30 years ago

MARQUETTE — Thousands of union members marched in Marquette Monday to celebrate the last long holiday weekend of the summer and to demonstrate that Marquette County remains in large measure blue collar and staunchly pro-labor. The marchers represented about 42 union locals, including the United Steelworkers of America, the Communications Workers of America, Michigan Correctional Officers, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, the Boilermakers, teacher associations and others. “It just goes to show how strong labor is in this area,” said state Rep. Michael Prusi, D-National Mine, a former Steelworkers local president and one of several speakers who addressed an estimated 4,000 marchers and others who gathered at the Mattson Lower Harbor Park for a picnic and rally. “We gather here to underscore our strength,” he said. “If we don’t hang together, we’ll hang separately. That’s an old saying but it’s still very true.” Monday’s event was coordinated by the Marquette County Labor Council, a consortium of union locals. Labor Council President Jack LaSalle said. Tim Clancy of Marquette, a member of the Ishpeming Teachers Association, said Monday’s large turnout demonstrated that labor still has a substantial presence in the Upper Peninsula. “It’s a good statement to have this many people here,” he said. “A sizable portion of the area’s workforce is unionized.”

60 years ago

MARQUETTE – Five crossing guards will be hired by the Marquette Public School System this year to guide children across key intersections near schools. This is the ninth year of the crossing guard system, which is directed by James A. Smith, transportation officer. Crossing guards are assigned to the areas where most children cross streets near schools and where pedestrian and road traffic are deemed the heaviest. Since the system was inaugurated in 1957, Smith pointed out, there have been no children injured at the protected crossings supervised by the crossing guards.

Superiorland Yesterdays is prepared by the reference staff at the Peter White Public Library in Marquette.