store on July 4, 1905. The store’s warehouse can be seen in the background at the right. Mary Broadland, fourth from left, waved a flag over her head. Maude Wifler stood third from the right. Others said to be pictured here are Jacob Johnson, ----- Yuppenlotz, Hulda Wiberg, Louis Byers and ----- Price. [Ida Swanson]

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WAUCEDAH TOWNSHIP: Organized March 9, 1892; Set Off from Breen Township Loretto, Waucedah Township: Established in 1892

Seven Motorcyclists Possibly in Loretto, ca. 1915 Thought to have been taken in Loretto in the mid-teens, this postcard view shows seven motorcyclists riding six vintage motorcycles. The motorcycle at the far left was a Harley-Davidson. Indian motorcycles were also a popular model. The second motorcyclist from the left has been identified as either Albert Paternoster or Leo Wyss. [Wallace Evance] Ruprechts, Waucedah Township: Established in 1880 Waucedah, Waucedah Township: Estabished in _____

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Waucedah, Bird’s Eye View, 1881

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WEST BRANCH TOWNSHIP: Organized October 19, 1908; S et Off from Breen and Felch Townships

Alfred, West Branch Township: Established in 1903 Bryden, West Branch Township: Established in 1901 (Ralph’s original name) Kentucky Town, West Branch Township: Established i n 1911 Ralph, West Branch Township: Established in 1904 ( formerly known as Bryden)

Ralph Lumber Camp, 1912: Postmarked Ralph, Michigan, February 5, 1912, a crew of lumberjacks posed in front of the cook house in a northeastern Dickinson County lumber camp for the photographer. Checked woolen shirts, suspenders, short pants and tall, caulked boots were typical and appropriate apparel for working in the woods. Note the man holding the double-bitted axe in the second row. One shanty boy holds a cat at the left end of the second row and another, second from the left in the first row, holds a dog, undoubtedly camp pets. Wearing an apron, the young cook’s assistant – or “cookee” – holds a tin Gabriel horn. Such horns measured from 4 to 5 feet in length and were used to call the men at mealtime. [William John Cummings] Russell, West Branch Township: Escanaba & Lake Sup erior Railroad Station

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Ward, West Branch Township: Escanaba & Lake Superi or Railroad Station

VILLAGE OF IRON MOUNTAIN: Platted October 29, 1879 ; Incorporated as a Village October 10, 1887

Chapin Mine Initial Settlement of Iron Mountain, ca . fall of 1879-spring of 1880: Long thought to date from the fall of 1879, this photograph, the earliest known of the Chapin Mine in Iron Mountain, actually may have been taken the following spring due to the numerous frame buildings in the background. The camera is facing west and the buildings are situated on what is now the east side of the Chapin Pit. The tramway under construction apparently led to the proposed stockpile area from the primitive shaft, probably one of the seven shafts sunk on Section 30 during the late fall and winter of 1879-1880. The cable passing over the sheave affixed to the simple framework over the shaft probably connected to a hoisting apparatus which raised earth, rock and ore in the bucket resting near the shaft opening in the foreground as the shaft was sunk. The top of a ladder protrudes through the opening directly in front of the bucket, and another ladder lies on the ground. In the early years, ladders provided miners with access to the mines. The shed with the smokestack may have housed the engine brought to the site in the early winter which was first operated by Charles J. Osterberg. [Menominee Range Historical Museum]

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Chapin Mine with Chapin Location, ca. spring or sum mer, 1880: This early view of Iron Mountain was probably taken in the spring or summer of 1880. The camera is facing west toward Pine Mountain. The Menominee Mining Company Store, a large two-story white building, is located in the upper left and more of the settlement can be seen in the background. Notice that with the exception of the company store all of the buildings seem to be painted the same color – traditionally rusty red. These buildings probably belonged to the mining company, as many mining companies erected houses and boarding houses for their employees. Rent or room and board was subtracted from the employees’ wages at the end of each month. Building operations began at both the mine location and the newly-platted townsite in early winter 1879-1880. Just before Christmas Benjamin Marchand opened a boarding house which was crowded to the limit until Jerome Rayome opened another one two weeks later. Work on the first seven shafts was completed under the supervision of Captain John Wicks and Captain Elisha Morcom during the winter. The shafthouse appears much more substantial than the makeshift hoisting apparatus in use the previous fall. [Gene Derwinski/Dick Ferris]

