Toivo, hope you are having great fun minding Pasty while Charlie is gone. I took these three photos early one morning in downtown Houghton. I took the "Welcome to Houghton" photo lying on the ground. Police officers came by, and they were not too happy about me sleeping on the road. Fortunately, I didn't get a ticket nor run over by other cars. And I am happy with the result of these photos.

Wonderful photos! We have had very little snow here in the middle of the lower peninsula this winter. Sunshine again today and temps are to reach well into 40s for the second day. I want snow!!!

Taka, That first one especially is a BEAUTY (well worth the risks involved)! Thanks for sharing with those of us stuck down state.

Great picture of downtown Houghton. I set it as my background on my computer. It looks so calm and peaceful in the early morning hours.

I like the pic of downtown Houghton, but I hope the Houghton DPW got busy and cleaned up the snow so there would be some place to park! My son and I are going to make the trip to Houghton tomorrow to watch the MTU Men's basketball team play Ferris. Should be fun and we will be able to see the snow statues and enjoy some Ambassador pizza also.

#1 Just became my wallpaper too. Replaced a similar one by John Dee-WOW. We miss it so much. Hope to be permanent soon.

It may be Mattila Construction....but to me it will be the place where a lot of drama in my life took place......arrival in the Copper Country to visit grandma Studer during World WarII, because gas was rationed and we couldn't drive from Kenosha...where I said goodbye to my childhood sweetheart when he was called to active duty from the Hancock Naval Reserve to serve on the Battleship Iowa during Korea. Where my family met me when I returned from Albuquerque for my wedding to the above sweetheart after the ship returned to the US after one year...we drove home from Portsmouth, Virginia when the ship returned to active duty after 3 months..It was so hard to say goodbye again for another year as he got on the train The Houghton train station always held a special place in my heart....

re the Houghton Depot....originally a staion for the Duluth Shore Shore & Atlantic RR and in later years a Soo Line RR facility; 'tis a shame the trains aren't running any more....the LAST passenger train service was the Milwaukee Road's "Copper Country Limited", and the last outbound train departed Houghton for oblivion in early March of 1968....actual last rr use of the facility was in late Septemer 1982, when the Soo Line freight service into the Copper Country was terminated.....ALL ABOARD!!!!

Your snow doesn't look as bad as Philadelphia this week. Here, in south east PA, 5 inches will cripple the place and Sunday & Monday brought us 25 inches. I love seeing how well the
street dept in Houghton moved the snow. We are 4 days post storm and the high mounds of snow are still with us. I grew up outside Buffalo NY, so your pics make me sort of home sick, beautiful white stuff cleared so you can walk. I bet the air is nice and "crisp" too. Keep the pics coming. Thanks

As the signs say "Prepare to stop when flashing" -Who would ever have thought that Houghton would have traffic lights! It's a good idea with traffic being so congested these days. The top one is now my wallpaper.

Three WOW's in a row. Beautiful.
Found an interesting fact about our new Governor,
Jennifer Granholm, she is of Finnish ancestry.Her ancestors were born in Finland but the part of Finland that speaks Swedish.Hey, Toivio, we got one of the Suomilainen's in office.
Maybe we can get her to declare St.Urho's day a national holiday in Michigan.

#1 IS NOW MY WALLPAPER. A BEAUTIFUL PICTURE.
THANKS.

Photos bring back memories of when my son was at MTU. He lived just around the corner by the Library Bar & Rest. We also had 20 inches this past Monday and it brought the area to it's knees. Even the Sapranos were held in check. Fagitaboutit.

Thanks for the pretty pictures! Makes me homesick. We had 24" of snow this past Sunday. School has been canceled all week. They just don't have the equipment to clear the roads here. If they only knew what a U.P winter was like....

Great pics thanks alot.

I got the disappearin' railroad blues
Steve Goodman

These pictures are FABULOUS! Just beautiful. That last photo, was it taken while standing ON the water? Looks like it. Wow.

