EDITOR’S NOTE: Superiorland Yesterdays is prepared by the reference staff at the Peter White Public Library in Marquette.

30 years ago

HOUGHTON — Michigan Tech University will kick off its inaugural “Engineering Olympics” for high school students Feb. 15. “The purpose of the competition is to bring more awareness to the engineering profession, have fun and learn something along the way,” said Jon Henkel, general engineering academic advisor at MTU. More than 60 high schools from the Upper Peninsula and northeastern Wisconsin have been invited to participate. The competition will consist of bridge building, catapulting and a paper airplane toss. Teams of three students will compete in each event. The top team in each event will receive $200.

60 years ago

MARQUETTE — The Marquette Chamber of Commerce’s new president foresees an active year ahead and a period of accelerated programs for both the organization and the community. The new Chamber president said, with respect to projected programs, that an accelerated study of the Chamber and its functions by the committee on committees will be carried out, with appropriate, immediate action to be taken. “We also must expand the Chamber’s endeavors into such areas as the formation of a Marquette Industrial Foundation, which would be a machine for handling financial problems related to the introduction of new business.” The president also suggested the creation of an “industrial advisory board” of competent members, for consideration of engineering problems related to existing or new industries. He concluded by calling for an “operations-research,” for use of membership suggestions.