Keweenaw National Historical Park Advisory Commission

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Keweenaw National Historical Park Advisory Commission Minutes of Meeting October 28, 2003
Present: Commissioners Ron Welton, Executive Director, KNHPAC
Sue Cone, Village of Calumet
Kathryn Eckert, At-Large Robert Langseth, Houghton County Board of Commissioners Larry Lankton, At-Large, National Park Service Paul Lehto, Calumet Township Tom Nemacheck, U.P. Travel and Recreation Association Clyde Raasio, Quincy/Franklin Township National Park Service - KEWE
Frank Fiala, Superintendent
Steve DeLong, Landscape Architect
Abby Sue Fisher, Chief of Museum, Archives and Historical Services
Kathleen Harter, Chief of Interpretation and Education
Brian Hoduski, Museum Curator
Charlie Masten, Facility Manager
Jo Urion, Oral Historian
Guests
Susan Burack, Consultant
Jill Burkland, Isle Royale Natural History Association
Diana Charles, office of Sen. Carl Levin
Sheri Davie, office of Sen. Debbie Stabenow
Michael Matts, Consultant
Lisa McKenzie, Hancock City Council
Garrett Neese, the Daily Mining Gazette Erik Nordberg, MTU Archives and Copper Country Historical Collections John Schneiderhan, Next Century Software and Hardware Julie Sprenger, Laurium Manor Inn
Richard Taylor, Houghton County Historical Society
Tom Tikkanen, Main Street Calumet
Jeff Thiel, J. Thiel and Associates
Amy Wisti, office of Rep. Bart Stupak
Ed Yarbrough, Quincy Mine Hoist Association Absent: None

Recording Secretary: Jane Nordberg



KNHPAC Meeting Minutes / 10-28-03 Call to Order
A regular meeting of the Keweenaw National Historical Park Advisory Commission was held on
Tuesday, October 28, 2003 at the KEWE Headquarters in Calumet. Chairman Paul Lehto called
the meeting to order at 9:03 a.m. and asked guests present to introduce themselves.

Agenda
The agenda was approved without change.

Review of Minutes
Minutes of the July 22, 2003 meeting were reviewed and approved with the following
corrections: In the business reports on page 2, Laura Partlow is with the MEDC, not NEDC.
In the superintendents report of page 4, YACC should be YCC.
On page 8, it was Tom Nemacheck who brought writer Dixie Franklin to the area, not Tom Tikkanen. On the last page, Charlie Mastens name is misspelled.
Report from the KHNPAC Executive Director

Ron Welton thanked the Commissioners who attended the meeting with the new National Park
Service Midwest regional director Ernest Quintana. The three arson fires on Fifth Street were cleaned up in September, with Commission assistance.

The Main Street Calumet project was highlighted with the recent visit by Gov. Granholm.
Several local representatives attended a Main Street training forum in Lansing. The four
committees of Main Street are now up and running: organization, design, promotion and
economic revitalization. They are developing work plans and a design workshop hosted by
SHPO staff will be held on November 20-21.

Ron asked Tom Tikkanen to step in if he wanted to add anything about Main Street. Tom said
there were three recommendations for showcase properties, and SHPO and an architectural firm
will be in town to begin giving technical assistance to those three locations. Some additional
funds from the Michigan State Housing and Development Authority may be arranged. Work
plans are to be submitted to the Main Street board by December 15 and then forwarded to
MEDC in keeping with the requirements from Lansing in order for Calumet to receive its full
Main Street designation in May.

Ron reported that Old Victoria, a cooperating site, is floundering. A driving force on their board
left a few years ago and the organization has not been able to bounce back. An on-site
groundskeeper has just left, and there is a danger of losing the site. Ron will meet with their
board next week to put together a plan to save the site. Ron asked the Commissions approval for
a budget of up to $5,000 to work with Old Victoria on a short-term plan to revitalize the
organization.

Sue Cone and Kathryn Eckert asked Ron to clarify what it would mean to lose the site. Ron
said the site closed early in the season because their bank account is depleted and they did not 2 KNHPAC Meeting Minutes / 10-28-03 have funds to keep their insurance. They have not done any maintenance on their structures in
two years and the buildings are beginning to fall apart. The person he referred to had left the
board because she had moved out of the area. She was successful in locating grants and finding
free sources for labor, all on a volunteer basis. She has now returned to the area and is interested
in working with the Old Victoria organization, but not in a volunteer capacity. Old Victoria has
opportunities that they have not utilized; they have not collected fees, and their major fundraiser,
a formerly well-established and well-attended craft fair, has fallen by the wayside for the last
three years, so there has been little revenue.

