Oh boy... So many shoebox memories have flooded my desk that I have lost track of another. Who are these guys? The date indicates it was taken in the winter of '57 - '58. That would be consistent with the cars at the top of the photo.

Examining the faces more closely, the athlete on the left looks like Steve Jones, formerly of Eagle River... but this was long before Steve was born. And the heftier guy on the right reminds me of Heinie Ollila who grew up in Gratiot Location north of Mohawk... but in '57 Heinie was 20 years old, working as a lumberjack in the Keweenaw hills.

Maybe someone else can shed some light on the identities... but here's that musical extra we promised: During the 90's Steve and Heinie teamed up to entertain thousands of folks in the Copper Country, playing their guitars as regulars at the Hut in Kearsarge, and other appearances, including Still Waters in Calumet (where this website originates). Read Burgan of Lake Linden has compiled some of their old recordings. This one dates back to 1990 when Steve was only 17. It's an old song from the 1800's (public domain) and you can hear it if you have Real Audio and click here: LaPaloma

Enjoy the music while you take a closer look at the boys of winter.

LaPaloma!!

I got out my castenettes, put on some snow boots and started twirling around and stomping the floor. Then I fell on my ---!

Great music!

Ken-Washburn, WI

They look like Dennis Liikala and Billy Hodges from Centennial Heights.

My husband is Steve Jones, but he only wishes that he grew up in the UP! I'm a Finn girl and have introduced him to pasties, a sauna, and pasty.com. He only wishes he could play hockey!

Beautiful music, Right click on the highlighted LaPaloma and save it in your musical files.

the one on the right looks like an erkkila!!!

Check out the cars in the background. They have big fins and big headlights.

where was this picture taken..at slims cafe in mohawk..hl

Loved the music. When and where was the picture taken?

When I was about the age of those boys and in that time period I use to play hockey on the streets of Calumet and Laurium. Some boys had a small rink in the back yard. That car in the background is a "57" Ford. I remember us having a car like that. Our "57" was blue and white. Yes they did have some big round head lights back then. Does anyone know where this pic was taken?

I think it may have been taken in Centennial Heights, and the building may be the corner of the old school. At the very top edge above the car on the right, I think that is the old stone boat covered with snow! Come to think of it, the boy on the right looks a lot like Dan Hodges, who lives in the Heights to this very day.

I look at these faces and all I can think of is Rod Paavola, Hancock -- he received a gold medal in the Olympics for hockey, he would be about this age in the 50's. Gary & Meg Gustafson, Jacksonville, Oregon

Rod Paavola was on the 1960 gold medal team, so the guys in this photo are probably a little too young (about '57).

Interesting to note that the U.S. Men's hocky team did not win a gold medal again until 1980.

Like sitting in the hut.

yeah it does look like dan hodges

my dad ( bob erkkila )said it looks like himself on the right and carl heikell on the left

Looks like Carl Heikell & Alan Basto from Heights.

this pic was taken after 1958, see the ford in the background? the pontiac on the right looks like 1960, i think. that was my time too, funny how the years just sort melt away, isn't it? things sure have changed since the 50's. oh yeah, here's my web page if any one cares, http://rjerickson.tripod.com