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

30 years ago

MARQUETTE — Marquette County Habitat for Humanity will celebrate the dedication of its first house beginning at 2 p.m. today at 1963 N. Wilkinson St. in Marquette. At 2:30 p.m., Marquette Mayor Charles Coffey and members of the Habitat board of directors will join the Rev. Larry Lange, pastor of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Champion, in a dedication ceremony. The two-bedroom home will officially be handed over to Cliff, Vivian and Joseph Ogea during the ceremony. Organizers say the celebration, with music and refreshments, is a way of thanking the hundreds of volunteers and donors who made the house possible.

60 years ago

IRON MOUNTAIN — There is a strong indication that Iron Mountain, with other Upper Peninsula communities on the line of the Milwaukee Road, is about to lose another segment of passenger service, unless there is a sharp increase in patronage before Sept. 1 of this year. The story is told in a letter received by the Dickinson County Area Chamber of Commerce from William Wallace, general passenger traffic manager of the Milwaukee Road at Chicago, quoted as follows: “This is one of the finest sleeping cars in operation in any section of the United States. It has eight duplex roomettes, six single bedrooms, giving a wide range of accommodations. And the convenient schedule of the Copper Country Limited, leaving Iron Mountain at 10:15 p.m., and arriving in Chicago at 6:45 a.m. – Central Standard Time – is such that it should appeal to the businessmen and others of your community. “This Pullman car is jointly operated by the Milwaukee Road and the Soo Line. But the Milwaukee Road absorbs all the expense and deficit on this Pullman car operation – and this deficit is now becoming very substantial. “We have decided to defer a decision on this car until at least Sept. 1. During this time we are going to take additional advertising at various points served by the Copper Country Limited to see if we can increase the patronage to overcome this deficit, as we definitely need additional patronage to insure continuance of this Pullman sleeping car.” The Dickinson County Area Chamber of Commerce has pushed a program for continued operation of this Pullman car and has made every effort to increase patronage so that the railroad’s decision on the matter will be a favorable one.