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

30 years ago

MARQUETTE — For the first time in nearly 10 years, the Northern Michigan University hockey Wildcats can call themselves the No. 1 team in the country. Coach Rick Comley’s Wildcats achieved top billing in the WMPL Radio Hockey Poll released Monday in Hancock. The last time NMU was ranked No. 1 was in January 1980. The Wildcats, ranked third a week ago, catapulted into the top spot after registering a weekend sweep over the defending national champion Wisconsin Badgers. The Wildcats, 6-0-1 on the season received 97 poll points, including seven first-place votes. Northern is also ranked No. 1 in the country in two other polls: WMEB Radio Media Poll out of Orono, Maine, and the Albany Times-Union Media Poll out of New York.

60 years ago

MARQUETTE — Isle Royale National Park was officially closed this week for the 1960 season. According to Park Superintendent George W. Fry, Houghton, it has been a most successful season. The Ranger III left the Houghton dock Wednesday morning for the last trip to the park. It was to return today from Mott Island with the remainder of the crew stationed at the park this season. During the 1960 season, 6,352 persons visited Isle Royale, as compared to 5,836 visitors during 1959. The visitors spent an average of 3.85 days per visitor in the park or a total of 24,467 visitor days for the season. If this amount, there were 7,384 overnight visits in the park’s 18 campgrounds. Construction-wise it was also a good year. Projects completed during the 1960 season were the Deepwater Dock and paved walk at Rock Harbor, improvements to water and sewer system at Rock Harbor, small boat dock at Tobin Harbor and interpretive signs at Rock Harbor. Interpretative talks were given by a naturalist at Rock Harbor Lodge every night during the season, on Monday nights at Daisy Farm Campground and several talks a week at Windigo.