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

30 years ago

MARQUETTE — Known as one of a kind since at least the turn of the century, Marquette’s Presque Isle Park gives visitors a chance to see some of the world’s oldest known rock formation, band concerts and a lot of flora and fauna. “You can spend several full days out there and not do the same thing twice,” said John Turausky, director of city parks and recreation. One of the first recognitions of the natural park was made by Frederick Law Olmstead in a report done in 1896 for the city when it was trying to decide how to manage the park. “We have had occasion to visit professionally existing or proposed rural parks of a considerable number of American cities and we can conscientiously say that none combine so many natural advantages as this,” he said. He suggested the city maintain the island in its natural state with as little development as possible.

60 years ago

MARQUETTE — An ore boat operated by labor-troubled shipping line was loaded at the Lake Superior and Ishpeming Railroad Co.’s dock here yesterday, despite a picket line thrown up by the International Longshoremen’s Association. The SS Gordon C. Leitch, owned by Upper Lakes and Island Shipping, Ltd., Canadian operators of a fleet of Great Lakes bulk carriers, left the Presque Isle dock at 8:45 last night. Regular crews began the job of loading the boat with iron ore from the Marquette Range, but after ILA pickets were placed both at the main gate to the ore dock and on Island Beach road near the railroad grade to the dock, supervisory personnel of the railroad company completed the loading job, Harry Kirk, LS&I superintendent, said this morning. Signs carried by the three union men at the main gate and by another on Island Beach road, Kirk said, read as follows: “Local 153, ILA, ACL-CIO, on strike against Upper Lakes and Island Shipping. We have no dispute with any other employer.”