• Sunday-What'sUP May 23 - 11:53 am

Take a right turn on US-41 north, a few miles past Phoenix (at Central), and eventually you'll end up at Gratiot Lake. Along the way, you'll climb Mount Horace Greeley and notice some interesting structures and towers on the left. But these days a closed gate at the highway prevents you from driving up to this neighborhood. It's the old Radar Base, or as it was known more recently, the former Keweenaw Academy. Aviator Neil Harri captured this bird's-eye view of the isolated village, now a ghost town, on top of the mountain.

Does anyone out there have any pictures of the old radar dome? Back in the 60's and 70's I recall seeing the dome all the way from Bumbletown Hill, or up on Brockway. It was on the building in the left of this close-up, the one with the tall tower on top, now used for cell phones - and also the major relay point for Pasty.NET's wireless broadband Internet service.

first post,good morning U.P.

Good Morning, looks to be a nice day, 55 degrees
sun is out, rain during the night will really help flowers bloom now and grass grow. Have a great day.

Looks like a nice piece of property. I remember the domes from the late 60's, but never got up there. I got a better appreication for Army architecture after I was drafted in 1970, but the buildings must be usable for something, and the property looks beautiful from the air.....but of course everything, even Detroit, looks beautiful from the air............

Yesterday was armed forces day and we were lucky enough to have the flying side of the Air Force on display at Selfridge ANG base with static ground displays and the navy's BLUE ANGELS showing us their skills.

Charlie: Bill Inkrote used to be stationed there , I think. I sent Bill the web info and asked him to let you know anything that he knew (if he worked there).

Sharon: it looks like it's raining from your deck! Loved the aerial shot today.

My first job after graduating NMU was at the Keweenaw Academy! I lived in upper housing, ($200/month), I think. Lots of great and not so great memories up there!

Looks like an awfully good facility. Too bad it can't be put to some use.

About 1958 I flew a B-25 bomber to the Memorial Airport and visited with Ed, Pat, and Bob Chopp. Prior to departing, the tower told me that the airmen at the Calumet Radar station would like a fly-by. That sounded like a government request to me so I gave the boys a good old fashioned "fly-by". They were all standing on building rooftops and waving. Some of them may still remember that...I do!

We used to snowmobile to the Harbor and on the way would stop at the Officer's Club. The young ones of us would have hotchocolate to warm up. I also remember walking through the woods, and the base when my father, Jack Stevens was scoping out a place for the snowmobile trail back in the late 60's early 70's. As a child my grandfather had a cottage next to the public access site down on the lake. We kids always wondered what kind of space aliens must be over by the dome. tee hee hee.... I also served on the original "community awareness" committee when the Academy came and had the opportunity to visit the Academy when it was running.

Looks like a great place for a NASCAR Road Race Course.That would be good for da economy all around da area eh? Stock Car races on off weeks.Motor cross in da Spring,Snowmobile in da Winter.All year round sumding to do to bring in da Big Bucks.

walter..
Living here in Pensacola (home of the Blue Angels) just 4 miles north of the air base, we have the priviledge of seeing the Blue Angels perform twice a year, including their practice sessions which fly right over our apartment. "We love the Blues"

You would think they could use that as a camp for kids.

How far is this development from Mount Bohemia.?????.....looks like it could be utilized as some sort of an all season-resort connected to the ski area..there must be a landing strip.......?? could bring in all that tourist money from Chicago, St Louis and Milwaukee etc. .....where private planes can fly in.

Is the Academy kept up the way the picture looks??? (Mowed lawns and all) Someone from Pasty.net should know.

What a waste of a prime piece of property for other uses.

Back on Oct 15th 2004, there is a beautiful autumn pix of the radar base on Pasty.net

At one point, my Great Grandfather owned most of the property along the lake called Gratiot Lake. There was a clean natural spring for the families to use while camping at the lake. That base polluted the spring forever with runoffs. Too bad the base did not look ahead to see what preventive measures could be taken to protect the area.

Neat pic of the base. It's a shame that the housing is sitting unused. In Monroe County they closed a base, and the housing sat unused for years. Then in the 90's a company bought up the property; rehabbed the houses and sold them as condos. Downstate Don might remember more details of it. Wonder why they don't do the same with the Old Radar base. Sure does look like a beautiful spot in God's country, and such a shame to waste the housing units.

