• Sunday-What'sUP March 27 - 12:25 am

Sitting on top of the world in 1938 - or at least on top of a very big snow pile in Houghton, Michigan. Spring storms can bring some of the heaviest accumulation in the Copper Country , like it did a week ago last Monday, with 22 inches in less than 24 hours.

The familiar spires of the Douglass House tie both photos together. But the summertime shot has an interesting twist, for those who are familiar with traffic in Houghton: It's moving in both directions. What a novel idea!

A few Shoebox Memories ago we featured a wintry scene from Senter, just a bit north and east of today's location. Remember this Tuesday the Archival Speakers Series at Michigan Tech will feature a couple of loyal Pasty Cam regulars - Bill and Eloise Haller - with the fascinating story of the Atlas Powder Company. That historic operation was in its heyday during the era to which today's photos transport us.

Very cool pictures. Nice to see Houghton as it looked back then. It sure is different now.

Change is everything.

Is that Ford dealership across from the old UPPCO building? I used to work at UPPCO but for the life of me cannot remember that being there. Maybe though.

Charlie, great photos, today. Another thing that ties these two photos together is the Ford dealership. It is an interesting exercise trying to use the first photo as a reference for perspective and then trying to imagine the snow pile in the second photo. It was a big snow pile. I see from the Bridge Cam that you are losing ice everyday. It won't be long before the crocuses start popping and the robins return just as they did back in 1938.

I think the two-way traffic changed to one-way around the late 50's. I recall a visitor from Ontonagon coming to our home which was then next to the Presbyterian Church on Franklin Square (really a triangle). He arrived at our house safely but said he had a rough time driving through town because everyone was honking at him. Not aware of the traffic change he had driven down Memorial Drive, crossed the bridge corner and continued East right through town on Sheldon to the church. We left that house in 1960 and moved next door so that is how I pin-point the date. --Another Shoebox suggestion: Does anyone have a photo of the flour mill which was at what is now the Isle Royale National Park property? I think after the flour mill ceased operation that Erickson Feed and Seed was located there before they moved up the hill. And when did the Park Service take over that property?

Meant to add that when my husband and I moved to Houghton in November 1955 one of the Elders in our church was Jerry McCauslin who was the manager (I believe) of Atlas Powder. He may have been the last.

And another member of the Pres. Church was Ralph Pierce who also worked at Atlas. He was married to Mildred Seaman, former daughter-in-law of the Seaman Mineral Museum guy.

Yes,Jerry was the Manager then. He and his wife lived nearby in Chattanoga. Jerry passed away some years ago and if I remember correctly his wife passed away more recently. They were very nice to my husband when he was first transferred up there.

Hey Charlie, is their anyway these Presentations could be recorded and made available to people out of the area. I love all the history of the area, but being in Illinois most of the year makes it tough to attend any of these. You maybe the wrong person to bring this up to, but thought I would ask.

charlie, I was going to ask the same thing as Gordon.I was thinking of going up to Houghton but one of my grandsons got sick and I will be here since they came to visit. I will probably be sick next.Hate to travel when I am sick.

I'll ask around and see what might be done. Somebody who does a great job of covering this sort of thing is Matt Monte and his crew. If we could find a sponsor, perhaps talks like these and the "Fourth Thursday in History" presentations could be made available, as an extra boost for the MTU Archives.

Charlie;
I would also be interested in these type of presentations if something can be worked out. Please keep us informed.

Charlie, I would like to add my vote along with those of Ken, Mike and Gordon's! Have always been fascinated with the history of the area. Keep us posted on this and the "Fourth Thursday in History" as well. Thanks.

Mark me down as another interested person. My great grandfather, John Condon, worked there. My son is at Tech and I had asked him to attend for me. However, he is attending the American Chemical Society meeting in Atlanta. I thought about driving up there myself just to hear the talk but now I must head down to Kentucky for work. Sooooo, if there is a way to get a copy of the presentation, I would be happy to pay for it. Thanks!

Glad to see other interest in this, when I was up last year I took the Keweenaw Star boat tour of the former Mill sites along Torch Lake and loved it, wish they would have had a larger crowd, was a beautiful day for the ride. Didn't have time to do any of the other stuff although was able to walk through Dee Stadium and see all the old photos on display. Sad to see what was and whats not any more, some for the good and some for the bad.

I think the building on the very left of the summer pic is the Houghton Post Office. The Ford dealership was Copper Motors, wasn't it? My Mom used to send me to the Douglas House every day to get the Gazette. We lived between Montezuma Ave. and Shelden Ave. behind and up the hill from the Bar-B-Que restaurant. That was in '48.

I remember, too, that the traffic was two-way then.

Ken, But the building heading towards the bridge across from the Ford Motor Co. is UPPCO, isn't it? At least I think it is. I remember the post office being across the street somewhere. There was also a Big Boy restaurant down the street where we used to go to eat on Fridays during lent (and other times too) and my aunt worked at (was it) Central Foods. And of course there was that great bakery where they used to send me for rolls. Houghton has always been a nice little city.

Gordy, I'm hoping to take that tour this year too. Is that the one where they have a dinner cruise? Anyway, I'd love to take it because when I lived up there we used to go along that area in the boat. Would love to see how everything's changed in the last 27 years along the lakeside.

My mother turned 16 in May of 1938. Her older brother took her down and she paid her 50 cents for her drivers license. Then he took her to this Ford dealer and borrowed a car and took her down on the "sands" and taught her how to drive. Imagine doing something like that now!

Deb S., I think you're right about the UPPCO building. Maybe RCW would have a clearer memory.