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Chapin Mine with Chapin Location, ca. spring or sum mer, 1880: This early view of Iron Mountain was probably taken in the spring or summer of 1880. The camera is facing west toward Pine Mountain. The photograph may have been taken near the Ludington Mine looking down to what is now the east side of the Chapin Pit, where the settlement known as the Chapin Location – also Section 30 – began to grow into Iron Mountain. Notice the large pine logs in the foreground where the men are sitting. The large two-story white building at the right was the Menominee Mining Company Store for the Chapin Mine. The company also operated stores in Vulcan, Norway, Quinnesec and Florence, Wisconsin. Most of the larger mining companies operated stores at which their employees could trade on credit. At the end of the month their bills were subtracted from their monthly wages and they received the balance in cash – if there was one. [Gene Derwinski/Dick Ferris]

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Chapin Mine with Chapin Location, 1882: This view of Iron Mountain’s Chapin Mine, facing east, was taken in 1882. Notice that the Chapin Location, located on what is now the east side of the Chapin Pit (to the left in this photograph), has grown significantly. Numerous tramways come from various shafts at the foot of Millie Hill where the iron ore was dumped into waiting ore cars. Just to the right of the small building in the center foreground is an early steam locomotive, coal tender and caboose. The darker building with white-trimmed windows directly above the locomotive may have been the Chapin sawmill. Note how the land has been cut-over and the stumps left to rot. [Menominee Range Historical Foundation Museum]

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East Side of the 200 Block of South Stephenson Aven ue, Iron Mountain, ca. 1885: The camera is facing north on Stephenson Avenue in the mid-1880’s in this view of the east side of the 200 block where the First National Bank is now located. William H. Jenkins opened his hotel at the corner of South Stephenson Avenue and East Ludington Street in early November, 1881. The three-story frame hotel was considered the city’s finest, rooms renting for $2.00 per day in 1885. An item in The Florence Mining News for November 5, 1881, noted: It is a fine building, well finished and furnished, and reflects great credit on the enterprise of its worthy proprietor. Mr. Jenkins has had experience in the hotel business, and the traveling public may rest assured that they will find there one of the best kept houses in the country. While preparing to construct a two-story brick business block on this corner which would house a number of businesses and the First National Bank, John R. Wood purchased the hotel in early February, 1888. Desiring only the property, Wood moved the hotel to the west side of Iron Mountain Street across from the present Dickinson County Library in June, 1888. A sale to Peter Ouderkirk, who planned to re-open the hotel as the Metropolitan House, was pending when the hotel burned to the ground on July 5, 1888. The fire was thought to have been caused by a Fourth of July rocket. Although Ouderkirk had moved a considerable amount of furniture into the hotel building, the property hadn’t changed hands because Wood still had to link the two parts of the building together. As neither man was insured, both lost heavily. A fire broke out at the other end of the 200 block of Stephenson Avenue on January 21, 1883, resulting in considerable losses to businesses located there. The January 27, 1883, edition of The Florence Mining News reported: The fire began in the upper story of Oliver & Penglase’s saloon building, occupied by Mrs. Hartman, a widow lady, as a boarding house, and was caused by the fall and explosion of a lamp. Despite all efforts against it, the flames soon enveloped the building, and spread to the adjoining places, which were Laing Bros. meat market, Wm. Andrew’s clothing store, William Parent’s saloon, and the confectionery store

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owned by an old man commonly known as “The Old Dutchman,” and they were all destroyed together with their contents…It was expected that Charley Ross’s saloon, Philbrooks’ [sic – Philbrook’s] and Parent’s stores, and Jenkins’ hotel, situated in the same block, would also be destroyed, and all were speedily emptied of their contents, with the exception of the store of Philbrooks, the proprietor locking the door and preferring to trust his stock to the mercy of fire rather than to that of thieves. Much of C.M. Parent’s stock was stolen, while Ross misses ten boxes of cigars and a keg of beer. The fourth building from the corner in this photograph, advertising dry goods and clothing, was probably Charles E. Parent’s store. [Menominee Range Historical Museum]