From January, 1972 until Spring of 1974, I worked as a civilian at the radar base, in the commissary (grocery store). Having worked at the commissary at Selfridge ANG it was a pleasant change from 7 or 8 cash registers with lines of people, to only one, and getting to know the customers. We depended on KI Sawyer AFB for non perishable items, and the local businesses for bread, milk etc. My grandmother lived in Houghton, and I was familiar with the Keweenaw when I started working there, but had never spent a winter. It was an eye opener, but I still love the area. I can remember the hill going up to the base too icy to climb, and sliding backwards to the access road. There was no air strip, to land a plane, but we did have a helicopter landing area. Today I am retired from government service, and live near Selfridge ANG Base, where the Blue Angels are flying today, also. My husband is out there, enjoying the aircraft.

I was stationed at the radar site in 53-55. First winter we had over 254 inches of snow. I too recall the hill from the access road up to the base and getting our humongous snowblower stuck in the ditch one day. Sgt Bergheffer(sp)who I believe is still in Laurium, and Frank (Louie) Ucman were two names I remember. There was no housing for married personnel at that time so many of us lived in the Houghton area which made an interesting drive in the winter, however the roads were always in excellent condition. I enjoy visiting the area from time to time.

We own the acerage closest to the old base. Both the Air Force and the Academy were good neighbors. If we needed assistance, all we needed to do was call.
If I remember correctly, the base was constructed around 1951. We bought our property in 1958 for deer hunting and have been there ever since.
It is a shame that it is just sitting there, falling down. I know that the county owns the facility now. Are they doing anything to find new tennants? Are they going to take it down? If anyone knows what is going on with it, I would appreciate knowing.

In the late '50's and early '60's, the Radar Station assigned life guards to summer duty at the Eagle Harbor beach. The Guards actually lived in Eagle Harbor during their assignment. Also remember playing on the beach when planes were trying to fly in under radar. That really got one's attention in a big hurry.

We used to use the domes as a landmark on the Bay when fishing in the 60's and 70's. The dome, the barn in Aura and the "Baltic Hump" were a Yooper GPS.
I got to spend a couple of nights at the base in the early 70's as some kind of Boy Scout function. It was very quiet up there at night. There as a jet (F-80 shooting star?) on a pedestal at the gate that you could poke your head into.

Back in the 1970's and early 80's we used the radar domes as referance points for sport fishing out of Big Traverse Bay.
We would align the domes up with some large pine trees along the shoreline to find our favorite fishing holes.
The NCO club at the Radar base was also one of our favorite pit stops while we were out snowmobiling in the area. It was a great place to stop by for a quick bite and visit with the some of the guys. Sorry to see it close.

I recall looking DOWN! at a B-52 from atop Brockway as it flew through the valley between Brockway abd the Keweenaw Lodge. As Liz said, it got your attention when they would try to hide from the radar.

Ray Berghefer: I see a note by PsmittSC listing my name and Louis Ucman. Louis is long gone but I am still here! At the time this Airman was at te base I may have been the 1st. Sgt. there. I was stationed at the base from 1952 to 1954 I married a local girl and when I retired in 1964 I returned here to live. I was the first one from the base to retire here. Since then there have been many more. There were 19 of us who married local girls who came back to live here and started the Reunions that we now have every 3 yrs. the next one being this Aug. Please contact me or someone else locally as I don't find your name in our booklet. Thank You crazyray@pasty.com

speaking of former bases up north... does anyone know much about the rocket launch site that was active in the decades ago for testing missiles? It is north of Copper Harbor, past the point where US41 ends. I tried to find it a couple of times, but was given bad directions and almost got lost. Still made for a couple of good day hikes though :) I came across a website once that explained the base, but I can't seem to get to it again. apparently there is nothing left but a few concrete foundations, but recently a plaque was mounted on the site to explain its history.

This looks like a beautiful spot with some real potential as a resort of some sort. Hope the county finds someone to realize that and make it a reality!

I picked up an delivered laundry to the base in 1954--working for Columbia laundry---like lot of Walt Kittis boys did after graduating

Oh, my, Paul in Ill. and all, looking DOWN at a B-52 would be quite an experience. That is a big, bad plane! I lived at K I Sawyer in '67 and '68 and marveled at the B-52s. Had also seen them in southwest GA in the early 60's doing night mock bombing runs -- they were low and had their lights on. But never have I looked down on one!