Kathryn asked how the $5,000 would be used. Ron anticipates that it would be a salary for an
individual to focus on Old Victoria and get it operational, although he cant confirm that until the
meeting with the board has occurred. Kathryn asked about other projects that might need
Commission funds rather than acting immediately on Old Victoria.

Paul Lehto believes if the money goes into operating funds, it could be expected every year. Ron
said that was not his intent it is a one-time-only jump-start. Paul said everyone on the
Commission has a pet project and has not asked for funds; there needs to be guidelines before
something can be funded and those are not yet set. Kathryn said there is too little information to
approve the motion. Paul said the Commission has an executive director and needs to have faith
in his judgment. Bob Langseth said guidelines for funding should be the number one priority for
Ron and the Commission to accomplish in the next month.

Clyde Raasio asked if the site received any other source of funding, perhaps the Ontonagon
County Historical Society? Ron didnt know. He has spoken with OCHS and they are currently
stretched with a recently acquired lighthouse. Clyde said the site is a significant county site and
economic conditions there are bleak. Anything they can save to enhance the tourist economy
would benefit them. Ron said the site was initially owned by the Township and they turned it
over to the OCHS because they were struggling with maintenance issues. Clyde said the board
needs to be encouraged to look for all resources within the county regardless of how low the
level of funding. Kathryn is concerned about the level of interpretation at the site. Ron said they
keep visitation numbers. A motion was made to approve up to $5,000 for Old Victoria with Ron
to report back at the next meeting. Motion passed.

Ron reported the Houghton County Historical Society was successful in receiving an Institute of
Museum and Library Services grant of $100,000. Ron asked Dick Taylor to give an update. Dick
said they have begun working with Michigan Techs industrial archeology program part of the
grant includes providing a graduate student with a stipend for one year, with an extension of
funding possible throughout the duration of his or her masters degree. The student would
develop an understanding of the archeological significance of the mill site, critical as some of the
site has already been buried under other buildings and parks, and other development looms south
of the museums historical complex. HCHS envisions a comprehensive interpretive program on
copper milling, including technology and also cultural aspects that would be interesting to
visitors. They have been preapproved for a rural development authority loan which they will
pursue to construct the museum interpretive center serviced by a live steam narrow gauge
railroad. Dick thanked the Park, the Commission, and Senator Levins office for their letters of
support. 3 KNHPAC Meeting Minutes / 10-28-03
Ron continued his report. Senate Bill 1338 and House Bill 2411 brought up at the last meeting
remain unchanged in committee. Ron directed the Commissions attention to a letter received
from Michigan Tech in response to the Commissions concern over reduced services at the MTU
Archives. There was also a response from the Dow Foundation regarding a grant request.

The Park will be conducting a visitors survey next summer. Some of the data collected from the
survey will indicate what park visitors contribute to the area.

A 58,000-pound copper boulder was recently discovered on Moyle property in Houghton, where
the old Huron and Isle Royale mining operations were, buried in glacial till about 8
underground. Ron inquired about a donation, but Moyle was not interested. The boulder is
currently being marketed to museums nationwide at a cost of $200,000. It is 15 x 13 by 3 thick
at the thickest portion. Larry Lankton remarked that the Ontonagon boulder weighs only 4,000
pounds.

Traditionally, the last meeting of the year includes prospective meeting dates for the next year.
The fourth Tuesday was best for most of the Commission. Ron suggested January 27, April 27,
July 27, and October 26.

There were no questions for the executive director.

Report from the KEWE Superintendent

Frank Fiala was pleased to announce that as of October 1, the administration of the Keweenaw
National Historical Park is separate and will report directly to the regional director. Frank
thanked everyone for their support.

As for personnel changes, Frank introduced Ellen Leppanen, who has been working as an
administrative assistant for about six weeks. Tom Baker has accepted the management assistant
position, and his job will be filled in interpretation. Fritz Rushlow, project manager from the
historic preservation training center, and Sheila Rushlow, the contract specialist at Isle Royale,
will be returning to the HTPC. Fritz will continue to be involved with KEWE projects until those
are completed. KEWE is partnering with the Copper Country Community Arts Center and will
have Susan Burack work part-time as an official grantwriter available to various partners.

Dr. Bill Anderson, the director of History, Arts and Library department, visited on August 15
and spent the entire day and evening with KEWE staff. His visit was followed by Gov.
Granholms. Frank believes both came away with a good understanding of what the Park is
trying to do and the potential for heritage tourism in the Copper Country. The regional director
also visited, and he was appreciative of the efforts involved in a non-traditional park unit. In mid-
August, a regional team worked with Steve DeLong and John Rosemurgy on a list of classified
structures and the landscape inventory. Steve is working with them to list the sites KEWE owns
on the national list.
4 KNHPAC Meeting Minutes / 10-28-03 The alternative transportation planning team visited; Michigan Tech is spearheading that and
most of the survey will be done next summer. The visitor survey project people will be in on
Friday to work on a survey that will overlap both efforts. John Rosemurgy and Jeremiah Mason
have been working with people in Laurium concerning the historic district proposal funded by
the Americana Foundation.

