Today, the archive gives us a look at some of the interesting things you can find all across the Upper Peninsula. We start back in 2006, with a photo snapped by Bill Haller. He was in Marquette when he spotted this Charcoal Kiln that was used to fuel the Carp River Blast Furnace in the late 1800’s to early 1900’s. What an interesting part of the local history there.

You never know what you’ll see as lawn decorations when you’re driving around U.P. roads. I found that out back in 2011, when cruising along the Paradise Road near Chassell and saw this backyard train. The owner even made a set of tracks for it to sit on there. It would be interesting to hear the history of where this little train came from and what it had been used for previously.

Bruce Watters made an interesting find when visiting the first open pit mine in the Lake Superior Region, the Jackson Mine in Negaunee. The scene recreated in the third photo, is what was called double-jacking, which is a method of hand drilling that required three men. Two men with sledge hammers would pound on the drill that was held by a third, which was often just a boy. Mining with just the use of manpower was a back-breaking job in those days.

Being somewhat fascinated with the backyard train in the middle photo, I went in search of a train video and stumbled upon one from John B. Rails Videos, of the Toonerville Trolley at Soo Junction, MI. This is the longest 2 foot gauge railroad in the United States. Watch while the train switches tracks in the process of putting it away for the night.

My apologies for the late appearance of the Pasty Cam today. As you may know, Mary Drew prepares the weekday and Saturday pictures and videos, and I publish it each morning (or at least that's the goal). Debbie and I happen to be out in Utah today, attending the graduation commencement of the "Pasty Girl", Becky Richards (who also happens to be my daughter :o). Becky first appeared on the Pasty Cam back when she was in High School, and eventually joined our family in Pasty Central's operation, doing the order fulfillment for our FedEx shipments. Today she reached the milestone of her MBA from Utah State University, and we are all very proud of her.

And thankfully, we got the Pasty Cam posted before midnight :o)

1985 - 1998 - 20181985 - 1998 - 2018

Great to hear about Becky, Charlie.

The 2012 statue always reminds me of a similar one in downtown Helsinki, Finland. Whenever we would walk past it we jokingly referred to it as "The Miller Time" statue.

Congratulations Becky!

Congratulations, Becky!