We kickoff a new week stepping back in time with Clyde Elmblad's gallery of old Baraga County photos, traveling to the site of last weekend's shots on Saturday and Sunday, this time from a different angle and a different age indeed, the 1910's! The head of the bay between L'Anse and Baraga, where the Snowshoe Priest, Bishop Baraga stands guard. Way before the road was paved, but it looks to me like there's some type of fence or guard rail near the edge.

Did you notice? If you listen closely while you study that shoebox picture... that you can hear it clattering, chugging, putting and backfiring??
Great picture!

Another picture that could join these is of the construction at the base of this same hill that appears to be "shoring" things up.

When I was a kid coming from Kenosha...to Lake Linden to visit my grandparents....my parents would pull the car over to the beach and "freshen-up"...wipe our faces with a cloth dipped in Superior. My dad always commented "isn't this a pretty spot"!! He was so excited to be "coming home"...this was a very long time ago but whenever I pass the spot..I think: dad, you were right......This is really a pretty spot!!!....

Thank you Mr.Elmblad for the picture.Your web site has taken up hours of my time.Thank you for putting such an informative site up on the net.As my parents were from Lanse and Chassell the history is very interesting to me.

In the second view, please note the Bishop Baraga statue standing guard above the highway. Nice shot for today.

Bob,

See November 22, 2002 Pasty Cam for more info about Michigan's highest point. The bridge is usually down in the off season to accomodate snowmobile traffic on the lower track level.

....When at our family camp at Bootjack my uncle, Sam Studer, who really knew everything about the Copper Country said that the highest point in The Copper County was called "Wheelkate" (sp)..a Cornish name for the high hill we could see from our camp dock...it was behind Chassell.

Mary, the "Then and Now" view of the Red Rocks is great and I gotta agree with downtater about the "clattering, chugging, putting and backfiring" the old auto must have been making as it travelled down that old narrow, dirt road. Along the way towards Baraga, it may have even spooked and passed a horse drawn carriage. Every picture sure does tell a story.
Thank you for visiting my personal homepage and your nice comments Jerry S. If anyone else is interested, here is the address to my website where you can find many more historical pictures from Baraga County plus other odds and ends.
http://www.hwy41north.com

If you need more information about Mt. Arvon, you can contact Tracy Barrett at the Baraga County Tourist and Recreation Association:
http://www.baragacountytourism.com/
(906) 524-7444
Or Steve Koski at Indian Country Sports:
http://www.indiancountrysports.com/
(906) 524-6518

If you're looking for directions to Mt. Arvon, here is a couple of sites that will help.
http://www.baragacountytourism.com/Mount%20Arvon.htm
http://www.indiancountrysports.com/mt_arvon.html

Thanks for pointing out the statue - From the last pix I didn't get an impression of it's actual size. Guess when they put in a four-lane they'll have to remove it, though judging by the heavy (;-) traffic on the pic, this won't happen anytime soon (Written while some dozen of I don't know how many thousand semis a day rev their engines under my window, starting from the lights just up the road).

Wonderful picture! I remember about 25-30 years ago I traveled this road with my family in a small station wagon. They were repaving the road, but they tore the old road up. A hard rain left a mud quagmire that we almost got stuck in. The road was in worse shape than in 1910. Deja Vu.

This is an incredible spot while traveling around our wonderful Lake Superior. Many types of birds love this bay, the sunrises are breathtaking, and Bishop Baraga to guard the whole thing? It's a spiritual place, no question.

Welcome Mary Drew! Gonna be great to have you here!

Thanks DMac! It's going to be great to be part of in an official capacity! Don't forget, I know I have big shoes to fill, stepping in with Charlie and Toivo, but with their help, I'm learning the ropes!

great picture

Bob
The Detroit Free Press had an article on the highest, lowest, most northern, eastern, southern and western spot in Michigan on Sunday.
http://www.freep.com/features/travel/ex26_20031026.htm

Correction......Uncle Sam Studer must have said Wheelkate was the highest pint in Houghton County.....

I think the first picture looks more like it was taken along the canal road on the portage, with the land spur in the back ground it looks like a portage turn.

Sorry George...It's definately the Red Rocks near L'Anse.

FROM ONE OLD TIMER TO ANOTHER. I WAS BORN IN PEQUAMING AND LIVE HERE AGAIN NOW. HOW COULD WE GET SOME OF THE OLD PICTURES OF PEQ. ON PASTY? I LOOKED AT MARSHA'S PICTURES,THEY WERE VERY GOOD ONES TOO.