There are a number of building issues:

- The Union Building is at about 100% in its construction drawings after some delays. The
bid will be handled at the regional office. Once approved, a temporary roof modification
will be done for the winter and the window project has started in the east wing.
- The headquarters building is almost completed. A labor issue has been settled, and there
is a short punch list of projects. Planning money has been received for the interior
rehabilitation and that work will begin soon.
- The installation for a fire suppression system in the library building is in planning. The
space-saver installation in the basement is complete.
- The pay office at Quincy is in for FY05 for a major rehab at just under $500K. Planning
continues.
- Coppertown has been on hold for acquisition until the test results are received. On the
basis of that, KEWE will use that as a test case to go in for a bill that changes the
legislation regarding the acquisition of property with contaminants.
- KEWE now has ownership of the Rowe Building, and is using it for storage. The
inventory formerly stored in the green warehouse that the Township had for the
Oddfellows material has now moved over to the Rowe Warehouse.
Frank attended the Main Street orientation in Lansing and on the same visit met with Christman
Company regarding the smelter project. The EPA visited, and KEWE is partnering with the
Quincy Development Corporation and the Township in removing contaminants.

Staff is heavily involved in the budget call which will come out next month. Frank asked for
input on projects or assistance needed. There is no budget yet. KEWE continues to spend from
last years level. Frank asked Diana Charles and Amy Wisti to comment on that later.

Frank received some e-mail from Margaret Triebsch, the new person in the NPS operating
commission in the office of policy. The advisory commission as an operating body will need to
adhere to that charter. Frank directed the commission to review the documents in their packets.
Ron said that had gone out in a previous mailing.



5 KNHPAC Meeting Minutes / 10-28-03 Questions for the Supervisor

Bob asked what fiscal year the budget call was for. Frank said it would be 05 through 07.

Larry asked for more details on the contamination of both the smelter site and the slag pile.
Frank said they were two separate issues. On the smelter site, the state is acquiring the rail right-
of-way for a recreational trail. It is bigger than they want but the test holes came up with high
concentrations of heavy metals. As a result, the emergency response team from the EPA found
contaminants throughout the building some were in barrels, some was loose fiber, some was
petroleum-based. Initially, they were very concerned about the site. Rather than issue an
emergency order, KEWE was able to work with them. The Township had assumed ownership of
that site for Park purposes and are now responsible for contaminant clean-up. KEWE was able to
organize an inventory with the Township and EPA. Materials were gathered and assembled in a
central location, it was tested and the results were optimistic. As a result, however, an asbestos
survey came back very high. All of this needs to be resolved before any construction can begin.

Regarding the slag pile, according to the Record of Decision, as long as people dont ingest
anything, the site is fine. There are ways to safeguard and contain that. The real issue is between
the state and the EPA and KEWE has asked to step back and let them work together and figure
out whether there is any leaching and heavy metal concentration in the sediment in front of the
smelter. If thats there, then that could be brought in under the superfund program. If its not,
then the Record of Decision will probably stand.

At 9:52, Paul asked for a five-minute break.

Reports from the Commission

The meeting resumed at 10:10. Paul acknowledged the arrival of Sheri Davie and Ed Yarbrough.

Bob congratulated the HCHS on their grant, and thanked them for their support of the Main
Street program. St. Annes has preapproval for a grant loan prospect. They are working with
Quinn Evans on treating the sandstone in the basement. Visitor numbers doubled this year and
are up to 2,500, but at the annual meeting the report was 3,500. Bob asked Larry to clarify; Larry
said the second number was correct. Bob attributes this to the new exhibit on mining housing.
Kathryn agreed the exhibit was great and asked if it would be re-installed. Larry said they hope
to, but unfortunately, the panels are turning green. Efforts are being made to have it reprinted.

