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

30 years ago

MARQUETTE — Northern Michigan University’s Wildcat Marching Band has been invited to lead the Lord Mayor’s New Year’s Parade in London in 1990. One university band is usually invited to lead the parade of 10 high school bands from the United States and schools in Great Britain and five other European countries. Band members have started raising the $800 per member needed to make the trip, which will include transportation, five days in London and tours. The trip is also being offered to the public at the same cost. Contributions can be made to the NMU Development Fund.

60 years ago

ISLE ROYALE — The Great Lakes’ newest vessel, the Ranger III, left Marquette this morning bound for her home port, Houghton, on her maiden voyage. The sleek National Park Service vessel, which will transport passengers and freight between Houghton and Isle Royal National Park, was en route from Sturgeon Bay, Wis., where she was built by the Christy Corp. Among those aboard the Ranger III were John Lewis, superintendent of the island park in Lake Superior; Congressman John Bennett, Ontonagon Republican who was instrumental in obtaining appropriations for the $1,200,000 vessel, and R.A. Stearn, Sturgeon Bay, naval architect. Painted blue and cream, the new vessel will replace the World War II minesweeper- converted to National Park Service use, Ranger II, to provide improved service between Houghton and Isle Royale. The Ranger III has a cruising speed of 15 MPH, compared to 12 for the previous Ranger II and will make the Houghton-Isle Royale crossing five hours, compared to six and a half to seven hours for the older boat. The Ranger III will have a capacity of 100 passengers, whereas the Ranger II can carry only 16.