CITY OF IRON MOUNTAIN: Incorporated as a City Apri l 2, 1888

Bird’s Eye View of Iron Mountain, Mich., Photo by A .Q. (A. Quade), ca. 1911: This postcard view was taken from Iron Mountain’s West Side, probably near today’s Chippewa Club. The card was postmarked November 30, 1911. The N.P. Hulst School can be seen on the horizon at the top left with the Lowell School annex to its left. Slightly to the right of center, the Swedish Mission Church is visible on the southeast corner of Ludington Street and Iron Mountain Street. Further down Iron Mountain Street at the far right is the Swedish Baptist Church, now the site of the Dickinson County Library. Stores on the east side of South Stephenson Avenue can be seen just past the rooftops in the foreground. [William John Cummings]

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North Side of the 100 Block of West Ludington Stree t, ca. 1897: Taken in the late 1890’s or possibly the early 1900’s, the camera faces northwest, showing several buildings on the north side of the 100 block of Iron Mountain’s West Ludington Street. The rooftop in the left foreground was Rundle’s hardware store and opera house (on the second floor), 101-103 West Ludington Street. Rundle’s Opera House burned on Sunday morning, September 11, 1915. The loss was estimated at between $25,000 and $35,000, including the hardware store and opera house on the second floor. The Iron Mountain Post Office was built at this location in 1935. The three buildings facing the camera (dates in parentheses refer to city directories) are, from left to right: 108, residence of Mrs. Ann James and Mrs. Margaret Kerr (1892); Daprato & Rigassi (John Daprato & Charles Rigassi), grocery store (1902); 104-106 (double store), Thomas Williams, second hand store (1902); 106, Moroni & Bena (John Moroni and James Bena, saloon (1892); 104, Daprato & Rigassi (John Daprato and Charles Rigassi) grocery store, (1892); 102, Chinese laundry, Charles Wong, proprietor (1892); 100 (probably the same building as 102), Frank Parent, saloon (1902). In 1905 Louis Trochinski ran a bowling alley in the right side of the double building which was known as the Bijou Theater by 1907. In the upper right the First Presbyterian Church can be seen at the northwest corner of West Brown Street and Carpenter Avenue. Across Carpenter Avenue at 118 West Brown Street is T.H. Byrne’s meat market, housed in the two-story white building in 1892. [Menominee Range Historical Museum]

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West Side of Iron Mountain with Central School, St. Mary’s Catholic Church, St. Joseph’s Catholic Church and Crystal Lake, ca. 1897 : Probably taken in the late 1890’s, the camera faces southwest overlooking a portion of Iron Mountain’s West Side. At the left the rooftop of the Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, located on the southeast corner of Prospect Avenue and West B Street, is visible. The Central School, the two-story white building with the large belfry located just to the right of center, faced Prospect Avenue on the east end of the block where Iron Mountain High School was built in 1911. The Central School was moved to the site of the present Central School when construction on the new high school began. St. Mary’s Catholic Church, right, was located at the northeast corner of South Kimberly Avenue and West B Street. St. Joseph’s Catholic Church stood at the northwest corner of Prospect Avenue and West A Street where St. Mary and St. Joseph Catholic Church stands today. The Patient Hotel, later known as the Hotel Harding, can be identified by the mansard roof with dormers on its third story. This hotel was located at the southwest corner of Carpenter Avenue and West Hughitt Street. [Menominee Range Historical Museum]

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Evergreen Arch for Dickinson County’s Formation, Ea st B Street, ca. June 13, 1891: The evergreen arch which crosses Iron Mountain’s East B Street near the Chicago & North-Western Railway tracks in this historic photograph was erected for the celebration of Dickinson County’s formation held on Saturday, June 13, 1891. The day before, the six-year-old son of William H. Hancock, who was watching workmen erect the arch, was run down while attempting to escape from a speeding delivery wagon. The Milwaukee & Northern Railway Depot is at the left, the Commercial Hotel is in the center and Charles E. Parent’s house can be seen toward the end of the south side of the 100 block. The two-story building at the right within the arch was called the McKinney Flats and contained a number of stores. This structure, with the second story removed, still stands today. The building to the right of the arch is the Central House, located at 106 East B Street. [Mr. and Mrs. Ken Pavey]

