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

30 years ago

MARQUETE — City officials stressed that parts of Presque Isle Park still present a hazard to the public and that police orders closing these areas were not empty warnings.

“The most heavily use part of the park — the picnic area — was reopened Saturday,” said Marquette Parks and Recreation director John Turosky.

The area beyond the Presque Isle zoo is still off limits to pedestrians and cars and will be until hung up trees can be cleared, Turosky said. Turosky said that he could not yet give an estimate of how long that would take, and that outside forestry consultants had been called in to assist the city crews in clearing the trees. The Parks and Recreation Department estimates that 400 to 500 trees of varying sizes and ages fell citywide during the windstorm on Aug. 16.

“It’s dangerous in there,” Torsky said of the park. “I implore people not to go beyond the posted signs and barriers.”

90 years ago

MARQUETTE — Marquette, Iron Mountain, Negaunee, and Gwinn lodges of Odd Fellows will hold a joint picnic picnic on Labor Day, Sept. 3, in the Marquette State park on Bishop’s hill. One of the features of the entertainment will be a baseball contest between the Marquette and Negaunee lodges. The batteries for the Marquette nine have been announced as Ray Lawrence and Ed King. “Painter” Harris will probably be on the mount for the Negaunee team with Art Roberts wearing the mask. The highlights of the program, however, is a wrestling match between Emil Mesola, of Negaunee and “Pug” Wjelander, of the Marquette Lodge. Both wrestlers are well versed in the arts of catch-as-catch-can and it is expected that an interesting match will result. The children are to be given pop, ice cream and candy. The lodges are also furnishing coffee, cream and sugar to the picnickers who are asked to bring basket lunches. An invitation has been extended to Ahmeek lodge, Ishpeming, to attend the picnic.