Yesterday I spoke with Ellen Campbell, who, along with her husband Bill, have operated Nitrate Elimination Co., Inc. for the last decade in Lake Linden. As you may have heard, this week the Campbells lost their historic home, built by beer baron Joseph Bosch more than a century ago. Ellen was upbeat and optimistic about the future, in spite of what must be a most difficult week. Thank goodness for insurance.

John Dee reported on the blaze in his online journal at Snow Central, where he has also provided some excellent coverage of the frigid conditions this winter.

Here's a view of the home and brewery in its heydey, courtesy of yet a third site hosted here at Pasty Central, the Houghton County Historical Society.

Charlie - - the 3 sights you mention aren't the only sponsors of Pasty Central which come to mind. There is also LakeLinden.net (Village of Lake Linden) and LakeLinden.com, the E-center just down the street from the fire.

Come to think of it, the fire reminds me of a couple other pasty.com sponsors - -
Nippa Suana Stoves and Torch Lake Federal Credit Union ;o>

Seriously, I hope things go well for Bill and Ellen as they rebuild. Glad nobody was hurt.

What some of your out of town readers won't
realize from looking at just these pictures
is that we were already fighting another structure
in Lake Linden when this call came in.

look at John Dee's journal section at johndee.com
to get the whole story of the day.

We responded to the first call around 7 am at -29
degrees. It hurt just to breath let alone fight
a fire.

I publicly wish to thank all the people from the
community (entire copper country) who came and
provided us with food and hot drinks at both fires
all day. Without them we never could have kept
going.

McDonalds, Burger King, Loading Zone, Lindells,
Red cross, all the departments spouses etc.
These come to mind immediately and I apologize
for those who I didn't name, but the sentiment
is the same, THANK YOU.

I'm still sore all over and don't want to see another day like that ever again.

Bob Gilreath
Hubbell Fire dept

What a heart breaking story & photos. Kudos and Kiitos to the firemen who braved elements that day. My son-in-law is a fireman for one of the departments that fought the fire. It looked to be a beautiful historic home. I don't recall seeing it. Homes can be rebuild - lives can't. Glad no one was injured or lost a life in those fires.

So, rumors are already flying around, and I don't want to be one to start it, but to confirm from someone about the fire hydrants?? Some people have said that it was so cold that the water was frozen in that area. Others have stated that the village is good for turning them off when it gets close to below zero, so that there is no main line breakage. I lost my home at 2nd street and Kit back in 1990, when the Kusisto home went a blaze from a chimmney fire. Unfortunatley, Mrs. Kusisto past away 6 days later at the burn center. I am happy to hear that no one was injured or hurt in these two fires. I know that the whole Keweenaw area cringes when they hear about a fire loss of one of their brothers or sisters. This is a very tight community and people come from all over to help out when one of our fellow nieghbors are in trouble. These houses are 100 yrs plus and they do go up in smoke fast when they catch. If anyone can comment or confirm the issue with what the firefighters had to battle with the water, it would put alot of people at ease. GO WINGS!

do they know how the fire started?

Phyllis, check out the stories at www.mininggazette.com in the archives section under news there is a map and an article.

Sad to see the old Bosh house burn. It appears that this house will now be torn down the rest of the way. It will be missed. That sand stone building in the back had a couple different businesses in it. I lived just around the corner from this house. Walked past this house every day during my school years, late fifties and first half of the "60's". (It was my mother that past away from that Kuusisto fire and it started in the kitchen. This house was about 100 years old.)

These firemen of the Copper Country bring back memories of the FDNY on 9/11; a very close bunch of guys that wouldn't hesitate to fight any fire to save buildings and lives. Unfortunately during this time of sorrow, brings out the emotions that makes you very proud to be a Yooper.

The Fire departments of the Keweenau are to be commended for their tireless work. To Bill and Ellen Campbell, my sister thinks the world of the two of you and our prayers here in Texas are with you.

I was not familiar with that particular house, but am sad to see any connection with the past of the area disappear, and I offer my condolences to the family who lost a precious piece of the UP history and their home.

TO ALL OUR LOCAL VOLUNTEER FIRE FIGHTERS. YOU TRUELY ARE WONDERFUL PEOPLE!!! SINCE 9/11 I HOLD YOU ALL CLOSE TO MY HEART! MAY GOD BLESS YOU ALL!

