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

30 years ago

MARQUETTE — Early results from a federal research vessel’s Lake Superior water quality tests are better than expected, officials say. “To date… we’ve found the water in excellent condition,” said Stephen Lozano, technical director for the Great Lakes Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program. “We should be proud of it.” Lozano, one of seven researchers skirting the south shore of Lake Superior this month, said an abundance of the organism Diporeia bodes well for the health of the lake. “This is a good indication that the water quality is god in near-shore areas of Lake Superior.” The work will be expanded to other Great Lakes in coming years.

60 years ago

MARQUETTE — The overall circulation of materials from the Peter White Public Library during the past fiscal year was the highest in the history of the library, according to John B. Dorais, president of the library’s board of trustees. During the year, 2,513 books were added to the library’s collection and 1,182 were withdrawn for a net gain of 1,331. Total circulation of 218,963 represented an average of 736 books and other materials circulated daily, an increase of 8,244 over the previous year.