• Sunday-What'sUP January 3 - 06:17 am

2005 marks the 80th anniversary of the Copper Range Motor Bus Company, according to Kevin Musser's Copper Range Railroad. It also marks the 50th anniversary of the bus line's demise. In all seasons during its thirty years of operation, the Bus company provided millions of rides to all points between Calumet and Painesdale, and turned a profit for the owners. But a fire in 1953 destroyed much of the Houghton business district, including buildings owned by the bus line. In 1955 the Copper Range Motor Bus Company became history.

I wonder if there's a Pasty Cam visitor somewhere who might have other pictures of the bus line? Our thanks to the hundreds of Guest Gallery contributors who provide current pictures, as well as vintage photos. And also a big thank you to Kevin Musser for today's Shoebox Memory, from one of my personal favorite websites, CopperRange.org

Have a good year!

Sure would be nice to have local bus lines like that again.

Do you all not have any bus service at all?

Not the type that would take folks, say from Ahmeek or Calumet down to Houghton or Lake Linden. You couldn't go from one town to the next on an hourly basis or anything. There are bus lines in Houghton/Hancock and Senior citizens rides.

Thanks Anne.

Did that bus have heat????? Here in Texas, we have a balmy 63 degrees at 0900.

In this part of TX we have Houghton weather at 36
degrees at 9:34. I'll bet that bus took better care of the Kewenaw people than what we have here in AMA.

I can remember thr Copper Range buses coming into Copper City. Most of the passengers were probably traveling to and from Calumet with stops along the way. That was in the 1930's. They would stop at Stimics market to load and unload passengers.

Nice pix of the Copper Range bus....WHERE was the bus posing?

KEYBOARD D.---WHATS YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS?

Good Morning from cloudy Las Vegas

Does anyone know if one of those buses is still in South Range? There used to be one near Usitilo's Station heading out of town on M-26 west. The paint was faded and the bus company name nearly gone, but one could still make it out on the side.

How cool would it be for someone to offer a bus line again using vintage buses like the one in the photo; I would definitly take a ride!!

jean, texas:
Did that bus have heat?
Why yes, it had a nice large sunroof -- high tech solar heating -- ahead of its time!

I remember in the 1950's $.05 Cents each way from Hubbell to Lake Linden and add $.15 for Msgr Raymond movie house (Little Gem) and that made for our Sunday afternoon. At that age we never had money for popcorn or other treats.

Is the White Pine Express still around??

In response to "Jim Copper Country". The photo is a builder's photo and was most likely taken in Minneapolis, Mn on the Eckland Bus Company lot prior to delivery to Copper Range.

Gee very little on the Eckland Bus Company on the net ..at least via Google.

White Pine Express.........now just where would that be running TO????? (wink)

RE: Houghton fire 1953-I recall a major fire in west Houghton in late 53 or early 54 which detroyed a number of buildings on the canal side of M-26 just a few hundred yards west of the bridge. I believe the Kirkish grocery store was one of the businesses burned out. Is this the fire that destroyed the bus company buildings?

White Pine Express co. was going to try to survive by being a connecting route for Trailways to the Wi. border or Duluth last I heard..but that was a few years ago.

The Houghton fire. Yes Kirkishes and Apple Mary's store were destroyed. The ice house, too, was destroyed.
We used to take a bus to Sun-o-Shine beach in the summer. I think it was a free ride. Was this the same bus? I know I certainly didn't have much money.