CALUMET -- Heritage Week 2014, Calumet’s celebration of this area’s people and history will take place with events scheduled between Monday, Aug. 11, and Sunday, Aug. 17. The theme of this year’s celebration is the "Keweenaw’s Maritime History."
Heritage Week begins at 6 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 11, with the annual "Miners' Reunion" at the Coppertown USA Mining Museum located on Red Jacket Road. Come and listen as former miners gather to share their stories of work extracting the mineral that gave the "Copper Country" its name.
On Tuesday, Aug. 12, and throughout the week, the Heritage Center at St. Anne’s will be observing the 20th anniversary of its founding. Come and explore this architectural gem that, over the past two decades, has been lovingly preserved and restored.
At 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 13, a slide show on "Shipwrecks of the Keweenaw" will be presented in the Calumet Colosseum Ballroom, 25880 Red Jacket Road.
Calumet Theatre to offer events all week:
Throughout the week, the lights of the Calumet Theatre, 340 Sixth Street, will be shining brightly as it presents a variety of programming. Here is the schedule:
Monday evening, Aug. 11: Bob Milne, ragtime pianist, will offer a return engagement at 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, Aug. 14, and Friday, Aug. 15, at 7:30 p.m., the Theatre will present Red Jacket 1913 -- One Family’s Story. This play tells the story of the problems and challenges faced by one Slovenian family during the miners' strike of 1913.
Saturday, Aug. 16, at 7:30 p.m.: The return of the "Blooze Brothers" with a program of Blues, R and B and Classic Rock.
Sunday, Aug. 17, at 7 p.m.: The Calumet Rotary Club is sponsoring the return of the Duquesne University Tamburitzans. For over 70 years, this troupe of talented students has been appearing annually in Calumet with a presentation of the songs and dances of Eastern Europe.
Saturday, Aug. 16: Activities all day
Main Street Calumet provides a full day of activities on Saturday, Aug. 16. The day gets underway with a "Walk in the Park" at the Calumet Lions Club Park and Nature Trail between 8:30 a.m. and 10 a.m. The members of the Lions Club invite everyone to explore this wonderful nature preserve located along Calumet Lake north of M203 along Waterworks Street just east of Calumet Village. Refreshments will be provided.
After completing your walk through the park, head on over to Agassiz Park on Fourth Street in Calumet for pannukakku -- Finnish pancakes. From there, walk over to Fifth Street for the start of the "Great Deer Chase" Mountain Bike Race at 10:45 a.m., followed by the Heritage Festival Parade at 11 a.m. In keeping with this year’s "Maritime Festival" theme, representatives of the United States Coast Guard, Portage Station, will appear in both the parade and in Agassiz Park.
Immediately following the parade, over 20 artisans and other vendors will be displaying their wares in Agassiz Park until 4 p.m.
Several food vendors will also be present. Games and other children’s activities will take place throughout the afternoon. And, as is tradition, there will be live music to enjoy and free trolley rides through Calumet’s historic downtown.
As you leave the park, you are invited to visit the many unique shops located along Fifth and Sixth Streets as well as the adjacent streets where Calumet merchants will be offering "Heritage Celebration Specials" throughout the day. And don’t miss out on the Open House at Coppertown USA Mining Museum from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. They’ll be serving free cake and punch, too!
Finally between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. an open house will be held at the restored Morrison School located at the corner of Seventh and Elm Streets. The school, built in 1919 and vacant since 1997, has been completely renovated to house commercial spaces on the first floor and thirteen new apartments on the second and third floor. For the many Calumet residents who once attended this school, it will be a great opportunity to revisit the building.
After touring the school, take a walk over to the Italian Hall site and notice the improvements.
The State of Michigan added a new historical marker in 2013 (above photo), and the National Park Service landscaped the park earlier this summer, adding new interpretative signs.
The National Park Service recently added these new interpretive signs to the Italian Hall memorial site in Calumet. In the background is the restored historic Morrison School, where an open house between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. will be held Saturday, Aug. 16. (Photo courtesy Steve Lehto)
The marker and signs pay fitting tribute to the 73 men, women and children who perished at this site a century ago.
Next weekend promises to be filled with activity in Calumet and all are invited!
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