We spent quite a bit of time in this house when DuMonthiers lived there. It breaks my heart to see these pictures.

It's stories and pictures like this that make me wonder about our society's perverted sense of values. Why is it we willingly pay people millions of dollars a year to play games for a living while people like this must volunteer to do incredibly dangerous and painful (I can't imagine being wet at -29 degress!) work? At least it seems it's no longer thankless.

Charlie,

I've been a daily visitor for the past couple of years. I live in Portland Oregon, but I am native to the Copper Country.

Just about every day, I share the wonderful photos of home with my co-workers. Today wasn't any different. One began to cry when she saw the pictures and read Bob Gilreath's entry.

My co-workers sometimes "razz" me because I bragg about how the Copper Country and it's people are special. Today, they had a first hand account of that.

What a sad day for Lake Linden.


On a lighter note, My wife and I are moving our family back to this special place this summer.

I CAN"T WAIT!

Thank you Charlie for such a wonderful website

i can think of no more stirring symbol of man's humanity to man than a fire engine.

So sorry to see such a great looking place destroyed by fire. I never saw it in person, but I bet it was grand.

Heard John Dee on WKAR (MSU's public broadcast radio station)today in East Lansing. It was fun to hear the voice of someone who is mentioned on this website a lot. He was talking about the possibility of Lake Superior freezing over for the first time in many years. Must be MIGHTY cold up there....

What a tragic loss for the town of Lake Linden. When I saw the Bosh house engulfed in flames Monday morning, my heart ached. My condolences to the Campbells; the residents of Lake Linden mourn with you. From this horrible day I was reminded how fortunate I am to be a part of this community. Watching the people of this community helping one another made me proud.

God Bless

Thank the good Lord the Campbells are alive and unhurt. What a loss to our little town. I still can't believe it. THANK YOU to all the firemen that turned out. I believe 9 departments in all. What wonderful brothers and sisters we have on those fire departments. My hat is off to you all.

The home was gorgeous, and the flower gardens were incredible. What a loss.

God Bless you all.

Must have walked by that house a thousand times when I was a kid...my Dad still lives on Hecla. To the Campbells, I am so sorry for your loss. To those excellant VOLUNTEER fire fighters: You guys are the BEST! My husband is also a volunteer fire fighter here in Utah. Whenever he gets a thank you, be it in person, the local newspaper, or a plate of cookies left at the station he calls it his "paycheck". So I hope you guys are getting "paid" well for your brave, tireless efforts of that day.

Pete, Wi---Roland DuMonthier is my uncle. How did you know them? I was very young when they owned the house, but I do remember roaming around the many rooms.

Boy whoever said man's humanity is in a fire engine said it best. Fighting fires is god's work, that's for darn sure. Hey what do you mean by 9/11?

i'm feeling gratitude today...every one in the area stop by the Maple Leaf on Bootjack road for a frosty one on me.

Thank the Lord for the kind souls we call volunteer firemen (and firewomen). They are the reason we are alive and continue to live. I just wish my dear Bethany was here to share in the kind and loving comments being shared here today. I miss you darling.

To the rest of you, I'll see you at the Maple Leaf.

Thanks to the Volunteer Fire-Fighters everywhere.
I'am going to miss seeing the old Bosch home when i'am in Lake Linden.
If you see Cheboy in the Maple Leaf, tell him i loved that 348 63 Chevy Wagon i bought from him.I was real fond of his daughter too.

I lived at 224 Hecla through 2nd grade but failed to remember the house. Couldn't really see it from our place - too many trees in the way - and we did not walk that way often. Plus, that was about 25 years ago! Still, especially since we lived so close, I can echo the feelings of loss expressed by others. May God comfort you in your loss.

To 100%yooper. I worked at the telco with Roland.

I was also sorry to see that the house had been destroyed. I have fond memories of living in the house. My brothers and I were most likely the last to have read the hidden writtings under the back stairs, written by a house keeper during the late 1800s. To say the least she did not like Mrs. Bush.

To Pete in Wisconsin. Roland is my father. If your ever in Maine give me a call. My family is the only DuMonther in the state of Maine.

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