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Historically speaking

ISHPEMING — The 1888 Ishpeming city charter provided the framework for the common council and other elected and appointed officials.

It also gave the common council the power to enact rules, also known as ordinances. for the governing of the city. Thus, the ordinances became the embodiment of the city charter.

So, the specific power “To prohibit or suppress all disorderly houses and places, houses of ill fame, assignation houses, gambling houses and all places where persons resort for gaming or to play games of chance, and punish the keepers there of,” (Page 22) becomes two specific ordinances. “Any person or persons who shall be guilty of keeping or being an inmate of any house of il-fame or assignation or who shall be interested as proprietor or landlord of such house, or who shall knowingly let or lease such house or building for such purpose shall, on conviction thereof, be punished by a fine not exceeding one hundred dollars.” (Page 102) The second ordinance reads, “Any person who shall have, keep or permit to be used in any building or place in this city used, occupied or controlled by such persons, any keno table, faro bank, shuffleboard, playing cards or any other instrument or device used in gambling or playing any game of chance for money or any other thing of value, or shall suffer at any time any gambling with cards, dice, or any other implement or device used for that purpose, upon his or her premises shall, upon conviction thereof, be punished by a fine of not exceeding one hundred dollars.” (Page 103)

In 1888, $100 was not a modest sum. It would translate to $2,880.76 in 2019. The ordinances were only good within the city limits, so many such places were located just beyond the city limits.

The ordinances set fire limits. “Beginning at the intersection of the center of Division and Pine streets, thence northerly along the line of said Pine street to the center of the Northwestern railroad track (Now Hematite Drive,) thence easterly along the line of said track to the center of Second street, thence southerly along the line of said Second street to the center of Division street, thence westerly along the line of said Division Street to the place of beginning.” (Page 110) Buildings within the fire limits “shall be either made of brick, stone or other fire-proof material.” (Page 110) Most sections of ordinances had an adoption date attached to them and the section on fire limits were adopted on May 18, 1877 and signed by then mayor John P. Outhwaite, who as a member of the fire department, had probably fought the great fire of 1874.

There are some interesting ordinances. Section Eleven of the chapter on ‘Breaches of the Peace’ states,” any boy or boys or any other person or persons who shall be found within the limits of the city of Ishpeming using profane or obscene language, insulting or annoying any person or persons, encouraging or instigating others to quarrel or fight, impeding or obstructing travel upon any sidewalk or streets …. shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.” (Page 104) Notice that there is no mention of girls in this ordinance.

“No person or persons shall drive any horse or other animal on any street in the city of Ishpeming attached to a sleigh or sled without having to the harness of such horse or other animal a string of at least three good sleigh bells, under a penalty of not to exceed ten dollars, nor less than one dollar, and in default of payment of such fine on conviction of such offense such person shall be imprisoned in the city ail not to exceed a term of ten days.” No bells were needed during the summertime.

Another ordinance was unique to mining towns. “No person or persons shall transport upon or within any vehicle, sleigh or sled or in any manner whatsoever any nitroglycerine” (Page 129) In its original form, nitro was highly explosive and sensitive to bumps. The mines used it to blast apart the ore and probably had to make it on site.

The city charter and ordinances of 2021 look vastly different from the ones of 1888. There is no need for bells on sleighs anymore as there is no need for horse pulled sleighs. Dynamite is much safer to use and the only mine in the area is outside of the city limits anyway.

Periodically, the charter is revised and the ordinances are as well, in order to keep both documents current.

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