• Wednesday-What'sUP November 22 - 10:02 pm

I spotted these first two shots in Bill Haller's album, where he explained that they were pavers from Pine St. in Calumet. Bill figures these pavers were originally installed around 1905, but wonders if anyone out there in Pasty Cam land knows for sure. They were replaced about two years ago and Bill acquired a number of them and put them to use in the foyer of his home, giving them life for their second century of use. Here's a bit of trivia about the Metropolitan Block Co., courtesy of Bill:

"Metropolitan Block claimed to be the largest paving block manufacturer in the world in 1902 and survives today. In addition to covering Pine Street in Calumet, their LESSER works include; both the Lincoln and Queens Tunnels, and the Indianapolis Speedway, hence the name "Brickyard". Samples are in the Smithsonian Museum."

Today's second shot is somewhat related, since it also hails from the streets of Calumet, has it's place in history there, too, and also has been revived, so to speak. The "Don't Spit on Walks" shot comes to us from Mike Rudzki.

After contacting, Tom Tikkanen, executive director of Main Street Calumet, I found out that the village put these signs on the new sidewalks around 1906. Tom said the police dept. doesn't enforce this now, but imagines they would if it became a problem again. He explained that back then it was not only unsightly and dirty with tobacco chews all over the place (imagine long skirts dragging in the stuff), but also unsanitary - especially with TB (consumption) not unusual at the time. And there you have a brief history on the streets and sidewalks of downtown Calumet.

Good morning. Cool stuff. Always something interesting on this site.

Very cool, Mary, especially about their LESSER works. That made me laugh!

As Ray said: amazing site. You see/learn something new every day.

Where's the time machine that'll let me walk in Calumet in 1905?

Bill/Mary,

The bricks were in fact laid in 1905 on 5th St, and I believe Pine St was done the same year or '06 judging from a very old picture I have marked "Springtime melt, Pine and 5th St 1907" that shows both streets being brick.

I believe 5th was the first street bricked in Calumet, any one else know??

I used some of the Metropolitan bricks as the border for my garden in Red Jacket Shaft.

They had ‘the do not spit’ warning imbedded in sidewalks in Marquette as well. I tried my very hardest to comply.

Very interesting, are the first two shots granite or marble? If so, where did it come from?

They are in the foyer of Bill Haller's home. Check with him.........

Only the bricks are from the street. Not the polished stone......

I wish Bill could tell us more about his foyer. How are
they used? Is that the floor? How did he do the
granite?

When I saw the Don't Spit picture, I knew I had one that I had taken
in Marquette. This was right in front of our home on North Front
Street in Marquette ...

Seeing the imprinted blocks reminded me of a childhood game we played in Gladstone. I think we called it number blocks, from the street names and numbers in the sidewalks. We used to have to not step on the blocks or you lost the game. Did anyone else play this game?

Although the pole mounted, relective street signs we have today are safer, I do miss the names and numbers in the sidewalks, as well as the impressed concrete pillars that use to be the street markers.

As a youngster, I went on a guided tour of Calumet in a horse-drawn wagon (Clayton's Clysdales, if I recall). The tour-guide pointed out the "do no spit" signs, and said that when the ordinance was enforced, the fine was $3.00 - $1 to the officer, $1 to the judge, and $1 to the Village. Huh! I wonder if that was true...

I have several dozen of those "Metropolitan Block" bricks forming the border of my garden. I like them because they are larger and heavier than normal bricks therefore the squirels and racoons can't roll them over very easily.

We used some of them in our flower garden in Red Jacket as well, but like an idiot, I never took any with me when we moved!!

If I had to take a guess, I would say those bricks are set in a dark granite, but pictures can be decieving...

Richard/Cheerokeyooper. Reading your post of memories brings to mind how I've always wished for something from my childhood. In Milwaukee we had fire alarm posts on every so many street corners. They were big red posts with a box that you opened to make a fire call. Haven't seen anything like anywhere else. And of course that was from the 50's era. Sure would love to have one next to my red caboose I've dreamed of. Oh my what dreams of the elder mind :)

The Metropolitan pavers were inlaid into a fired glass porcelain tile at the inspiration of local ceramic artist Jay Vollrath. Jay has done some fantastic projects in the Copper Country including many grand homes on Lake Superior shores and the Orthodox Monastery.