30 years ago

MARQUETTE – Bruce Pesola, local contractor, is looking to bring new life to the former Heritage House Hotel on North Front street. Now bustling with light and sound from renovators, the building is seeing its first visitors since its abandonment in 1982. If all goes well, this will be a new investment for Pesola, a hotel he is calling “The Landmark Inn of Marquette.” Pesola took ownership of the property from Ed Havlik of Grand Rapids on November 3rd, and the Marquette City Commission will hold a public hearing on whether or not to transfer a tax abatement to Pesola that was originally negotiated by Havlik. The agreement runs through 1999, keeping the buildings assessed value at $97,000 in lieu of the $4 million estimated value after renovations. Pesola is confident in the projects long term success, as much of the Upper Peninsula is backing the renovation efforts, designs, and food that will be provided.

60 years ago

NEGAUNEE – P.A. Carmichael of Iron River, safety engineer for the M.A. Hanna company, held an informal safety meeting with employees of the Richmond mine at Palmer, yesterday and presented each worker with a turkey for Thanksgiving in recognition of their operating without a lost-time accident during the last year. This is the eighth consecutive year the Richmond property has been operated without a lost-time accident. In recognition of the mine’s safety record, the Joseph A. Holmes certificate was awarded to the Richmond and was presented to Lawrence Collins, superintendent of the mine, this summer. The M.A. Hanna company has operated the Richmond mine 37 years and each year has contributed to shipments made from one of three open pit mines being operated on the Marquette range. The crew receiving turkeys yesterday totaled 32 employees. This is the third year the company has given turkeys for Thanksgiving.