Very interesting conversations on todays Pasty Cam. Learning some history about the Calumet Air Force Base that I never knew before.

I have no idea how many mornings I marched my "students" from their dorm,up that hill and into the gym so they could start the day with some eye opening PT...Sometimes they'd open our eyes!!"STAFF SUPPORT!!!!" YSI was a great place to work.

Kevin in Ripley: Try this Link:http://www.gt.org/keweenaw-rocket-base/index.html for info about the launch site beyond Copper Harbor.

Kevin Ripley Mi. If you went north of Copper Harbor you would br out into Lake Superior. To get to the rocket launch site you need to travel in an easterly direction from Copper Harbor along the shoreline towards Schlatters Lake. Take along a compass and try again. It;s easy to find.

Charlie,

I have some pictures of the domes taken in the 70's from the rock piles in Central when we were hunting copper, but I am in the beginning of a move into a different house and any hope of getting to them is lost for the time being. I will try to find them when I can though.

https://www.pasty.com/discuss/messages/994/1669.html


The rocket range was previously discussed...such
interesting stuff here on this site!

I can remember looking at the domes from Gay when I stayed with my grandmother when I was a youth during the 60's

Working at the "Radar Base" in the Engineering office and then at
the Commissary were my first "jobs" of my married life, from
66-70. The drive from Hecla Street in Laurium in the winter in
my old VW were especially interesting! I also remember staying
in Lac La Belle at Simula's place during the summer my dad (Ed
Harjala) worked as a carpenter when the base was being built.
Some good memories!

My son worked at the academy for several months until it closed down. He lived in one of the base houses. I have actually been watching this site since I moved him back because it is such a beautiful area. Interesting to see pics of someplace I have been. I will get web info to him to see if he has any input.

When did the Academy close?

The academy closed around mid Feb 2004.

Used to hear stories (maybe legends) about people having their camera equipment confiscated by military personnel if they were discovered taking pictures of the base.

Nobody every claimed that it personally happened to them, however.

On a side note, wonder how many local girls married airmen who were stationed there?

Are there any plans to do anything with the Academy since it closed?

My dad (Preston Langley) met my mom (Marilyn Raudio)in Laurium while stationed at this base. I remember many trips to the dentist. Ouch! Also many trips to shop at the base. Besides the dentist appointments, the rest of the experiences at this base were great. I can remember it as if it were yesterday. My family lived in Michigan until 1985, moved to Florida and now my mom and dad are back living in the UP! Love my visits back every year!

Thanks for the pictures!

Carol Ann (Langley) Peltier
Libby, Montana

Carol Ann, any relation to the market owners in Kearsarge?

House # 57 will forever be a legend.

I lived on base from November 1997 -April 2001. What a beautiful place to live. In the summer's- early in the morning we would see the northern lights. Winter of 1998, I had never seen so much snow. The area around the base is awesome, the wild life that surrounds the base brings back a lot of fun stories. One year we had to set up this huge bear trap. One of the counselors at night ran into a bear trying to break into the outside cooler for some ice cream. The houses in "lower housing," all have hard wood floors and were fairly spacious. I know recently there were vandals up at the base, and did a lot of damage to some of the buildings. I have wonderful memories of the friends I made up there, and working with the boys at the academy. I truly miss working there. It is a waste of great property to be sitting empty, but there is a lot of work that needs to be done to fix the place up.

Brad of Canton

Ref the market owners in Kearsarge, perhaps you're thinking of the Langdon family?

Yes, thats it. Whats the history of that market. Having spent summers in Phillipsville growing up, we spent alot of time walking there and back.

Love your site. I was stationed at the radar site in 1970. I spent just about a year up there working in the power plant before being sent to Thailand. What a change from a Calumet winter to the heat of SE Asia. Some of my fondest memories are of playing softball, fastpitch back then, and trips into town to skate at the rink. Please keep posting the pictures.

There was an article in our local paper last nght (The Escanaba Daily Press) regarding this property. It said that Keweenaw County is looking for someone to come forward with plans for this site..apparently it is for sale now. Again.... I think it would make a perfect resort connected to Mount Bohemia.....the ski hill is the only triple-diamond hill east of the Mississippi,,,it could be our own "Little Aspen" after all that is what the Copper Country needs is to attract the monied, winter-tourist.

