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

30 years ago

ISHPEMING — Ishpeming eyesores will be torn down if the city can get its hands on them. The Ishpeming City Council Wednesday voted to start getting rid of some blight by buying a two-story, wood frame apartment house at 413 South Third Street. The price is $50. It will cost the city about $5,000 to tear down the building, which has a cracked foundation. The city hopes to sell the narrow lot for $1,800. The dilapidated building, owned by Belmont Austin Jr. of downstate Wyandotte, was scheduled to be sold at a state tax sale next Thursday. “The state will accept $50 from any local unit of government prior to a tax sale,” said John Korhonen, Ishpeming’s acting city manager. “We want to eliminate the blight.” Korhonen described the practice as a “mini-urban renewal project.” He said the city has its eyes on two other properties scheduled to be sold at a state tax sale next year. “We’ll see how this one works,” Korhonen said. Korhonen said too often people buy old buildings at tax sales not realizing how much it will take to renovate the structures. He said some properties end up being sold at state tax sales many times.

60 years ago

BESSEMER — The Peterson mine announced Thursday that it would lay off one of its shifts. About 80 of its 220 men will be laid off. The mine has been working a four-day week. The Granite City Steel Co., owner of the mine, said the layoff would be effective next week. The firm cited steel production cutbacks as the reason. The Montreal mine at nearby Montreal, Wis., will be shut down today putting 600 miners out of work. It is the biggest underground mine in the nation. Sec Violetta, manager of the Ironwood office of the Michigan Employment Security Commission, reported that unemployment in Gogebic County had dropped to 11.7% in July and was expected to fall below 10 percent before the announcement of the recent layoffs. Violetta said the Peterson and Montreal layoffs would probably push the unemployment figure to about 15% next month. He added that since spring about 400 men have left the area for other jobs but many were expected to return. Walter Bennetts, Gogebic County welfare director, said that the impact of the situation would be felt in late fall or early winter when the 39-week unemployment compensation ran out. Violetta said that about 80 men were on retraining programs with the Area Redevelopment Administration.