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

30 years ago

MARQUETTE — It’s checkout time for young people who use motel rooms for graduation and prom parties, according to area motel owners tired of the rowdy, noisy affairs. “We sure have had problems,” said Dan Trotochaud, owner of the Village Inn in Marquette. “I was reprimanded in the middle of the night by one set of parents for ‘letting’ their daughter come to a party in one of the rooms.” With the Marquette Senior High School prom next Saturday, a local association of motel and hotel owners is trying to make its reservations known. In a news release issued this week, the Marquette County Tourism Council and its 30 owners of lodging facilities alerted students and parents to a “highly destructive and ultimately expensive” problem for children and parents. Some students wonder what all the fuss is about. “They should rent rooms to them, but if they get really out of hand, like making noises after a certain hour, they should kick them out,” said Chris Hokenson, 17, a sophomore at Bi-County High School in Marquette. Brentwood Motor Inn manager Jim St. Onge in Marquette said he doesn’t rent to anyone under 18, and even makes sure older clients aren’t planning boisterous parties. St. Onge acknowledged that partiers shouldn’t be driving around. “But on the other hand, you can’t have ’em in motel rooms,” he said. “I mean, my God, who knows what goes on behind closed doors?”

60 years ago

HANCOCK — The Soo Hardware Co., celebrating the 75th anniversary of its establishment, highlight the observance with the opening of a new branch this week in Hancock. The company was founded in the Soo in 1887 by R.G. Ferguson. Manager of the Hancock branch is Emil Plante, formerly in the plumbing and heating contracting business in Laurium. The new branch will serve the wholesale trade exclusively and will stock a complete line of plumbing, heating and industrial supplies, as well as some general hardware items. A showroom will be maintained for company customers who may wish to show their prospects the merchandise on display. Originally serving the heavy hardware needs of the logging industry from its Soo warehouse, the company has expanded over the years into general hardware, plumbing, heating, electrical and industrial supplies, which are distributed to its customers from four warehouses located throughout the Upper Peninsula.