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

30 years ago

SAULT STE. MARIE — About 14 ships remained anchored in the St. Mary’s River today after dense fog earlier this week halted movement through the Soo Locks, officials say. “We can see the light at the end of the tunnel. By the end of the morning, they’ll be cleaned up,” said Gary Clow, the morning lockmaster with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Ten ships were upbound through the locks connecting lakes Superior and Huron; four were downbound, Clow said. Early Wednesday 43 vessels–25 upbound and 18 downbound–were anchored in the river, Coast Guard Petty Officer Michael Farkas said from the Group Office at Sault Ste. Marie. Some passed through the Soo Locks at the eastern end of Lake Superior as the weather cleared.

90 years ago

MARQUETTE — The Masonic building on Washington Street, erected in 1891 of Lake Superior sandstone quarried near Portage Entry, has been having a bath and the work is being done at night–not because of modesty, but because the sand-blasters engaging in the cleaning process are doing it with as little inconvenience as possible to pedestrians. Employees of the Upper Peninsula Sandblasting company said they expected to complete the job about 9 o’clock this morning. Crowds of spectators gathered at the scene the last two nights. Several other buildings in Marquette are constructed of sandstone and the blasting process brings out its natural color. The Breitung hotel in Negaunee recently was cleaned in this manner. Little sand is used in the process. About two yards will be required for the Masonic building.