The link below is from the Air Defense Radar museum. There's some good info and pictures about the base.
Calumet AFS

Scott, Illinois:
Thankts, Scott, that's a great site, but unfortunately that messy ol' link just doesn't work. Try this one instead: Click here ® Calumet AFS

When you get there, scroll down the page ... all the way down ... for further links to:
Calumet Air Force Station Unit Patches, Site Roster, Photographs, Documents, Recent Photos, Main Site Aerial Photos, Offsite (Local) GATR Aerial Photos, Main Site Topographic Map, Site History.

Thankts = Thanks.
Don'cha love typos? J

Hello all, and thanks Cecil for directing me to this site.

I was stationed at the 665th Radar Squadron - AKA Calumet AFS (Air Force Station) from 66 to 69. Three years UP there and got to know just how great the people of the UP really are (married one, but did not last).

I worked at GATOR (Ground Radio) the two sites a bit off base with the vertica towers. Remember the Radar towers and fighter's doing a bubble check after a mission over the water. Nice boom to get the blood running.

I would love to hear from anyone else stationed there. The only bad thing I can remember is those •••• "No See-Em's" - I greatfully accept the New Jersey Mosquitoes over them any day.

Bill Inkrote

Hello,

My name is Randy and I was stationed at CAFS from July 1980 until the end of 1982. I remember my first drive up there I saw this thermometer on the roadside showing incredible snowfall!

I was stationed with a bunch of great people! I remember "Steak Day", snowmobiles and a two lane bowling alley. I worked at the GATR site maintaining air to ground radios. The towers are visible in the upper left of the site in the aerial picture.

Click here for some of my pictures at the site:

http://vl.net/cafs/

hello
my name is paul troutman jr. was put in keweenaw academy back in 1997 and graduated in 1999 iam grateful of that place it taught me a whole new out look on life and helped me become a man. i would of never thought in a million of years that it would get shut down or there for sold i was wondering what happened in detail and why? your friend paul. ptyankee81@yahoo.com whoever reads this and might know me feel free to write thank you.

I'm Mike Paden and was stationed at Calumet AFS from 11/75 to 05/77 and remember the endless snow. It was really a unique experience, to include seeing the ice sculptures at MI Tech. I worked with TSgt Horst Retzlaf (NCOIC of AN/FYQ-47 computer maint shop), Gary Wedge, Gary Swan, Ray Vendeberg and Bob Sidebotham, as well as others I just don't remember. Does anyone know if our civilian trainer (first name Reggie - maybe last name of Hopkins) is still around?

Keweenaw is a good memory for me. Thats all I think about when I hear about the Upper Peninsula of michigan. I was in the Acdemy in 1997, just about when it opened. I was like the 50th student to enter the boot camp, it was a cake walk, I would have thought the Academy would close earler than 2004.I saw Mr.Trolla wrote about the acdemy. I just wanted to say I hated walking up that hill! I remember both of the Trolla brothers,they were both alright guys.Too bad to see the place close down, it did have a nice veiw! LoL
Jason,Adkins

Cool picture, i have heard many stories about this place over the years. My grandfather Louis Ucman worked here at one time. What a waste that these buildings are just sitting not being used again.

Would love to get a print of that picture. Are they available for purchase? I was stationed atop the Mount from 1984 to 1988 as a Radar Technician. Joined the Air Force to see the world and the 665th was my first assignment. Unfortunately I was born and Raised in Tamarack City so my world travels didn't get off to a good start. Still, I enjoyed/survived my time there and made many new friends from the north end. Many fond memories. I still stop for a Footlong and a Pickled Egg at the Cliffview when I am in the area.

this is james kimes . i was at the academy for a couple years.....beautiful place..........for some reason i miss it......and the pt didnt bother me.........i met a lot of good people........hello to everyone i knew from there

Would anyone happen to know for what period the base was closed after the base shutdown and before the Academy started up?

Spent much time in the UP from the 80s - 90s. Ended up tooling around the 2tracks behind the base and found my way up onto the property. Quite an eerie feeling, as the smaller housing units were boarded up and seemed to have been out of use for quite some time, but could see coke cans on tables in the common buildings and gas masks/suits hanging in the garages.

Just wondered if my mind was playing tricks or I was actually being watched ;) Love the UP and would certainly like to get back out to Keewenaw point and Highrock one day.

