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

30 years ago

ISHPEMING – Local agencies and communities are gearing up to help the families of striking iron ore miners. The families will receive food and financial assistance from the United Steelworkers of America, but even the cities of Ishpeming and Negaunee are preparing for late bills if the strike against two Marquette County mines continues. The strike against CCI and its partners is in its fifth day with no talks scheduled. The Tilden and Empire mines closed Sunday after contract talks broke down. About 1,800 steelworkers are affected. Miners have two more weekly paychecks due from CCI because pay is withheld for two weeks when hired. Steelworkers will begin getting strike pay in the fourth week, if the walkout lasts, said Don Mattson, union business representative. The Ishpeming Salvation Army office is desperate for donations of food, money and new school supplies to help striking miners and their families, Capt. Rosemary Matson said. The Central Upper Peninsula Food Bank in Ishpeming will assist miners when the union distributes food it buys from the bank’s supplier in Grand Rapids. The food bank serves six counties. “Whatever is left after the strike they donate to the food bank,” said Debbie Polkinghorne, food bank director. Many miners have already filed for unemployment benefits at the Michigan Employment Security Commission offices in Marquette, said Paul Haara, MESC claims supervisor. He had no figures. Haara said the strikers are not eligible for unemployment benefits, but there are technical advantage to filing for unemployment now. If the miners return to work and are laid off during the next year, anyone who has already filed a claim is potentially eligible for additional weeks of benefits.

60 years ago

August 5, 1933 – GRAND MARAIS – This week the Coleman scow succeeded in lifting the wreckage of the ill-fated tug Lydia, which went down in a terrific storm a short distance off the Grand Marais pier with a loss of five lives last November. With grappling and lifting equipment the scow’s crew raised nets, boiler and half of the hull of the boat. The other half has drifted closer to shore, inspection revealing that the tug broke in two. It was believed that the bodies of John Tomkiel, engineer, and his assistant, Thomas Larson, were caught in the wreckage, but they were not found. Rubber boots belonging to John Tomkiel were found.