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

30 years ago

HARVEY — A public hearing about a controversial road through a wetlands will be conducted Wednesday in Chocolay Township. The road, being built by Sand River Aggregate of Harvey, was nearly complete when the state Department of Natural Resources halted its construction in April. The roadbed has been cleared from a gravel pit off Mangum Road to M-28 about a half mile east of Shot Point Road. The hearing at 1 p.m. Wednesday at the township hall will allow the DNR to hear comment on the application. Complaints by township officials and residents near the project prompted the DNR to stop the work and schedule the hearing. The township board Monday night voted to send a letter to the DNR requesting that the state’s wetlands act be enforced properly, said township Supervisor Ivan Fende. The road projects involves filling in a wetlands area about 3,000 feet by 30 feet to a depth of 2+ feet with about 8,300 cubic yards of fill. If the permit is approved, the wetlands calls for Blondeau to create wetlands that replace the “function and value” of the wetlands that were destroyed during the project. If the permit is denied, Blondeau could be required to restore the wetlands that were destroyed.

60 years ago

MARQUETTE — Officers and representatives from four Upper Peninsula building trades councils met here Saturday to discuss a proposal to consolidate the 19 craft unions involved. Russell E. Young of Marquette, secretary of the Marquette Building Trades Council (AFL), reported that the proposal received favorable reception from the representatives, but that no positive action has been taken yet. Young added that all officers of each council were not able to be present Saturday, but that the second meeting in September all official representatives will report on the consensus of their groups. “The proposed merger would result in a stronger and larger council,” Young said, “and would involve 5,000 or more tradesmen.”