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St. Paul Depot and Commercial Hotel, West B Street, Iron Mountain, ca. September 2, 1907: The line of early automobiles processing east on Iron Mountain’s B Street in this postcard view may have been en route to the first annual hill climbing contest sponsored by the Menominee Range Automobile Club on September 2, 1907. The course was up East B Street from Stephenson Avenue to Superintendent Elwin F. Brown’s house at the Pewabic Mine. Buildings visible on the south side of the street from left to right included the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Depot, the Commercial Hotel, operated by Claude H. and Frank M. Milliman, and the residences of Andrew Swanson (115), Fred C. Parmelee (119) and J.T. Mason (126). [William John Cummings]

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Iron Mountain Mercantile Company, Ltd., 118-122 Wes t B Street and the Central Methodist Episcopal Church, 112 West B Street, ca. 1900-1910: Looking east, the Iron Mountain Co-Operative Society, established by 1902 in the Spencer Block (John T. Spencer) at 118-1922 West B Street, was managed by Alex LaViolette. In June of 1910 it became the Iron Mountain Mercantile Co., Ltd. The 70 x 90-foot remodeled structure burned to the ground on January 15, 1935. The Central Methodist Church, built in 1882, was located at 112 West B Street. A white horse-drawn hearse parked in front of the church, probably indicated the funeral of a child was in progress when the photograph was taken. The 61-year-old church was destroyed by fire on January 5, 1944. These structures were across the street from the Commercial Hotel and some private residences. [Gene Derwinski/Dick Ferris]

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Carpenter Avenue Looking North, ca. 1920-1925: This snapshot was taken just past the intersection of Carpenter Avenue and West B Street, Iron Mountain, in the early 1920’s. Apparently grading work was being done on the 400 and 500 blocks of Carpenter Avenue. The huge faucet hanging as a business sign from the two-story building at the far left indicated a plumber’s shop. Perhaps Edward J. Hammel, who had a shop at 405 Carpenter Avenue in 1925, operated from this building when he began business in Iron Mountain a few years earlier. In 1925 this building housed a wholesale confectionery run by Simon J. Shada at the 514 address. At 512 Oril P. Savoie was the proprietor of the Peerless Radiator Repair and Welding Works in that same year. Eugene DeGayner began operating his garage in conjunction with the area’s Dodge dealership at 124 West B Street in 1919 with Gottfried “Guffy” Johnson, but was operating on his own by 1921. The building at the right was DeGayner’s garage. [Eugene DeGayner]

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300 Block of South Stephenson Avenue, Iron Mountain , ca. 1898: The Victoria Lodge #262 of the Order of the Sons of St. George, a Cornish fraternal group, marched down Stephenson Avenue in formation behind a band in about 1905. The bandstand at the northwest corner of the intersection of South Stephenson Avenue and East Ludington Street can be seen at the far left. The man on horseback leading the procession may have been Jack Eslick. [Menominee Range Historical Foundation Museum]

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200 Block of East Hughitt Street, Iron Mountain, ca . 1898: The Victoria Lodge #262 of the Order of the Sons of St. George, a Cornish fraternal group, marched down East Hughitt Street in formation behind a band in about 1898. The Swedish Mission Church and the Dr. Joseph Addison Crowell residence on East Ludington Street, and the Nelson P. Hulst School on Madison Avenue with the Fulton School (left) and the Lowell School (right) annexes appear in the background. [Menominee Range Historical Foundation Museum]

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100, 200 and 300 Blocks of South Stephenson Avenue, Iron Mountain, ca. 1899: Taken by Jorgen J. Eskil in 1899 from the Ludington Mine Location looking southeast, the stores on the 200 block of East Fleshiem Street and the 100, 200 and 300 blocks of South Stephenson Avenue are visible. Note the Hulst School in the upper left corner on Madison Avenue, the rear of the Fisher Block which housed the Commercial Bank in the upper right corner and the mining buildings in the foreground.

