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

30 years ago

ISHPEMING — An avid college basketball fan, Jay Bengry of Negaunee roots for more than his favorite teams in the NCAA tournaments that started Thursday. “Hey, I helped make that floor,” said Bengry, who’s worked at the Robbins, Inc., plant in Ishpeming for 15 years. Robbins is the leading manufacturer of sports flooring systems used throughout amateur and professional athletics. Its Ishpeming plant processes the northern maple used in the manufacture of basketball courts. “I’m proud that the work we do here is good enough to be used so widely,” Bengry said. “That says something about what we do here.” Robbins has provided flooring for nine of the thirteen sites nationwide hosting the 1990 NCAA Tournament. In the past six years, 70 of 86 tournament sites have supported Robbins’ flooring. And Bengry can keep admiring his work during professional games. Robbins’ floors are used by the NBA and in most Olympic events. Bengry is one of 120 Robbins employees in Ishpeming, half of whom he guesses follow basketball. Robbins is a Cincinnati, Ohio based corporation with additional manufacturing facilities in Wisconsin, Arkansas and Ohio. The White Lake, Wis. Plant also helps provide the maple for sports floors, which is manufactured to specifications then shipped out and assembled on site.

60 years ago

MARQUETTE — Francis T. Stenglein, co-owner of the Stenglein Printing Co., was elected and installed as senior counselor of the Upper Peninsula Council, United Commercial Travelers, at the group’s annual election and installation meeting. Stenglein succeeds Charles Brainard, who was named past senior counselor. The Marquette UCT unit was the first organized in the U.P. and was deigned “U.P. Council.” Other officers elected and installed were John Stenglein, junior counselor; George Hawke, secretary-treasurer; Basil Buchko, conductor, Vernon Calkins, page; George Bureau, sentinel; and Edward Foye Jr., chaplain.