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

30 years ago

March 17, 1993 – CRYSTAL FALLS – More THAN 70 4-H horse club members competed recently in the U.P. Horse Bowl in Crystal falls. Sixteen teams from Marquette, Dickinson, Menominee, Baraga, Ontonagon, Houghton, and Iron Counties competed for the right to represent the U.P. in state competition at Michigan State University in East Lansing. Houghton 4-H members won the first place in the Junior Division (ages 9-13) and placed second in the Senior Divison (ages 14-19). Baraga’s team placed first in the Senior Division and Iron County’s Team A was second in the Junior Division. Members of the winning team included: Houghton County Junior Team with Diane Kempainen, Marilyn Hooper, April Jaakkola, Jenny Ruotsi, and coached by Dottie Kemppainen. Iron County’s second place team members were Scott Stroud, Summer Olson, Angela Gerstner, Brad Suheski, and coaches Ginger Suheski and Connie Gerstner. The Senior Division first place winners from Baraga County were Jenny Granroth, Michelle Lahnala, Heather Bishop, and Sarah Hiner, and coached by Sandy Fish. Houghton County’s second place team included Lisa Anderson, Bobby Jo Jaakkola, Laurie Cavis, Taana Kalliainen, Angie Ruotsi, and coached by Rose Anderson.

60 years ago

March 17, 1963 – MUNISING – John P. Campana, noting that the maple syrup season is near, said today there are about 20 or 30 large sugar bushes in the Upper Peninsula producing maple syrup commercially “and there is opportunity to expand production.” Because of the interest show by Alger County residents to learn more about sugar bush work, the Alger County extension office will bring Roy Skog, MSU extension forester, to a maple syrup meeting at the Upper Peninsula Experiment Station at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 21. Some of the information to be covered will be: trees to tap, tapping methods, sugar content of sap, use of paraformaldehyde tap pellets, plastic tubing, use of plastic bags, centralized evaporating plants, power tapping machines, pumping equipment, use of chemical additives to retard fermentation of sap and syrup.