100 Block of South Stephenson Avenue, Iron Mountain , ca. 1899: This detail of the previous 1899 photograph shows three stores on the south side of the 200 block of East Fleshiem Street and the buildings on the 100 block of South Stephenson Avenue. Note the

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small building to the left of the five-store, two-building brick structure. The Swedish Mission Church is visible on the southeast corner of East Ludington Street and Iron Mountain Street. The two-story, light-colored building located at 218 East Brown Street was the Sheerin House, a hotel operated by Frank Sheerin by 1892. Anton Miench operated the property as the Hotel Miench in 1902, 1907 and 1913, at that time under the management of Peter Engberg. [Keen S. Scott]

500 Block of South Stephenson Avenue, Iron Mountain , ca. 1925: This postcard view of the 500 Block of South Stephenson Avenue at the East B Street intersection was taken after May, 1921, when construction began on the United States National Bank (Downtown Plaza) and before June, 1929, when construction began on the Commercial Bank (Northern Michigan Bank) on the west side of Stephenson Avenue. The photographer was standing in the area now occupied by the Dickinson County Chamber of Commerce and the Michigan Welcome Center. The streets were unpaved. The entire west side of 500 Block of Stephenson Avenue and most of the 400 Block was vacant. At the southwest corner of East Hughitt Street and Stephenson Avenue, the rear and side of the Morris & Company meat refrigeration building (Antonio’s Pizza), fronting on East Hughitt, is visible. William J. Cudlip was the manager in 1925. Back in 1902, the Nelson, Morris & Company, with offices in Chicago, East St. Louis, Kansas City and St. Joseph, Missouri, was managed by William S. Laing. Many old-timers remembered how blocks of ice were hauled to a small door on the uppermost story facing Stephenson Avenue and then packed in sawdust to keep the contents cool during the warmer months. [William John Cummings]

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VILLAGE OF NORWAY: Platted July 21, 1879

Main Street (Old Town), Norway, Mich., 1908: The area in Norway known as Old Town can be seen in this 1908 postcard view of Main Street (now Hillcrest Drive) looking north. The building at the end of the street, once the Gaynor Hotel, was located on Summit Avenue (which no longer exists) and marked the north end of Main Street. The intersection with Cyclops Avenue, one block south of Summit Avenue, was about two buildings north of where the wagon was hitched on the left side of the street when this photograph was taken. The four stores located at this intersection in 1907 fronted Cyclops Avenue and included Joseph Ruwitch & Son’s general store, M. St. Peter’s general store, Alexis Patenaude’s drugstore and Fred Rogers’ saloon. This photograph was taken from the intersection with Central Avenue. The settling of ground began in Old Town in abour 1902, especially on Nelson Street (now Main Street and located one block east of Old Town’s Main Street) between Summit Avenue and Helen Street. The business district gradually moved to its present location south of the viaduct for the Chicago & North-Western Railway tracks on South Nelson Street (now Main Street). [William John Cummings]

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CITY OF NORWAY: Incorporated as a City April 17, 1 891

300 and 400 Block of Nelson Street (Main Street), N orway, Mich., ca. 1914: Postmarked February 7, 1914, this postcard view shows the west side of Norway’s Nelson Street (now Main Street) looking south. The following businesses and their respective addresses were listed in the 1913 Directory of the Cities of Iron Mountain and Norway and Dickinson County, beginning with the Masonic Block to the right in the above photograph: 318, Fit Well Clothing, Lazarus Charash, proprietor; 320, Axel Aronson & Emil Eklund, groceries and meats; 322, Norway Clothing House, Anton Anderson, proprietor; 322, Michael St. Peter & Son (Frank), insurance and real estate; 324, Paul Jacobsen, druggist; 330, The Current; 330, Edward Melin & John Larson, saloon; 330, J.C. Knight, lawyer; 332, William H. Weber, druggist; 400, First National Bank; 400, Dr. Boyd L. Kelley, dentist; 404, Gust Albert Malmgren, druggist; 406, John Perkins & Son (Samuel), general merchandise; 410, Waters & Erickson, furniture and undertaking, Berger Erickson, manager; 412, John De Roeck, saloon; 414, Andrew T. Sethney & Co., groceries; 416, Arvid E. Asp & Co., dry goods and gentlemen’s furnishings (A.E. Asp, J.E. Anderson, Gust Anderson); 418, John Eklund, jeweler; 420-424, Ramsdell’s Hardware & Crockery Store (Wilmer M. Ramsdell). [William John Cummings]