Gosh Taka, getting in trouble with the law... the photos are great! 0:)

Welcome to Houghton photograph was very nice.
Regards,
Donn

The top one's definately a WOW!

There's no snow here, and the temperature is 37 degrees F.

what a great photo #1 GREAT JOB am stuck down here in lower go to U P in summer love it

I had to use the top one as my wallpaper too. That exact scene is one of many of my favorite scenes around the Keweenaw. Taka did a great job of capturing it!

hi taka,
i can see from the clock-- you sure woke up early for those pictures... haha!

could it be that pete,wi,is a bluegrass fan!!!!!
"we'll be gone 500 miles before the day is done,
on the "city of houghton"""...
oh to sit and here the old steam whistle blowing as the train pulls into the station.
as a kid,i can remember going to the train station where i was born and watching the trains come and go wondering where everybody was going. all the sounds of the station, with the old black men loading the pullman cars and the conductor standing on the platform yelling "booaard"..
that was just a simpler time.
seeing the fantastic picture of the train station i guess just brought back some memories..
somehow, i believe that life just might still be a little simpler in the u.p...

What beautiful night shots, Taka. I'm so impressed. I have to admit, I liked the downtown Houghton one, also, though the bridge one is my fave. I almost didn't recognize the first one as at first glance it looks like it's made of candy! This is coming from someone who thinks of a troll as anyone below the Hancock/Houghton bridge, never mind Mackinac. Cool shots! Good reason to get up wih the snowplows.

Great shots. Love the lighting. Wish I could be back in Ironwood about now. Been sweltering already in Houston. In case your interested in some beautiful pictures of my adopted state, visit www.richardreynoldsphotography.com he has some beautiful pictures to take your mind off of winter.

Gorgeous pictures, Taka, and thanks. Wish I could be there!

Am I the only one with a low enough mind that the "Prepare to stop..." signs leave me helpless with convulsive laughter? I mean, would you flash while RUNNING? Particularly when the temps are in the teens?

Sorry.

Cracked me up, Sharon. There's two of us at least, guffawing like crazy.

Taka, the 'Welcome to Houghton' picture is just BEAUTIFUL!!! Thank you! I sure hope that the police officers read past-e-mail so that they can see what a gift you have given to so many!!

One of the first things I thought of when I saw this picture (after admiring the sheer beauty) is how much I miss the sound of car tires on snowy streets like this and the sound of snow crunching under your boots. Isn't it strange the things that come to one's mind after being gone for so long!

(Gone from the winter--I haven't been there in the winter since 1981--not gone from my mind) :)

The Bridge always becomes my WOW! There's just something about that bridge!

Great pictures - brings back an awful lot of good memories. The pic of Houghton for a brief moment makes me believe I'm still living in that world - but then reality sets in. Thanks for the memories.

Amazing photos. Awesome. Can't wait till next week when I am back in the Keweenaw. Later, Skylar.

Super-duper pictures, Taka!! Especially the first one. That scene looks like it was set up for a movie scene. It is so beautiful, it's almost unreal. I've driven down this street many a time, but oh how I wish I could drive down it when it's just like this! Sure looks like you've been getting alot of snow. Lucky, lucky, lucky. Me and my daughter just got back from ice skating. Funny, it's just not the same when you walk out of the rink (indoors of course), and it's like summer. Thanks for the super shots! :)

The pictures are great! The first one looks like it is Santa's workshop at the North Pole!

Thanks, Taka, for the memory jog. I (and a few friends) left from the Houghton depot a looonng time ago for a trip to Milwaukee. We were guests of the US Army. Had to go for our Army physicals. I didn't make it, was a 1-Y. They would have called me in case of a national emergency. Beautimous pix!! Talking about St. Urho's Day, Kilpela and Friends are playing for a dance March 15 in Iron Mt. and in Ishpeming at the Elks lodge on March 16. St. Urho's Day is March 16. Wear green and purple for the day.

TGIF = Thank God I'm Finnish!! :o)

Ned, this IS cleaned up enough to park...parking is rarely the problem....it is trying to get out of your car on the sidewalk side...you can't get the door opened because of the snowbank.....absolutely fabulous pictures....the snow guys do great work getting us to work and school everyday...only one snowday this year..

