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

30 years ago

EBEN — Many school students are more likely to celebrate only the last day of school, but not Marcie Cox’s kindergarten students at Superior Central School. On their 100th day in school, students had a party, balloon release, and visit from Alger County historians who discussed what life was like 100 years ago. “I thought this program was a great idea to give children place value,” Cox said. “We have done counting every day leading up to this. It’s a good activity for the dull days of winter. Students enjoyed guest appearances from “Zero the Hero,” and Faye Swanberg and Dorothy Kuenzer from the Alger County Historical Society who brought an old trunk with photos and artifacts at least 100 years old. In addition, students were asked to bring in their collections of 100 items. “This helps children to see that 100 is a very large number,” she said. “The celebration is our biggest party and one the kids really look forward to.”

60 years ago

L’ANSE — The patrons of the L’Anse Township Schools and Public Library read 29,562 books during 1959, according to the yearly circulation record issued by Librarian Mrs. Janice Varney and her assistant Mrs. Ellen Wallin. Many new registrants were added to the list during the year, for a total of 1,262 registered borrowers. A brief report of the 1959 circulation record: adult nonfiction, 5,319; juvenile non-fiction, 5,320; adult fiction, 9,179; juvenile fiction, 9,744. Total circulation in 1958 was 26,080. Many college students representing Suomi College, Michigan Tech, and Northern Michigan College made use of the library facilities in the evening and on weekends.