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

30 years ago:

ISHPEMING – The aquifer that provides drinking water for Ishpeming and Negaunee is continuing to drop and both cities are being warned to repair leaks in their system to avoid a crisis. The aquifer, similar to an underground river, has dropped some 17 feet since last summer including a foot in the last two months. The Negaunee-Ishpeming Water Authority has been buying 6 million gallons a month from Ishpeming Township for three months to ease the strain on the aquifer, but it continues to drop for unknown reasons. The authority held a special meeting Wednesday to discuss state health department rules for opening an emergency well two miles west of the water plant in Ishpeming, said Ed Hakala, authority chairman. The project is expected to cost taxpayers about $400,000 and the earliest the well could begin providing water is late summer. The cities are losing about 300,000 gallons of water per day, presumably through unidentified water main leaks, officials said. To avoid water conservation measures, the authority hopes spring rains and pipe repairs will ease the problem.

60 years ago:

MARQUETTE – Fire protection agreements for two adjacent townships have been approved by the Marquette City Commission and are awaiting ratification by the townships’ boards. City Manager Thomas R. McNabb observed that at a city commission meeting held Sept. 10, 1962, the commission took action authorizing the city attorney to draw up fire protection agreements for the townships served by the Marquette Fire Department. A basic retainer rate of $100 per month was approved, along with an hourly rate of $100 per hour, when the City of Marquette’s fire equipment was called to respond to a fire in the townships. Under terms of the agreements, the city will furnish the townships fire department service protection of buildings within that township. Furnishing of such service will be wholly within the discretion of the Marquette fire chief as to the amount and capacity of the firefighting equipment and personnel that he may deem necessary and advisable to “reasonably provide such service and within the means of the city fire department.” It is pointed out that the city has priority over the township in the use of the city’s firefighting equipment and personnel and that the firefighting equipment and personnel which may be actually engaged within the township may be recalled to the city if needed in an emergency.