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

30 years ago

ISHPEMING — As the first anniversary of famed author John Voelker’s death approaches, his widow is preparing to donate his papers to Northern Michigan University. Grace Voelker said the papers include the original manuscripts for all of her husband’s books, a half-century of correspondence, and journals he kept during his early years as a writer. The papers, which will be available to people doing research, include the original manuscript for the 1957 bestseller “Anatomy of a Murder,” the most famous of Voelker’s 11 books. “Anatomy” described a 1952 murder and was made into a movie starring Jimmy Stewart, Lee Remick, George C. Scott and Ben Gazzara. Grace Voelker’s decision to give the papers to NMU ends several years of behind-the-scenes efforts by the University of Michigan and Boston University to get the collection. John Voelker died March 18, 1991 at age 87, of a heart attack. He attended NMU for two years before entering University of Michigan Law School.

90 years ago

ISHPEMING — A fire which started from a furnace explosion at 10:30 tonight in the Knights of Kaleva building ruined the Empire bowling alleys, in the basement of the structure, and caused considerable smoke and water damage to stock in the Ishpeming Furniture and hardware store on the first floor. The furnace fire, it was said, was banked at 10 p.m. and the fireman left the building. At 10:30 an explosion occurred which blew out the plate glass windows in the furniture store. Seventy-five men, women and children were gathered in the Knights of Kaleva Hall on the second floor at a meeting of the Daughters of St. George and they said that the explosion shook the whole building. The flames were confined to the basement, however, and at 11 p.m. the fire was checked. The loss could not be estimated tonight, but it is thought that it will be practically covered by insurance. The Empire bowling alleys were owed by Ernest Tousignant and have been closed most of the time this winter.