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Nelson Street (Main Street), Norway, Mich., ca. 191 0-1915

VILLAGE OF KINGSFORD: Chartered as a Village Decem ber 29, 1923

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Interior View of a Body Plant at Kingsford’s Ford M otor Company, ca. 1925: This interior of one of the three body plants constructed at Kingsford’s Ford Plant was probably taken in the mid-1920’s. The Worden-Allen Company of Chicago was awarded the contract for the first body plant, measuring 360 x 120 feet, and six dry kilns on September 15, 1921. The plant machinery started up March 10, 1922, turning out pillars for touring cars. The manufacture of other parts, including sills, door frames, floor boards and top ribs, was taken up later. The first shipment of several thousand front door pillars for the touring car model occurred March 15, 1922. Plans and specifications for a second body plant, measuring 460 by 120 feet and a 100-foot addition to the first body plant, as well as 14 additional dry kilns, were announced May 29, 1922. The Worden-Allen Company was awarded the contract on June 17 and began construction on July 10. This body plant was connected to the dry kilns, thus not exposing the lumber to the weather, and was constructed of concrete, glass and steel. The second construction project was completed in November. On April 21, 1923, a contract was awarded to the Worden-Allen Company for the construction of 32 additional dry kilns, a third body plant, measuring 640 by 120 feet, and extensions to the other two body plants of 180 feet each to make all three plants of equal size. Construction began May 10. The additions to the first two body plants and the construction of a maintenance building were completed by September 1, and by December 19 the two body plants were operating at full capacity. Because of a lack of power, the third body plant was not put into full operation until March of 1924. Twenty-six dry kilns were in operation by January 16, 1924. Twenty-six more were under construction during that year. Each kiln required seven miles of piping, the total piping in all the kilns and the

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plants sufficient to have reached to Chicago and back if placed end to end. Each concrete kiln was 220 feet in length and 20 feet wide. A single order for the kilns placed in May 26, 1922, filled 60 or 70 railroad cars. [Michigan State Archives]

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Ford Addition and Filtration Plant with Ford Field in Foreground, ca. 1925: Taken looking to the northeast, this view of Kingsford’s Ford Addition in the mid-1920’s includes the Ford water tower and the filtration plant, located on the southwest corner of Woodward Avenue and North Boulevard. G.A. Gustafson of Iron Mountain was awarded the contract for the filtration plant on August 2, 1922, with a bid of $20,000. Work began five days later and the filtration plant was available for use by September 7, 1923. However, the plant was not put into operation until October. Menominee River water was used, supplying the Ford Plant complex, the Ford Addition and Kingsford Heights with drinking water. A second water tower, located in the center of the plant proper, supplied water for plant use but not for drinking. Construction on the houses shown here in the upper Ford Addition began in mid-May, 1924. Placed 24 to a block and kept in good repair by a crew of men employed by the Ford Motor Company for that purpose, the homes had electric lights, indoor bathrooms and were wired for a telephone. Most had three rooms downstairs, three rooms upstairs and a large cement basement. Some had five rooms, three on the ground floor and two upstairs. The smaller bungalows had five small rooms. Prices ranged from $3,500 to $5,500. A block-and-a-half square situated between Woodward Avenue and Hamilton Avenue was left for a park in the 600 block. In 1928 the park was equipped with tables, benches and garbage cans. A bandstand was erected in 1929, and a concert was held every Wednesday evening during the summer months. A cinder path was added in 1930 and tennis courts were also added. [Menominee Range Historical Museum]

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Construction of the Ford Dam on the Menominee River , January 30, 1924: Exploratory work on the Ford Dam site began February 13, 1922. The awarding of the contract was held up for more than a year and a half mainly because the purchase of the lands which would be flooded by the backwater had not been completed. Some of the land owners were demanding a very high price for their lands. On May 12, 1923, the Stone and Webster Company of Boston, Massachusetts, began construction. Meade and Seastone of Madison, Wisconsin, was the firm in charge of the engineering work. Great headway was made during the fall and early winter when extremely favorable weather conditions prevailed. When this photograph was taken on January 30, 1924, work on the dam was progressing very rapidly. The buildings in the foreground were bunkhouses for the construction workers. The power house, to the left of the smokestack, measured 119 feet long and was on the eastern end of the dam which extended 240 feet across the Menominee River. The dam was constructed of a gigantic block of concrete more than 30 feet deep that was studded with ten huge iron gates. About 18,620 cubic yards of concrete weighing 78,204,000 pounds were used in its construction. The wing or core wall on the Michigan side was 175 feet long and on the Wisconsin side the wall measured 125 feet. The water held in check by the Ford Dam flooded land as far up the river as the Peninsular Power Dam at Twin Falls and made miniature Cowboy Lake into a much larger body of water. Power from the dam was transported to the sawmill and body plant units through a system of underground conduits which carried 2,300 volts of direct current to a