Hello to all who I met while staying at the Academy. I was there from 1997 to 1999 and I have to say I hated the place with a passion. I can also say I met many people there who I would consider a friend to this day. Keweenaw Academy is surrounded by some of the most beautiful scenery I have seen. The leaves in fall were awe-inspiring. Peace!

hey whats up i was in the academy awhile back jus thought i say whas good wit everybody, if u remember contact me if you would like....

My dad (Graham "Billy" Tucker) was stationed at the base from 1970 - 73. My family and I lived on base housing. I went to school (one room!) in Larium for a short time and then on to Calumet.

I loved the area as a pre-teen. I learned to canoe, ski, run from bears, pick thimbleberries, make pasties (not the strip club version) and hike. Though I've been fortunate and traveled to a lot of places in the world, this area was and remains one of my all time favorites. Would love to hear from others who were stationed here as well. Miss the shores of Lake Superior and the mile high snow drifts! Bet fall leaves are turning! More lovely than what we have in Birmingham, Alabama, for sure. Hope to get back one day.

Teri Walker

My father Jimmie A. Chevrier Cheif Master Sargent Ret. USAF Was stationed there in the early 70's I believe about 1971 to 73 or 74. I was very young then about 9 years old. I enjoyed seeing the pictures. It brought back lots of memories. Memories of bears and deer and snowmobiling up the power lines that went to the power station at Houghton or Hancock. Exploring the old copper mines in the area. Plus the miles and miles of endless forest that surrounded the AFS. It was a beautiful place to be a kid. All the snow you could possibly hope to play in as a kid. Ice skating, sledding. I hated the bus ride to Calumet for school though. A long and endless journey for a youg kid. I had a friend there named Lincoln. He was a great bowler for a kid. Would love to know where he is now. If anyone reads this and recognizes the name or just wants to trade stories feel free to send me an email. I would love to talk .

I was in the youth program there when I was 17. I am 23 now and want to look into buying the base and using to open a factory. Locationa makes it unique and the face that I will not be mass producing anything does not make it to isolated.

All of the above links to the Air Defense Radar Museum records for the Calumet AFS seem to have deteriorated over time. You can still get there, but you're going to have to work at it a bit, and the process probably requires Javascript.

1. Go to the ® Online Air Defense Radar Museum
2. At the top of that page, find the drop down control as reads:

I was stationed at the radar site in the summer of 85. I was a radar repairman. There were 2 different radars on the station. 1 to find the planes height and one to find where it is located-like a normal radar you see on tv.I used to enjoy the view from our towers. I was lucky and only enjoyed the summer from May to Sept. Heard a lot of snow stories and lots of scary pictures.I knew they shut the site down but never heard any other news until now. have enjoyed the pictures. Remembering the Great LAKE,copper mines,the great people,copper harbor,porcupines,black flies and lots of camping. I live in North Carolina now. I would like to come back some SUMMER to visit!

I WAS STATIONED AT CALUMET FROM SEPT 77 TO APR 79. AT FIRST I WONDERED WHAT I DONE WRONG BUT AS IT TURNED OUT I WOULD NOT TRADE IT FOR THE WORLD, THE FINLANDERS ARE THE GREATEST. AND MOST OF THE PEOPLE I WAS STATIONED WITH WERE AND ARE STILL GOOD FRIENDS.I DO WONDER ABOUT TOM THAT OWNED THE CLIFFVIEW INN WE SPENT ALOT OF TIME THERE. HE WAS A GOOD MAN AND HOPE HE IS STILL ALIVE AND WELL?
J.T.

Wasn't the bar on base called the Northern Lights? Could be mis-remembering the location but there was a bar by that name, very close to the snowmobile trail up there (then again, its been 23 years or so). Used to hit that among many other stops along that stretch of trail.
I remember that base, used to go to the tiny commissary for groceries with my grandparents (retired military).

I was stationed there from March 1982 until May 1983. I work on the FYQ-47. This was my first base out of tech school. Being from Florida and 19-20 yrs old, I wasn't crazy about be there, but with the help of some awesome co-workers, civilian trainer and a pretty good supervisor, I smartened up and realized the beauty of the area and how nice it can be to live and work in such a small community. Seeing these pictures bring back some old memories. The base is different now, but the memories are still there..

James P. Thomas (Jthomas):

Tom Stiglich, who owned the Cliff View, passed away Oct. 13, 2005
at the age of 93.

