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Ishpeming ‘built’ reputation for holdups in 1901

Ishpeming was once considered something of a wild West town, akin to the national reputation of Hurley, Wisconsin, just over the border from Ironwood. “Ishpeming’s fame as a hold-up city has gone far and wide, and a few more crimes of the nature of those committed here recently will place the city on a par with Chicago. “The many hold-ups perpetrated here within the past few weeks are furnishing topics of conversation for the knights of the grip in all parts of the upper peninsula. “A crowd of drummers were sitting in the lobby of the Nelson House yesterday, when one of ...

Long and interesting history: Jackson House among most historic in Negaunee

The founding of Negaunee came through the operations of the Jackson Iron Ore Company and their discoveries of iron ore in the Teal Lake region. Interest in the mining resources of the area that is now Marquette County was awakened following the discovery of iron ore in 1844, prompting droves of people to come to Marquette County in search of mineral wealth. In 1846, six or seven crude cabins were erected at the Jackson Mountain for the first miners who arrived. After a number of rocky years, the settlement built the Red Boarding House in 1857. Little is known about this building, ...

The puzzling case of the shooting of a saloon keeper

“William Lucas, the saloon keeper, lies in the Ishpeming hospital suffering from a serious wound as the result of a bold attempt to rob his place of business last night. His assailant escaped, but the officers have a clue to his identity and are hard at work on the case.” (Mining Journal, July 26, 1901) The attempted robbery happened during a time when Ishpeming was fast gaining a reputation that no city wants, that of a hold-up city. “Shortly before closing time, at 11 o'clock, while Lucas was alone in the saloon, engaged in sweeping, a young man entered by the back door. The ...

Kirkpatrick a 19th century pioneer: Revived bankrupt iron mine upon move to area

Joseph Kirkpatrick was born in County Down Ireland in 1819. When he came to this country, he settled in Pittsburgh.  At age 55, he made a radical change and moved with his family from Pittsburgh to the Marquette County community of Palmer. Joseph’s motives for moving from Pittsburgh were mixed. Heavy industry had expanded in Pennsylvania’s Allegheny County and he opposed higher taxes. Palmer and Negaunee may have been similar to Newtownards, the city of his youth. His family consisted of his wife, Isabella, age 45, and his children, William, 21; Joseph, 19; Margaret, 17; ...

Water meters dominate public discussion

ISHPEMING — “At Wednesday’s meeting of the common council it was decided by that body to put in water meters for the purpose of preventing the waste which is now going on. The report of the investigating committee which visited the cities of Milwaukee, Madison and Iron Mountain, was ...

Historically speaking

NEGAUNEE — The Pioneer blast furnace of Negaunee was the most famous of all blast furnaces that operated in the Upper Peninsula. It was said to have been the first actual blast furnace in Michigan. A small settlement sprang up in the furnace location and it became known as Pioneer, after ...