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

30 years ago

MARQUETTE — The Upper Peninsula wolf population has slowly grown to about 30 animals, according to a Department of Natural Resources survey. The survey, done last winter, showed about 30 wolves roaming the peninsula from the western edge at Ironwood to the eastern tip on Drummond Island, said Jim Hammill, DNR wildlife biologist in Crystal Falls. Hammill has been studying U.P. wolves for several years. “We have wolves spread out across the U.P., but still in extremely low numbers.” Hammill said. “There are three areas we verified multi-animals… (and) we’re sure breeding occurred, but we’re not sure if any young were produced from that breeding.” Hammill will be among wolf experts giving presentations at Northern Michigan University during Wolf Awareness Week next week.

60 years ago

ISHPEMING — Conservation officers today asked for the cooperation of area residents in their struggle to put out a fire which has been smoldering since Oct. 1 in 81 acres of peat and muck near Lowmoor Lake in Ely Township. “People have been stealing gasoline from our tractors, pumps and other equipment, fire hoses, grease guns and shovels,” a conservation officer said. Fire-fighting equipment is left at the scene over night, ready for the large number of men that has been fighting the two-week old fire. “It’s a dirty and difficult job. The fire is smoldering in the peat right down to the water table and the workers have to soak the ground and puddle it up with shovels so the water will soak in.”