Hello Charlie:
A while back you asked if anybody had a picture of the sign that use to be south of Houghton that read " You are now breathing the purest most vitalizing air on earth!". Well last week I was up in the Keweenaw and went to an estate sale and bought a pile of old News Papers. The oldest was a September 12, 1913 edition of the "Evening Copper Journal". The rest of the papers were the "Daily Mining Gazette". All are very interesting reading. It's like reading a history book. The June 18, 1960 edition was as thick as a daily Detroit paper and had lots of pictures.

One of the pictures was of the sign you were asking about.

Thanks,
Paul Taylor
Southgate and Kearsarge, Mi

Thank you, Paul!

Hi Charlie. I remember signs like this on top of Brockway Drive too, back in the early sixties. Jim & Pam Grill, Calumet

I remember it well, and wondered why it was taken down. Does anyone know?

Last year I saw a sign like that on top of the Harbor Haus in Copper Harbor. We'll see if it's still there.
We'll be in the Keweenaw this weekend through next week! Can't wait!!!

Tricia is right. There is a sign with similar language on the Harbor Haus. I too am spending my annual week in the Keweenaw next week and am looking forward to breathing that air!

I always knew we were almost to Gramma and Grampa's house when we passed this sign. I am counting the days until we head to da UP.

Keep up the great pictures.

Charlie: There also was a simular sign at the entrance road to the Houghton County Airport. I remember passing it every Sunday, on our weekly visit to our grandparents, who at the time, lived in West Hancock.

the three signs were, by the old "summer place" restaurant between chassell & houghton, by the old entrance road to the houghton co airport & and on top of brockway mountain drive, i remember all three when i was small

This is not only an example of the sign we all remember so well, but also of Earl Gagnon's inimitable prose. He was a living, breathing thesaurus.

Thought it was "pretty close" to the ONAGAMING CLUB. First place I EVER had Lake Superior Trout on an oak plank, with fluffy white mashed potatoes put on using a pastry bag and tip to make a pretty decoration around the edge.. Best. Best. Best. Does the Onagaming Club still operate there? We were there when it still looked like the 40's with wicker chairs and the screened porch.

Is the Nancy Nelson, WI who keeps popping up on the cam-notes the same Nancy Nelson with twins and who used to work for Carl Stubenvoll (sp?)?

Karen in Oshkosh, let me know how to get ahold of you either on the "net" or otherwise ('cause I live in Neenah) and we will see what connection we have.

I seem to remember a similar sign at the scenic turnout overlooking the Portage on the highway as you climbed up the hill to the Quincy Mine from Hancock.

I think its really true. My family and I go up there every summer and my dad has asthma. Last summer, he didn't have to use it once. Is that enough proof?

this sign is great. I bought a little photograph of it, but it isn't in color. It is only about the size of a postcard. and there are michigan tech students in it...one is pulling on the chain, the other is grabbing his throat-as if he can't breathe, and the other is laying on the ground. it really is a great photo. created by joe kirkish.

I remember another version of this sign being at the top of Quincy Hill while heading north to Calumet in the 1960's(not at the airport). I don't ever remember seeing it atop Brockway though.
Memory is a funny thing. Clearly some of us are suffering from a little RAM decay here.
Any archivists out there with the official skinny on where the sign's locations really were?
Thanks for posting it!

After 10 hours with 5-7 people in a station wagon, we knew we were almost to Granma's. Imagine the whoop and holler. Will never forget this sign, sorry that it has been taken down. Also have a B&W photo of it, and definately believe that the air truly is! Will be happy to try it out for myself though in just a few short weeks.

Nancy Nelson, WI...Hi, it's Karen in Oshksoh. I've sent four emails (three from home and one from work). They all come back.

I loved that old sign just as you came into Houghton. That's the only place I remember it. I also wish the city Council in Houghton would consider replacing it. What do you think, fellas?

I have a postcard of the sign and it's in color.

Blue Lake Sportsman Club put this sign up as far as my husband remembers. Also had a piece on it that said "stretch your story, not your bag limit".

We recently visited UP for the first time and we loved it and yes the air is the best. We are from Oregon. Would like to get a copy of that picture for my scrap book. Can anyone email me a copy? Thank You, Alene & Jim

Alene & Jim -

Here's a helpful hint: Scroll back up to the picture above, put your mouse pointer over it and do a right mouse click. One of the choices should be "save image as...", which allows you to save any picture you see in the Pasty Cam archives.

It appears that there have been more sightings of this sign than of Elvis!! I have to add mine to the list.

In the fall of 1980 when I was a student at Suomi College, a couple friends and I climbed Mt. Ripley and I swear the sign was at the top of the ski lift. I never learned to ski so that was the first and only time that I had been at the ski lift.

DISCLAIMER: Let's just say that I wasn't doing any 'studying' that night, so my memory could be a little fuzzy. I do remember thinking it funny to be reading a sign about the fresh air that I was breathing when after that climb, to be breathing at all was a miracle!

The should bring back the sign. After all it's still God's Country!!!!

I was looking for a photo of this sign awhile back to add to my family photo album. I can't remember in exact words or who it was told me, but was told the sign was taken down because some people were complaing that it was misleading because of pollen and car fumes and things like that. Can't they put the sign back up with one of those disclaimers at the bottom that have to be added to so many things these days for people that can't just have fun.Of course the disclaimer would probably be longer than the orginal sign.Im glad I had the chance to have the memory of arriving in Houghton and taking a deep breath and saying we are there, we can breath now.