• Sunday-What'sUP October 23 - 07:36 am

Found this in my Inbox this morning:

I wanted to let you and other Pasty Cam visitors know that we will be holding an Open House at Painesdale Mine & Shaft next Sunday, October 29th from noon until 3pm. We have a new group of volunteers (mostly new), including a new President to get the restoration ball rolling again in Painesdale.

The attached a photo I recently obtained is of Painesdale in the 1920-1930's. It is looking south, the intersection being Duncan (M-26) and Adams at the north end of town. The bus driving south into Painesdale may be a Copper Range Motor Bus Company bus as it is the same bus style, just painted differently than the one I have seen (which appeared as the 1/2/05 Shoebox Memory). Jeffers school and Champion #2 (or B) Shaft-Rockhouse can be seen on the left, just above the bus in the distance.

Everyone is invited to the Painesdale Mine & Shaft next Sunday, October 29th from noon until 3pm. Sorry to hear about Still Waters closing, but happy to see the Hut back open, and hopefully will get to stop by next visit.

Kevin Musser
CopperRange.org

Some of those houses haven't changed much! It's nice to see these old pictures.

Seemed to remember the old Press on Regardless Rally during the mid to late 60's. They called it a Rally, but it was a race if I remember sitting left seat..........

great pictures. Wish I could be there for the Open House.

Good morning from SUOMI! Also I want say; magnificent and history pictures!!!

Dave, Sorry you can't make the open house on the 29th. But I will extend to you and any of the pasty.com crew a personal invite to tour when in town. We do not have enough volunteers to hold regular hours but we will do tours upon request! Two of the PM&S officers live within a stone's throw of the shafthouse and we are more than willing to show Champion 4. You may email me at dlpindral@hotmail.com or give Kevin an email, and we will try our hardest to give you a tour!

I must clarify my post: The tour invite is not just the pasty.com crew. I mean any and all who visit this wonderful site!

Does the Painesdale Mine and Shaft do a news letter any more? I would like to contribute and be informed of progress. I sent a check a few years ago that was cashed but never recieved any correspondence. I would love to be there for the open house but the 12 hour drive.

Anyone have a recent shot of the same view? That would be interesting to see and compare!

yep...time for Neil to take a plane ride over Painsdale :)
or he may even have a pic in his archives

Ah, yes, wonderful memories. If the first street is Adams, the second was Baltic. We lived on Baltic in a "company house," a duplex, actually. Dad wanted a garage so the company said go the lumber yard, pick out what you want and build it. Dad would go a couple miles south to company land and cut wood for the winter. And of course, the company store, made famous in the Johnny Cash song. But I did not know until recently that the Paine in Painesdale is the same Paine as in Paine Webber. Boston financiers provided money to get the mines going. Also interested in how I can join PM and S. Thank you.

Babyseal--What a nice invitation. I wish I could take you up on it.
My mother and aunt took the train to Painesdale for high school
and have always spoken so fondly of Jeffers and the community.

great pictures of yesterdays gone by go raith maith agat i remain walter p

Wow, the old pictures of Painesdale are wonderful
to look at. Spent a lot of time in Painesdale as
a kid visiting my Grandma Ravasz. She lived on the corner of Concord St & M-26. Aunts & uncles
plus their kids would come up for summer vacation
from downstate, we'd all get together, had a great time. Those were the days, gone but memories are there.

Ray:
Painesdale Mine & Shaft has memberships. If you send your information to PM&S at PO Box 332 Painesdale, MI 49955 I will send out the latest prochure and a membership form.
I noticed you know Adams, and Baltic streets, but is anyone else aware that the streets were named alphabetically. I can name all the way up to I. Not sure they continue after that. Lets see, Adams, Baltic, Concord, Douglas, Evergreen, Forrest, Godell, Highland, Iroquois (sp?), Kearsarge. OK, where is the street starting with J?? HM.........

Hey Ray,
What jonny cash song was written about the painesdale mine?

Hei Ray, are you thinking of the Tennessee Ernie Ford, "16 Ton", song and the part about 'the company store'? I don't remember a Johnny Cash song about a company store. 'Course it wouldn't be the first time I was wrong about something.

Yup. Tennessee Ernie it is. Memory is the second thing to go, and I forget the first.

My grandmother, Hilma Tikkanen, went to the Jeffers school. She talked about taking the train to school. I think she rode the train from Redridge. My grandfather, her future husband, Raymond Koivo, lived in Beacon Hill and my mother Donna was born in Freda. I visited Freda in August via the covered road. I'm sure it was beautiful when the leaves turned. I'm so glad to be a Yooper from Mass City (East Branch actually), even though I don't live there any more.

"You load sixteen tons,how does it feel? Too tired to work,too scared to steal. St. Peter,don't you holler for me today,'cause I'm a-diggin' the other way." This song will be stuck in my head all day now,alternating between Tennessee Ernie AND Homer and Jethro.
I was working on Adams St. yesterday and,as usual,the conversation led to the lives and times in Painesdale as I don't know it. I saw the wide open spaces,fences and gardens yesterday as I swung my washrag while listening to the stories. Now I am leisurely taking in the visual from my lazy-butt chair.

Here's the song::

http://www.ernieford.com/SixteenTons.htm

I've had the great fortune of a personal tour of the #4 shaft and rockhouse. Climbed up the shaft and explored it, the hoist house, mine captains office etc, in depth. A memory not soon forgotten. I've also spent some time exploring the town, Seeberville, old railroad grades and other mine shaft areas (#1,2,3).
You see, I know the new president quite well. We've shared numerous history seeking roadtrips throughout the U.P. I will always be grateful for my expanded Copper Country knowledge because of those adventures.
The president has strong convictions on saving local history. I think she will do this position proud. Get on the band wagon. Give her and the new commitee help and support to save Painesdale's Champion #4.
I will be supporting the cause. You should too.
Let's save the U.P.'s past!

Dan
pipewrench70

It was so neat to come across this picture and see my grandma's house. (it's the dark one right on the corner on the left side of the street). My uncle still lives there and my other uncle lives in the house next door. I have a lot of great memories there and it's great to be able to see it the way it was way back then! Thank you for putting it up!

Jackie Nees