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substation that converted the electricity to alternating current and stepped down the voltage to 220. [Michigan State Archives]

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Spectacular Night View of Ford Motor Company Plant in Kingsford, ca. 1945-1951: This spectacular night view of the Ford Motor Company’s plant in Kingsford was taken by Walter G. Nelson, who was general manager from 1945 until the plant closed in 1951. With the camera facing south, the following buildings are visible, from left to right: the seven charcoal briquette storage silos, the carbonization building (and the sawmill behind it), the power house with its twin smokestacks and the distillation building in front of the new power house. [Menominee Range Historical Museum]

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Mongrain Farm House and Ford Clubhouse, ca. late 19 20’s: Located on the 700 block of Woodward Avenue, the Ford Clubhouse, the three-story white frame building, was completed in late May, 1925, for use as headquarters for visiting officials. The house on the corner of Woodward Avenue and Ripley Avenue was the Joseph Mongrain farmhouse. Woodward Avenue had not been paved when this photograph was taken. The water tower in the distance was located west of the filtration plant and held the village’s potable water supply. [Menominee Range Historical Museum]

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Ford Power House with Smokestacks, ca. 1924-1925: This view shows the power house which replaced the original power plant which had been constructed during the fall and winter of 1920-1921. The second power plant, an imposing structure built of steel and red face brick inset at various places with white stone, stood out from the rest of the plant buildings due to its size and beauty and was centrally located with respect to the sawmill, wood drying kilns and the two buildings of the wood distillation plant. Four boilers, each rated at 1,361 horsepower and capable of a 250 per cent overload, had a combined capacity of 12,000 horsepower, more than four times that of the old plant. These new boilers burned oil, wood and other refuse. Between the new power house and the new addition to the sawmill (where the early Ford truck

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is parked in this photograph), a steel bridge slanted upward at a sharp angle and contained a runway and exhaust pipes conveying sawdust from every part of the plant for use as fuel in connection with the oil. Two 190-foot high smokestacks with an inside diameter of 14 feet at the bottom and 10 feet at the top, [sic] were connected to these boilers. By October, 1923, one boiler was being water tested at the new plant, then still under construction. By June 2, 1924, construction work was almost completed. [Menominee Range Historical Museum]

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Ford CG4A Glider, Ford Motor Company Plant, Kingsfo rd, ca. 1945: During World War II, the Ford Plant was converted to glider production. Ford produced 4,190 CG4A (C – cargo; G – glider) gliders between December, 1942 and August, 1945. Mark Swanson, foreman of the afternoon shift at the Kingsford plant, recalled that at first two or three gliders were produced daily, but when they went into 24-hour production, eight gliders could be manufactured. About 4,500 employees worked three shifts around the clock. During the afternoon shift the gliders were finished, inspected, torn down and the fuselages for the next day were set into place. The gliders were crated and shipped via railroad, each glider occupying five crates loaded on three flatcars. Toward the end of production, the gliders were towed to the Ford Airport on a trail between the Menominee River and Woodward Avenue, and about the last 100 gliders were then towed by airplane to Milwaukee. [Jack Deo, Superior View Studio]

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CITY OF KINGSFORD: Chartered as a City August 5, 1 947

Village of Kingsford Hall, ca. 1940: The Village of Kingsford began operations in its new office building on the southeast corner of the intersection of Carpenter Avenue and Hamilton Avenue on Monday, November 24, 1930. Prior to that time, village business was conducted in a couple of rooms in the basement of the Woodward Avenue School which were rented by the village at $10 per month. A village warehouse and garage were constructed in conjunction with the village hall. [City of Kingsford]


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