Keweenaw County Historical Society

06/14/2026

LIFE IS GOOD!
Almost all sites open today (Sunday 6/14) and we’re looking forward to seeing you. To check on individual site schedules, please visit https://www.keweenawhistory.org/KCHS-Sites-and-Museum-Schedule

05/24/2026

KCHS honors those who gave their lives for our freedom.

05/10/2026

ON THIS MOTHER’S DAY- WE HONOR THE MOTHERS, WIVES AND INFLUENTIAL WOMEN, PAST AND PRESENT, THAT HELP US GROW.

The Schoolhouse at Gay Museum is a monument to the contributions a mother makes to the family with its exhibit on "Gay Industries", a community cottage industry developed to allow women to become bread winners as the area's mining industry waned.
Learn more about Gay Industries at https://keweenawhistory.org/gay-industries

04/29/2026

A BETTER WAY TO PAY

In the early part of the 20th century many merchants like Allouez's Petermann's Store replaced their account ledgers with the Ingle Token System. By distributing the customized tokens to their customers to use as they would hard cash, they eliminated much of the tedious record keeping the ledger system required. The tokens could be spent the same as cash with the issuing merchant. It was also possible to use the tokens to pay their employees, thus ensuring their loyalty to the "company" store.

Photo-
"Petermann Allouez Store Delivery Wagon Ed Peterman driver"
From the Online Photo Archive available to our members
keweenawhistory.org/photo-archive

Overlay-
Newspaper ad for the Ingle System and a Petermann Stores Co. credit token.

03/20/2026

FROM THE ONLINE PHOTO ARCHIVE, AVAILABLE TO OUR MEMBERS-
keweenawhistory.org/photo-archive
A very old photo of Fulton School. Unfortunately there is not enough clarity to read the calendar on the chimney. While not necessarily dating this photo, a date can be seen on the slate board propped up on the left front wall chalkboard. Perhaps the last day of school for the year?

03/10/2026

Each year... when we open our doors for the Annual Central Mine Reunion... those who take care of her are reminded... that it is more than an empty... simple ghost town building... for the little Church on the bluff is a living family... a historical... but all too human tale... written across the generations... an inspiration for us all... to cherish and to love...

And that is why... with the hint of a Keweenaw spring in the air... we especially continue to lift up our thoughts... for our Pastor... and dear friend... Larry Molloy... who is recovering from a severe stroke.

Though he cannot be with us in the way he (or we)wish... with the latest update... his spirit and determination remains as strong as ever... and knowing Larry... is deeply thankful for the incredible outpouring of love and prayers... from his Central Mine Family and Friends...

As the old Central Mine townsfolk... once met hardships unimaginable to us... with a united... shared strength... anchored in this little church... we now offer him the same... inspiring him forward... with our hopes... lifting him with our prayers... and steadying him... with the quiet assurance... that he is held tight and cherished deeply... by his Central Mine family...

Larry... we miss you... and look forward to your recovery and your ever present... strength and inspiration... God Bless!

02/18/2026

02/09/2026

KEEP HISTORY ALIVE!
To be clear, we're not "Historical" because we are old, it's that we maintain and share some really important old stuff. Please consider joining in our endeavor by becoming a member, volunteer, or donating at https://keweenawhistory.org

Original photo by Jack Delano for the Office of War Information.
December 1942. "Chicago, Illinois. Workman grinding out a small part at the Chicago & North Western repair shops."
Library of Congress
https://loc.gov/pictures/resource/fsa.8d23857/

12/31/2025

FROM THE ONLINE PHOTO ARCHIVE, AVAILABLE TO OUR MEMBERS-
keweenawhistory.org/photo-archive
Log Sleds near Copper Harbor, unknown date.
Winter, with frozen ground and snow and ice to reduce friction, was a favored time to get logs out of the woods.

12/22/2025

Best wishes for the holiday season!