By Charlie at Pasty Central (Chopper) on Sunday, August 14, 2005 - 08:33 am:
The young guy on the right end of the middle row (holding the pail) is Joseph Svetich, an Austrian immigrant who couldn't yet speak English. He was the grandfather of Jim Sweet, who provided today's Shoebox Memory by way of Copper Country Reflections. This lumber crew is about to descend into the No. 5 shaft at the north end of Mine Street in Calumet, which happens to be right outside my office at Still Waters, corner of Mine and Elm. Of course the shaft is covered these days, surrounded by a wooden fence. To give a perspective of the location, Neil Harri sent along an aerial view he took this week. The large complex surrounded by parking lot is Still Waters, the home of Pasty Central. The arrow shows where the shafthouse used to stand.
Joseph was part of the underground lumber gang which worked to shore-up the timbers that kept the shaft stable and safe as possible. Copper Country Reflections host Chuck Voelker points out that the men are wearing oil lamps, which would have placed the photo in about 1905. That means Joseph was probably still a teenager at the time.
Calumet is crowded this weekend, with hundreds of visitors to Boomtown Revival and Heritage Days, and the Tamburitzans at Calumet Theatre last night. Also in the old Armory is a Gun and Sports show put on by the Sportsman's Club. Farther up the Peninsula you'll find the Art Fair and Exhibits in Eagle Harbor. As I sit here in Eagle River typing these words over Pasty.NET's high-speed Internet connection, it amazes me how life has changed over the past century.
If it has been a while since you have visited the Copper Country, we would invite you to spend a few days here before back-to-school time arrives. Conditions are just perfect during the last half of August, and you can explore so much history, natural beauty and culture. Where ever you're from, it's well worth the drive.
Have a good week :0)
