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

30 years ago

GLADSTONE — Damage estimates from a tornado that hit Gladstone July 19 have reached nearly $4 million. Figures compiled by the city put damage to residential homes at $2.6 million and commercial property at $1.09 million. Cleanup costs to the city are $122,500. The tornado lasted just a few minutes, but left a path of destruction about ?-mile wide through the north side of the city. Initial estimates of damage were in excess of $1 million. Keeton said damage to residential property owners averaged about $5,000 per home. Preliminary estimates by the Gladstone Public Safety Department said 120 homes and 17 businesses were damaged or destroyed. Some commercial property was hit hard. A roundhouse owned by the Wisconsin Central Railroad was destroyed. “It was a half million (dollars) alone,” Keeton said.

60 years ago

ISHPEMING — The large house on the southeast corner of Main and Barnum Sts. is being razed to make room for possible future expansion of the Mather Inn. The house for many years was the home of E.L. Derby, chief geologist of the Cleveland Cliffs Iron Co., who is now retired. More recently, it was an apartment house operated by Walter Lindberg. The house is being razed by Ernest Racine of Ishpeming, according to Juel Casperson, manager of the Inn. He said the site will be leveled and may be used for parking space. Caspersen said no definite plans have been made for expansion of the hotel on the site. The building was purchased by the hotel company from the Cleveland Cliffs Iron Co.