The bar itself is still open for business.

Greetings,
I was stationed at CAFS from 1963 through 1965. There were 3 towers: the 26A, 64, and 6A (90). I was an AC&W tech at the 26A tower. At the time it was just being completed and the AVCO engineers were still on site.

I was a miner when I left the academy. At first I could'nt cope with it, but I managed to take the program under my wing. To be truthful about it, It changed my life for the better. To this day I cant stop thinking about the time I spent there. I'm just sorry that it's closed now. I would have liked to revisited everyone. However I noticed a few names in some of the post that I remember so Im saying hello to all. Drop me a message or call sometime. (662)335-8299. Im no longer in michigan, I decided to move on to Mississippi in 2002. Champion Hall Hurahh!!!!

Awesome pictures. i was stationed there in '83 to '84, i think, can't remember the years, although the commander was Lt. Col. scott meyers. I worked in the chow hall. you really don't know how great a place is till your not there anymore! i have good memories there, mostly drinkin at the club, there was nothing else to do! lol. but beyond that i sure do miss it at times.

I was stationed at Calumet in 1954-56 and made alot of good friends there. Preston Langley, Fletcher, and Skip were friends of mine on base and the girls we met in town while stationed there were Carolyn, Sandra, & Mary. I wish I could remember more names. If anyone reads this & remembers me, let me know. I had alot of good times there during my tour. I loved the pictures. It brought back alot of good memories. My email address is pinkmccoy@bellsouth.net and home phone is 864-269-5032. Thanks, pink Mccoy

I was stationed there in 80-81(I believe), as an AC&W radarman repairman. Adapted well to the surroundings and enjoyed the locals hospitality and their unique way of makin phrases out of words running together like o-me-gosh. Never will I forget the "eh" either. I would like to visit there again-it was an enjoyable life experience.

I was stationed there for a short time in 1972. I worked at the ADC BUIC site, located within the Station. At first, I my wife and I lived behind the Shoreline Motel, at Eagle Harbor. I have many fond memories of the owner and his family. Being an officer, I was assigned an on-base house. It was the first house, next to the jet plane that sat on a pedestal, right by the entrance. It was large with beautiful wood floors, better than most of the available houses in Calumet town.
What a wonderful place in the summer and fall! I had bears visiting at night, looking for food, in the outside trash cans. Dogs running on top of the buildings, which were burried in the snow in winter and early spring. Too bad this is long gone now.

Hello to all you former wingnuts, who were stationed at calumet. I was there out of tech school in 1971, with airmen mark manning,max robar, and an army sgt. pat cluchey. Remember 300 plus inches of snow and working in radar ops as a scope dope. Left after orders to Nam got cancelled and was sent to rockville iceland. Sadly both rockville and calumet are in various stages of nonexistance.
joe simms
ps I can be contacted at joesimms@verizon.net

I was never involved with the station/academy, but remenber the military base during my time at Tech in the late 1970's. I explored the base on July 6, 2010 with my four sons, interesting to see this site up close. As many have noted, it is abandoned and slowly deteriorating. Many of the buildings are open to the environment,windows and doors missing. Did find one of the building on the top of the hill near the former radar units quite interesting, it is constructed with concrete walls that must be 3 feet thick. This is one of the only building at the site that will not be ready to be demolished in a few years. Too bad to see it go to waste, and it is a beautiful location.

My dad was Sgt. Scott there, we were one of the few black families there. It was in the 60s that I lived there. I remember as a child how beautiful it was. The winter were big there and I remember Tom's Cabin..wow.:)
We were treated kind especially during the civil rights movement.1966-1970 The Scott family

i was one of the first three kids out of the van and into the "pit" when this place first opened as a youth camp. 1-3 was my number. i finally left that place in 1998. and jason adkins. i remember you. you remember the riot we had? good times lol glad those days are over

I was stationed at 665th RADS Calumet AFS from 1982-1986. It was a pretty close knit community. I worked in the RADAR data processing work center with guys like Mike Sharp, John Deoni (sp), Dave Warner and Mike Peterson. Everyone worked for the Chief. At the largest I believe we had 5 guys in the shop but at times it was down to just Mike Sharp and I maintaining a 24/7 work center that processed the data from the RADARS so it could be sent down to the Air Defense Center.

