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Superiorland Yesterdays

Superiorland Yesterdays

30 years ago MARQUETTE – More than 74 inches of snow have fallen already this season, setting the stage for downhill and cross-country skiers. “It’s been an excellent season. Mother Nature sure has been cooperating,” said Bob Epps, lift manager at Marquette Mountain. The Marquette ski hill, which opened on Nov. 17, has 17 trails open and is operating all four lifts. Typically, the hill needs manmade snow through mid-January, but snowmaking may be complete by the end of the week. Greg Hokans, executive director of the Marquette Country Convention and Visitors Bureau, said, “If ...

Superiorland Yesterdays

30 years ago ISHPEMING – Bethel Lutheran Church rose from the ashes of last summer’s fire and hosted services for its members Sunday. Renovation of the 108-year-old Ishpeming church is reportedly 86 percent complete following the June 21 blaze started by a lightning strike. More than 550 people attended Christmas Eve services, which included singing “O’ Little Town of Bethlehem.” Irene Stampee, 93, and Daisy Jaaks, 91, were among those in attendance. The building renovation is expected to be complete in several weeks. 60 years ago MARQUETTE — Supervisors, patrol members ...

Superiorland Yesterdays

30 years ago MARQUETTE – Twenty groups from the Marquette County area decorated trees for the inaugural “Winter Wonderland Walk” holiday tree display at Peter White Public Library and Marquette County Historical Museum. During the open house at the library and museum on Dec. 3, several hundred people viewed the trees and cast votes for their favorites. The display, which may become an annual event, is open through Dec. 30. The results of the public vote are as follows: Best Overall – “Days Gone By” by Marquette County Medical Care Facility; Most Original Theme – “Tweeze ...

Superiorland Yesterdays

30 years ago NEGAUNEE – You don’t often hear “Silent Night” sung in English, Swedish and Finnish simultaneously. And most folks don’t get to see St. Lucia pass around the saffron bread. Both holiday happenings were part of the recent “Pikku Joulu” (“Little Christmas” in Finnish) celebration at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Negaunee. Conducted annually by the church’s Finnish-speaking Mary Circle, the event featured a presentation about Christmas in Sweden by retired Lutheran minister Robert Sutherland. Special guest St. Lucia was actually Jonelle Collins, an Immanuel ...

Superiorland Yesterdays

30 years ago ISHPEMING - Project Newborn Rock’n’Read recently brought books to preschool children at Birchview Elementary School in Ishpeming Tuesday. Ishpeming High School Key Club members Kate Kariniemi and Tricia Jackson read to Ishpeming preschoolers Kerri Myers, daughter of Tom and Marge Myers; Nicole Kulju, daughter of Roger and Jackie Kulju; and Eric Dompierre, son of Dean and Jill Dompierre. Project Newborn is a literacy program that lets preschoolers choose a free book for themselves. It is sponsored by the Ishpeming, Negaunee, N.I.C.E. and Marquette school districts, 60 ...

Superiorland Yesterdays

30 years ago ISHPEMING – A new film on the history of skiing in Michigan, including a segment on Ishpeming’s ski-jumping legacy, will air at 8 tonight on WNMU Public TV 13. In the 90-minute program titled “Winter Wonderland,” Traverse City based independent filmmaker Bill Jamerson examines the origins of skiing in the U.P. The program contains historic footage of the building of the Pine Mountain Ski Jump in Iron Mountain and early ski jumping days in Ishpeming. It also features interviews with numerous well-known Ishpeming ski jumpers, including former Olympian Paul Bietila ...