Views of Oak Street
Many arrived here at the depot and perhaps took the streetcar to their final destination.
This photo, circa 1923, shows the first sights a visitor would experience. I am just as impressed now as I would have been back then! (Thanks to Tom Grimm for this information on the large building, right side of photo: Old insurance maps of Calumet and Laurium indicate that as of 1949 this building was an "Aluminum Wall Tile Manufacturer on the first floor, other floors vacant".)
Another good view from atop the Arlington Hotel looking east, past Seventh Street.
In some ways, this view at Sixth and Oak hasn't changed much today.
A great scene, probably the 4th of July, showing the tremendous patriotic spirit of the times.
And who can forget how great Oak Street was in the depths of winter!
Once located at the SE corner of Eighth and Oak, I'm sure many visitors made the Arlington their first stop.
The following six images have been graciously provided by Madonna (Donna Mae) Riopelle Brindel through her nephew Jerry Hawes. Sarah (Sadie) Shea Riopelle was the mother of Donna Mae Brindel and the grandmother of Jerry Hawes. I absolutely love photos of a personal nature because they have so much "history" behind them, and I was so very pleased when Jerry agreed to share these beautiful pictures.
A special "thank you" to Jerry Hawes for providing this information:
Here is a short history of my grandmother's years in Calumet. We don't know the exact dates, but from other documentation, the following is pretty close.
Sarah (Sadie) Shea was born in Republic, Michigan, March 24, 1889. She probably lived there most of her early years. Sometime in her early twenties she met her future husband, my grandfather, Andrew Joseph Riopelle (a carpenter) either in Republic or Marquette. He was from Marquette.
When she was about 18 (1908) she moved to Calumet for work. Two of the hotels she worked at were the Lock(e) Hotel and the Arlington Hotel.
My aunt, Madonna (Donna Mae) Riopelle Brindel has post cards addressed to her mother, (my grandmother), dating from 1907 to 1913.
My aunt was the youngest of their six children. Some postcards were sent to her in Calumet, 1907 to 1912, and some to Republic and Marquette, 1912-1913.
My grandmother and grandfather were married in Republic on February 16, 1914. My mother, their oldest daughter, Ruth Mary Eileen Riopelle Hawes, born November 27, 1914, was probably born in Calumet because on December 6, 1914 she was baptized at St. Ann's Church by the reverend
J. R. Boissonnault. We have a newspaper article dated Jan 20, 1975 from the “60 years ago” column in the Marquette Mining Journal that states
“Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Riopelle returned from Calumet with daughter Ruth where they had been living for several months”.
Above, Arlington Hotel, about 1909-10. Front row, far right is Sarah (Sadie) Shea Riopelle, waitress, about 22 years old
Copies of menus from the Arlington Hotel. Madonna (Donna Mae) Riopelle Brindel has the originals.
It is not hard to understand that Calumet was much more than your average mining town. Any person from the larger eastern cities could easily feel at home (well, almost!). Notice anything missing?
Sarah (Sadie) Shea Riopelle, back row, second from right, about 1907. These are some of the same women from the top photograph and may have been taken on a Sunday at their boarding house.
Sarah (Sadie) Shea Riopelle, second from left. This photo comes from the Lock(e) Hotel, and unfortunately, I have no information about this. If anyone has any knowledge of this hotel, please write.
Below, Sarah (Sadie) Shea Riopelle, second from right. Another beautiful interior image of the Lock(e) Hotel.
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