Laurium Walking Tour Part 1 - 2019 Camping Post #6

     The Copper mining town of Laurium, Michigan, was at one time alleged to be the largest incorporated village in the United States. The name of Laurium comes from the Greek town of Lavrion, a mining town which supposedly had a similar type and grade of ore as was discovered and mined in Michigan’s UP by the Laurium Mining Company. The Village of Laurium website goes on to say:

 What is now known as the Village of Laurium was originally the Village of Calumet. The original Village of Calumet was incorporated on April 18, 1889, but was reincorporated and renamed Laurium on March 27, 1895. The Village of Calumet was originally incorporated as the Village of Red Jacket on March 19, 1875. The changing of the name of the Village of Red Jacket to the Village of Calumet was made in 1929.

 Every time I read this, I kinda go, “what?”

 Anyway, on various trips to Michigan’s UP, we’ve explored what is now Calumet (which was once Red Jacket) but have only driven through the outskirts of Laurium (which was once Calumet). Both villages are full of history and rundown buildings. On a previous trip I had picked up a brochure spelling out a walking tour of all the historic places in Laurium. I seem to have misplaced that brochure, but as luck would have it, after taking that walking tour while we were camping in July, I typed up most of the information to share with you at a later date. [I also did find a website .]

 The business district first:

  300 Hecla Street, built in 1901, as the State Savings Bank and had professional offices on the 2nd floor and a bowling alley and ballrooms on the third floor. Now it is Aspirus Wellness Center. 

  310 Hecla Street, originally built as the Village Hall in 1898 and was extensively remodeled in 1914 to include a large ballroom with stage and balcony on the 2nd floor. Currently it’s the police station. 

  320 Hecla Street, built in 1898, was Peter LaPointe Saloon, Wine and Liquor dealer. He lived on the second floor. Current sign on the building announced “Root Notes, music store”, but it didn't look like much, except they do have a website.  

  342 Hecla Street, built in 1894, run as The Vivian Store until 1936. Originally, a 2-story building built for Johnson Vivian, a mining captain with wide business interests. The 3rd floor was added in 1898. Now it is Aspirus Outpatient Therapies and Fitness Center. 

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  323 Hecla Street, built in 1900, by Dominick and Catherine Marta for his bakery on the first floor, with professional offices on the 2nd and 3rd floor. He lived in a house in the back. By 1930, the offices were apartments. It looks pretty deserted now.

  317 Hecla Street, built in 1905, by William Faucett building for his businesses – Laurium Hardware on the 1st flood, and Faucett Brothers and Guck Real Estate on the 2nd. It also looks abandoned.

  315 Hecla Street, built in 1905 and owned by Frederick C. Glocke. A sign in a window currently announces, “Retro Rental and Repair”, but it looks more like a junk store. They don't have a website, but they do have a Facebook page, so maybe they actually do business.

  301 Hecla Street, built in 1907. The First National Bank of Laurium took up most of the first floor, with Superior Pharmacy next to it. Professional offices were on the 2nd and 3rd floors. There was a sign in the window announcing “The Yard Sale” on the 1st floor, but across the street was the actual business by that name, so not sure what is in this building.  

  201 Hecla Street, built in 1900, is the Peter Contralto Block. [I don’t know why, but whenever they call a building a “block”, it just that building and the various offices or businesses within that building, instead of the whole group of buildings we think of in a block.]  This was the Laurium Commercial School until it closed in 1935. Then it became apartments, but if people still live there, it is kind of creepy. 

 Churches next:

  146 Tamarack, built in 1899, the St Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church Congregation moved here from Scott Street in Calumet. It looks like they are still here, with a website to prove it. 

  310 Kearsage Street, built in 1903 for $14,000, the Methodist Episcopal Church could seat 1000 people. It still appears to be operating as a church. I found an interesting article on the building here.  

  246 Tamarack, built in 1895, was originally the Swedish Mission Church. The sign on it now announces, “Laurium Shining Light Church.” The name sounds a little sketchy, but I guess you'll have to check their website or visit it yourself to know.  

 Finally, one school:

  346 Pewabic, built in 1907, the Charles Briggs School, made of brick and sandstone, was the largest school in Laurium. Built for $30,000, it closed in 1977. Briggs was a prominent Keweenaw businessman and president of the C & A Mining Co for 20 years. The building is abandoned now. 

 Next time, I’ll share pictures and stories of the many, cool old residential buildings. Or you can click on this website, where I found a lot more about these buildings, after I already wrote this up.