• Sunday-What'sUP December 19 - 04:51 pm

The lovely home across from the jail in Eagle River was built in the 1860's by the founder of the Lake Superior Safety Fuse Company: Joseph Blight, the subject of Sunday's Pasty Central Day in History. In the top photo, a few years ago, after heavy snowfall, Alan Abel and friends were staying in the home for a winter retreat, and decided to tunnel their way in.

Edie and I bought this home as a rental property in the early 90's, after it had been vacant for almost 20 years. We knew from the abstract there was a construction loan to Blight around the same time the fuse company was born (December 1862). During the renovation of the house, we discovered that someone had written "Blights Sons and Co" on the back of the trim before it was nailed on. I took the bottom picture this morning, where a piece of that trim is tacked up in our garage as a souvenir.

Thanks to James Ludos for the shot of the old fuse factory crate, and to Bill Haller for some of the photos in our Day in History. Bill has done some research on LSSF Co, in the course of his writing the story of Atlas Powder Company. Does anyone else out in Pastyland have any pictures or memories of the old fuse factory? One of these days we'll have to weave it all together into a Pasty Cameo.

By the way, sorry that we're all sold out of pasties before Christmas. The next best thing would be to download a Pasty Central Gift Certificate, right up to Christmas Eve to send to your favorite pasty lover.

Stay warm, stay safe, and have a good week :o)

Good Morning. Nice history.

Don't know much about the Atlas Powder Co, but I have been told that I have a short fuse at times.

Charlie ~

Very interesting history of this home.

When you say you bought it for a rental, do you mean as short term or long term?

Jbuck,

I guess the question never entered our thinking. We were just interested in seeing a vacant property put back into service, and thought it could be useful to somebody. For several years we rented it to campers at Gitche Gumee in the summer, while the camp was building more cabins. In the winter, student groups and snowmobilers would occasionally request it. After a few years, we were approached by a friend locally who wanted to buy it as her home, and we were very happy to see the place return to full time use.

FWIW, my understanding is that Jean Blight (Armstrong?), daughter of Roscoe L. Blight, is still alive and residing in lower Michigan. She might be an excellent source of "fuse factory" photographs and/or recollections.

So Charlie, when you bought the Hut, it wasn't the first fixer-upper you got into?

Thanks Charlie ~ from your comment i was thinking perhaps it was available for rental currently!

Jbuck, there is another nice rental home in Eagle River, mainly short-term, owned by Mary Long, in case you're looking.

Right, RD. But the Hut was on a whole different scale. In 2005 Pasty Central needed to relocate because of another Home proposing to merge with the Home-for-the-Aged where Pasty Central began. The Hut had been closed for some time, and our angel-investor proposed that we fix it up and move the whole operation to Kearsarge. It sure has been nice having John Gervais running the Hut the last couple of years. All three businesses seem to compliment each other, and keep rolling along.

I love success stories!
Merry Christmas Charlie, and continued success in the New Year.

Nice to see the name Mary Long pop up here. I haven't talked to her in a number of years but might stop on by this summer when Nat and I are in the area. Of course, we might have to look up Charlie and Edie as well while in Eagle River....

Can you believe this?? 7 months and we're already counting the days until we return; is that normal?? ;-)

Cpt. Paul, it sounds normal to me. I did get to have a pasty at Charlie's Hut this fall. But have to go back to CC to do some more in my list.

Capt. Very Normal, I count the days myself brother!

Charlie, does the Hut have individual tables and chairs? Marty and I and our crew like tables, we ain't the smallest guys around,lol, booths just won't cut it! If so, we'll be there, but all I remember is booths.

Yes John has set up a nice mix of tables along with the
booths. A number of round tables are also available.