• Sunday-What'sUP January 12 - 10:23 pm

Birthday month for the Calumet Colosseum finally arrived, which we first reported last March, and referenced again yesterday with the roof clearing escapades of the Calumet Copper Kings.

If you missed it the first time around, here is that excellent article by a writer with local roots, Craig Stancher, that appeared in the March 2013 edition of USA Hockey Magazine.

There are some interesting tie-ins with the building of the Colosseum and the 1913 strike, which has also appeared on Shoebox Memories in recent days. The structure had been built toward the end of 1913, with the opening game taking place within days of the traumatic events surrounding the Italian Hall tragedy, kitty corner across town. Later in an ironic twist of history, another project began in 1968 which coincided with another miner's strike: the installation of artificial ice in the Colosseum, alternately known for years as the Calumet Armory. In so many ways, mining history and hockey history are intertwined here in the Copper Country.

Have a good week :o)

While atending Calumet High School, my mom use to decorate the Colossuem for dances and events. She told me I could see some pictures in the yearbook but, I did not see any. She graduated in 1951. She was also voted the best dressed. If she decorated the Colossuem like she decorated things while I was growing up....the place was beautiful.;O)

Really enjoyed the history of Colosseum and the
honor of being the oldest in America.

A true testament to the men who built her, and
everyone who has taken good care of her all these
years as well. Considering the weather conditions
down thru those 100 years, that says a lot!

When the artificial ice was being installed during the C&H strike of 1968 many of the strikers volunteered their time and skills (welders, plumbers, etc.)to get the project done. Another testament to the dedication of the people of the Keweenaw.

I was in the National Guard and we had this as our
home base and trained on the main floor. I attended
many hockey games there and also attempted to roller
skate there also. I use the word attempted loosley.