• Saturday-What'sUP December 28 - 10:12 pm

On Christmas Eve, 100 years ago in Calumet, 73 people, mostly children lost their lives in the Italian Hall tragedy. The community came together on Christmas Eve this past week, to commemorate the 100th anniversary and remember those that lost their lives.

Barb Bouwkamp was in attendance and shares the first four photos with us today, along with the last photo, too. She said the ceremony was very solemn, as it should be when you're remembering a tragedy that took so many lives at once, like that. Barb had a personal interest in being there, in addition to taking some photos of the event. A relative of hers, Abram Niemela, age 24, was one who perished in the tragedy, along with his 22 year old wife, Maria. She said this made her feel more connected to the site and to the ceremony.

The fifth photo was snapped by Eric Byykkonen who also visited the site and gives a wonderful perspective of the length of those two rows of 73 luminary lights leading up to the arch, which is all that remains of the Italian Hall building today.

Then Jeremy Rowe decided to head over to the memorial around 2:00 a.m., to catch the glow of the candles in the early morning darkness (the sixth photo). He said that it was very eerie there at that quiet time of the morning.

As we reported on this week’s Shoebox Memory, last week there was a PBS airing of Red Metal, a documentary about the 1913 strike. You can watch the full length video on this link: Red Metal: The Copper Country Strike of 1913. It is about 55 minutes long.

Special thanks to our three photographers today, for sharing their photos commemorating the 100th anniversary ceremony.

Very fitting memorial; the luminary lights are very
appropriate. Thanks everyone for sharing your
photos.

Such an unnecessary tragedy. May God bless all of you for remembering those poor souls.

Such a sad event in history. Nice to see so many come to pay their respects in the people that perished are not forgotten.

Does any one know where I can get the book "Those left
behind" about the Italian Hall. My grandfathers first wife and
her two daughters and one daughter of theirs (a twin) died in
the Hall. Please let me know . Thanks Theresa

As I posted earlier, I hope the person that yelled 'fire' found fire to be his demise......

According to a newspaper article its available at the Carnegie Museum.
http://www.cityofhoughton.com/rec-carnegie.php
Website has an address and phone number, hope this helps.

Theresa Barnes (Flash) ~ Hi Cuz!! I did a Google search for your request on info as to where you can find the book you mentioned.
It's actually called: Families Left Behind and is available directly from the Houghton Keweenaw County Genealogical Society.
You can view an order form here: HKCGS Italian Hall Book Sale. Sounds like a interesting read.

Every time that I come up and visit family I make it
a point to visit the Italian Hall sight and say a
prayer.

In addition to the above links (which I didn't bother to look at before I did some searching) there's also a Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Italian-Hall-Disaster-Resource-Center/291845417514549 It's amazing what they have on the internet these days.

I got my book on "Those Left Behind" at Copper World in Calumet. You can find them on the pasty page where sponsors are listed. You can click on their name and order online. Great pics of a solemn place and service.

Almost every time I manage to get there, I stop and offer a prayer. Always gives me the chills just thinking of all those poor children and parents. Well we lost some of our generous amounts of snow today. But with the big drop of temps tomorrow a lot will still be here. I'm really enjoying these days between holidays. Have no more plans until school opens again.

Thanks to all of the photographers and to Mary Drew for putting
this page together. I have visited the arch and paid my respects at
the cemetery in Calumet. My father had friends who lost family
when that tragedy occurred, my grandfather participated in that
strike, and I have read a couple of books about it. Thanks for the
link to "Red Metal," Mary. I wasn't able to view the documentary in
Toronto.
Kosk in the U.P. until Monday morning

May those candles always be bright for those 73.

Very interesting.