Great photos of Houghton. We are in Arizona for a few months and my husband says he doesn't miss the snow in your photos. He is enjoying playing golf instead of shoveling the snow.

Yup snow aint much--only makes nice pitures--wouldnt be bad if it snowed but stayed at 78 degrees

These photos took my breath away and made me SO homesick. Would you guys consider making larger prints of these available for purchase? I often think that about other photos on your site--possibly a good fund-raiser for Still Waters.

re: Lee's message: I heard "granholm" is Swedish/Finnish (?) for "peninsula of trees" or something like that. Does anyone know for sure?

I agree with Joy from Tx. Hope the police officers that seen Taka taking the picture of Houghton checks the Pasty Cam to see what a FABULOUS picture she took. I have it as a screen saver, but will switch later to include the Portage Bridge. How I miss it up there!!! I see the Keweenaw only in the fall.

I can still see mom and dad waiting with me at the station in Houghton twice..First time was a trip to Toledo to go aboard my first freighter and the second time in 1958 to board the EDMUND FITZGERALD in Detrtoit/River Rouge for its maiden season. I have been collecting depot pictures now for 2 years and have over 1,000 Michigan ones if anyone is interested in a JPEG.

HI Ima,
You are right on the translation of Granholm.
For those of you interested, the SFHS (Swedish/Finnish Historical Society) has a great site for looking for your Finnish ancestors.The mailing list has members who are very helpful.
http://sfhs.eget.net/welcome.html

Taka these are fantastic pictures! I like them all so much, but especially the Welcome to Houghton one!
I won't ask you to reveal anything about that 3rd one - it looks like it was taken while standing on the frozen Portage. When I was a student at Tech, we were told that being caught walking on the ice would result in immediate expulsion from Tech. Of course, this year there is an ice fishing event for Winter Carnival, so maybe thats not a rule anymore.
Good job on the pics - they're fantastic!

It is good to here that you people liked them. My camera has "magic legs". He walked to the center of the cannel and clicked itself to take the third shot. That's the truth =)

These are really some of the best.I do miss the weather,snowed in sometimes.I'm in Fla.right now,really nice.But do miss the U.P. beauty. I'm glad i can go back as needed.
Thank you.

Thanks for the pictures

We've had a "Houghton Lite" winter down here in GR this year. Actually not bad, had about 12" in 3 hrs one night. Reminded me of many nights in Nov of 1986.

Time to update the pasty cam background

Debi Lake Linden/Kansas City
What a super picture. I miss the snow as crazy as that sounds to some and Houghton had the best snow. Do any of you remeber the Sunday 12 noon "chime" concert? Those are recordings of my mother playing the Carolon organ from the Tech library back in the 60's.

That first picture has me practically paralyzed with longing.

Gorgeous snow shots...makes me homesick! Keep up the great images on the web for us former Yoopers! We rarely see snow down here along the Puget Sound.

I'd like to see some pictures of Hawaii, the gateway to Houghton right now leaves alot to be desired.3 below & falling!

I moved out to California recently not knowing
how much I'd miss the snow...

Awesome picture, brings back great memories. We are in the snow belt her in Gaylord, MI, nothing compares to U.P. scenery!!

Beautiful pictures. I live here and enjoyed seeing them. I emailed them on to many people around the states. Thank you.

Hey Taka ...
You sure woke up early for these pics ....
They are pretty ..... very very pretty

These are great pictures it's beautiful in houghton. I wish you the best on taking pics. I think it shows you the beauty behind the mask of darkness and light huh

Awesome job Taka....Although not a member of Tech and neither a resident of Houghton, I will always remember the place for so much more than for just visiting my girlfriend. Even though it took me ten hours to drive up from Toledo, OH, I never regretted driving up once...it was the drive back..LOL!!
#1's a great photo....how about a signed copy..heheh!!

Really nice pictures, brings back a lot of memorys Thanks !!