Copper Country Scrapbook II

Before getting to the Scrapbook for today, I have an announcement for all my loyal readers (and those finding this site for the first time). Starting today Copper Country Explorer is on an indefinite hiatus. For the time being at least I can no longer dedicate the time and resources to this site that I have been over the past year. As most of you have probably noticed my posting as of late has been lacking and somewhat random in frequency. There is a good reason for this. I need to turn those 30 or so hours a week I had been putting into this over to other more urgent matters, and this site will have to be put on the back burner. This doesn’t mean the site is dead - It will return in the future but in a different capacity as it is now. I can’t go into many more specifics right now, but It won’t be the same site you have been accustomed to here. Hopefully it will be better, we’ll see.

In the meantime I would like to thank all my loyal readers. I have enjoyed immensely chatting with all of you through comments and in email. Some of you (and you know who you are) have been more generous and kind to me and this site then I ever though possible and I would like to thank you for that. I know I have about 30 loyal fans who read this site every day and I appreciate all of your support in any way you provided it. You have all been great friends who I have enjoyed exploring this great Copper Country Empire with you.

On a more positive note, I would like to say that while the daily updates to this site will no longer continue, I will still add material from time to time (maybe once a week if I can pull it off). So the site isn’t dead, just on a indefinite vacation. I will also continue to respond to comments and emails, so feel free to drop me a note or two. So please stop back by from time to time, you’ll never know what new stuff you may find. That being said, on to the Scrapbook for today:

Its been a while since I’ve done a Copper Country Scrapbook, mostly because only one person decided to send me any photos. (thanks dcclark!) But over the last few weeks some of my other regular readers have recently come up here for vacation and snapped a few photos of their own. So now I got some stuff to share with all of you. We’ll start with the photo above, that I took. This was taken off the old dock at the mouth of the Tobacco River, shot back near the beginning of a summer that is now rapidly coming to a close. I always liked this photo but it didn’t really fit in anywhere - unitl now.

One of the things that has constantly fascinate me about the copper country was its ability to not only exists in multiple time periods simultaneously, but also to exist in multiple worlds at the same time as well. This is most noticeable in the grand architecture of this area’s churches. A friend of mine who had spent many years in Germany remarked during his first visit to the area that the churches here reminded him of old Europe and the centuries-old churches seen there. Here is the twin spires of the St. Paul the Apostle church of Calumet, as captured by Charles Odalaigh.

Another great photo from Charles, this is of the second most beautiful church in Calumet. This is St. Annes, the cornerstone of downtown Calumet. Originally a catholic church, it now serves as a heritage museum. I’ve attempted to take photos of this church before, but its location makes it nearly impossible to capture correctly. And yes, this church was featured in a B horror movie by the name of “Children of the Night”. Check it out at your local video store…(if you dare).

Here is the shaft house that I don’t consider “standing”, and by this photo you can easily see why. This is the Centennial #3, taken just recently by Jay Balliet on his vacation to the area. Not seen clearly here is the fact that the front left (from this angle) batter brace had broken in half, as well as a support or two along the buildings base. This precarious tilt to the left I’m sure can not be sustained for long before falling over. One of those places I should get to before it gone.

Jay brings us a look at the Cliff Cemetery, sitting along the base of the Cliff Range’s high bluffs. This cemetery is one of those amazing finds you come across along the Keweenaw if you look hard enough. The first time I found it, sitting in the middle of the woods, I felt like the first person to find it in over a century. By the looks of this photo there was at least one other. What’s most notable is the fact that most of the tombstones left standing are for children, some only a few months old. Life along the Keweenaw was no doubt tuff for everyone, but more so for the youngest I’m sure.

Now for those photos actually submitted to me using the submit button at the top of the page. (hint hint) Dcclark sent me a few photos of his recent explorations around the area, one of them this one of a pile of rocks. I’m still not sure what these photos are of however. He thought it might be the Michigan Smelter, but the location isn’t quite right. He found these at the corner of Old Mill Hill Road and Houghton Canal Road, just above the old Copper Range trestle. The Michigan Smelter was further west, sitting on the corner of Coles Creek Road. However, somewhere in the vicinity was the old Atlantic Mill (before it was moved to Redridge) so its possible that these ruins are of that. Maybe someone else can fill us in.

Another pic from dcclark, this time a spot I actually can identify (I think). These rusting relics are sitting along Hills Creek just northwest of Ahmeek. Somewhere near hear once sat the Hills Creek Stamp Mill, which processed copper ore from the nearby Allouez Mine. The red sands left here are from that mill, which match the red color of the poor rock piles still existent at Allouez. Known as “red sands” locally, this spot is often used for parties. (or so I’ve been told)

Thank you to everyone who have let me post their photos. Its all very much appreciated. Until next time (whenever that will be)…

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