On the overall it was a good assignment. The locals that we met were wonderful people. My son was born there and I got to know a lot of other people on base mainly from being in the Honor Guard for 5 years and helping run and maintain the sites TV system. I could tell a lot of stories about the place. After I left I served with some of the same great guys like L.D. Walters at March Air Force base in California.

I will always own Reggie Harold the site AFETS a debt of gratitude because I later took up his profession of teaching Air Force kids how to maintain Air Force Equipment at Beale AFB where I work on the Global Hawk program. Cheers all!

I was stationed at Calumet AFS from August 1976 to
June 1977 as the Fire Chief of the installation. At
that time we had two radar domes. Even at that time
there was talk of Calumet being closed.

I remember how beautiful the area was, and how deep
the snow was in the winter

I was stationed at CAFS fron Nov 64 until Aug 67.I worked at the 27 TWR.My wife Sue and I lived in Ahmeek above Chopps Insurance,the old town hall.We now live in Mason Mich.I retired from Ameritech and now spend my time playing golf.We were back for a vacation in 2010 and were sad to see the condition of Calumet.

My Family and I were Stationed at Calumet Air Force base from 1967 thru 1970 (4-winters, Wow).
My Dad was Sargent Louis Harley Barrett, he was a Radar-Tec on Tower 26. My Name is Wayne Barrett,
I was in my teen's while Stationed there. What a Great Place, I loved the Snow. That is saying a Lot for a Mississippi Boy!!! Great Memories, I hope to go back for a visit very soon. My email address is w.barrett@ndsconveyor.com

Hello world how r every one this place to me was a
life changing for me.if u no who im hit me up
sometime yea antonio 3134575265

Facebook squeakvs antonio instgram youngsqueak

My husband was stationed at Calumet from November
of 1986 until it closed. We lived in lower
housing...88 Copper Lane to be exact. It was
tough watching my daughter walk to the bus stop,
and only seeing the tossle of her hat because the
snow drifts were so high. They were boarding up
the windows on our house while we had a full
inspection to clear base housing. They put sand
in the oil tanks and left them in the ground. We
enjoyed our time there, but it took a couple years
in North Carolina to thaw out afterwards :)

Well lookie here, at long last (eight years and 8 months later!) a direct link to the Air Defense Radar Museum records for the Calumet AFS mentioned in my note above:

"By FRNash/PHX, AZ (Frnash) on Friday, November 30, 2007 - 01:37 am:"

... but without jumping through all the hoops to get there.

See (click →) Air Defense Radar Museum records for the Calumet AFS.

[FYI: It took a few really sneaky formatting tricks to get that link to work! -FRN]

I was at the academy in 1997 til almost
1999 i went all state on there first boys
track team. Before i went there i was a
little punk! By the time i left i was a
respectable young man! I can't begin to
express how much that place taught me! Or
how it kept me from ending up dead or in
prison... it's a shame it's not there to
correct young people n e more! It was the
best thing that ever happened to me

I was in the academy from 1998 to 2001. I
have a lot of great memories of this
place. I came in a bad teen and walked out
a mature young man. Since leaving in 2001
I'm proud to say I have been in trouble
with the law or anything. I was apart of
Championhall. I can be found on facebook
under Mike Reed

Wow! I was also one of the first 3 kids at
Keweenaw Academy! A cocky 16 year old
kid. I still remember that day vividly.
January 8, 1997. I have a lot of memories
there and met a lot of people. That place
taught me a lot and I do think about it
quite a bit. Hope everyone I knew from
there is doing great.

Gosh, I'm surprised by how many other folks I
see from the Academy posting. I'm glad to hear
how well most are doing. I don't see any names
that I remember though. Does anyone remember
me? I also remember the place fondly. I still
speak of it often. Unfortunately, I went on to
have an extensive criminal career. I'm now a
single father of a little girl and a full time
college student studying engineering with an
interest in aerospace (all 'A's and 'B's and
on the Dean's List). The Academy gave me
excellent tools that went unused for many
years as I wasted my time and the resources of
my community. I apologize to those staff
members that put so much effort into equipping
my only to have me disregard all of it. I'm on
a track to being a better person.

If anyone wants to get a hold of me please do.

Facebook.com/swagertm

I wasn't going to put anyone's name out there
but if anyone remembers Sgt. Aumburg, I most
fondly remember him. Was definitely my
favorite staff member.

Interesting.