Tom Nemacheck reported there is a resurgence of efforts to promote the Lake Superior region.
Previously, there existed a Lake Superior Circle Tour magazine which has faded. The SARS
epidemic in Toronto created much tourism funding throughout Ontario, which also helps
Wisconsin, Michigan, and Minnesota. Tom believes promoting the Lake Superior region has
great potential. There will be a workshop Friday afternoon in Marquette, and another in Sault
Ste. Marie on Monday, to determine how people of the region feel about the Lake Superior area.
There were additional workshops in Thunder Bay and Duluth. A bi-national committee will then
promote the Lake Superior region with that feedback. Bill Anderson would like to do a maritime
program, using the U.P. as a pilot project for the State of Michigan. There will be a meeting on 6 KNHPAC Meeting Minutes / 10-28-03 December 11 to identify a maritime trail. Tom said the Automobile National Heritage Route is
established in Detroit. Kathryn added that trail includes southeastern lower peninsula responsible
for the automotive industry Flint, Lansing and other plant locations. Bob asked if the history of
copper could be included in the automotive trail. Tom said there were great ties to the U.P.
(Ford, for instance) but wasnt sure how the tie-in would work. Larry said the auto heritage was
geographically bound. Copper would come in behind iron mining and lumber. Kathryn suggested
Barbara Nelson-Jameson of the NPS Rivers and Trails program, who did much of the work on
the Auto Heritage Route, would be the person to ask about adding the U.P. to the auto trail.

Sue Cone reported the state projects are winding down. The Pine Street bricking is done. MDOT
did some of the items on the punch list, and some were left out. Paul will report more on that.
The concrete intersection is complete and will be open in a few days, with a stoplight. The
Villages historic district commission hired Jim Johnson as a coordinator, replacing Campbell
Sutton, who has left the area. Coppertown has organized a planning committee for the Morrison
School move; that committee is meeting regularly. A spring clean-up is planned using prisoner
labor.

Sue asked Julie Sprenger to give an update on the Village of Laurium survey project. Julie
reported the committee is about half done. Every property in Laurium (~1,000) will be surveyed.
Jeremiah Mason and Stephanie Atwood are doing the work and are trying to finish before the
weather gets too bad. Julie is writing a letter to Laurium residents asking for historical data and
photographs. Sue reported Laurium was starting some strategic planning.

Kathryn reported her intent to review the Lake Linden Congregational Church steeple
stabilization project, and also to visit St. Annes. She has prepared Americana for funding for
appropriate sandstone consolidation on St. Annes, which could help with other projects. She has
some reports of other sandstone churches and will share those with Bob. Frank requested a copy
for John Rosemurgy; Kathryn will provide. Marty Fluharty will be receiving an award for
environmental leadership. Bob asked Ron to send a note of congratulations. Ron will comply.

Larry asked if Quinn Evans was coming up. Frank reported they would be up in November, with
Christman. Steve Jones is coming. Larry asked if they were looking at the sandstone at the
smelter, and Kathryn said they should. She said they would look at it and determine if they could
solve problems immediately; if they cant, they will advise the cost of providing an expert in
sandstone consolidation to come in and make an analysis. Sue asked if they could look at the
Theatre; Kathryn said it probably depended on who was providing the funds for the trip.

Larry reported there would be a meeting next week regarding preservation grants tied to
technology. Tech will suggest two possible ideas mining landscape, and rehabilitation
technology. Sandstone architecture is another possibility as the grant program is set up for
technical preservation questions. One specific goal is churches, so sandstone preservation could
fit that. That meeting is November 4 th at noon.
Larry further reported there were a lot of people at the social sciences department at Tech
currently involved with local history projects. Pat Martin is working with the Union Building,
Terry Reynolds is working with Houghton County Historical Society on milling, Kim Hoagland 7 KNHPAC Meeting Minutes / 10-28-03 did the exhibit for St. Annes but has also drafted grants on sandstone architecture and landscape,
Carol MacLennan and a graduate student are working on the Huron Dam history. Larry
continues to work on the Historic Resources Study, which is currently 400+ pages and within 15
pages of being complete. He apologized for the delay.

Clyde said it was a quiet summer. The evaluation continues on the sanitary sewer system in the
southeastern part of Franklin Township.

Paul reported the Superior smokestack stabilization project has been completed. The cap was
stabilized and tuckpointing was done on the top 30 of the stack. A future project will need to be
done to finish it, but it is stabilized for now. The cooperating project between the Village and the
Township on Sixth Street is being completed. New lights will be installed on the whole street;
that should be complete before winter. Paul thanked Abby Sue Fisher and KEWE for the
inventory on the Oddfellows material stored in the warehouse that has safely been moved to
Rowe Warehouse. Calumet Electronics, which owns the #3 enginehouse behind the Rowe
Building, applied for a permit from the Historic District Commission to revamp the roof and
windows on the building, and was granted the permit. The project will commence at their
expense. Additional repairs are being made to the drill shop roof, also some stabilization is being
done at the Calumet #1 dry house. The EPA funded a $245K clean-up of the sands at Calumet
Dam and Paul is pleased with the outcome. The boilerhouse and the pump house there are
historically important and should be the site of a future project.

Old Business

Bob asked if Clyde ever found the wooden water pipe he was concerned about at the July
meeting. Charlie Masten said it was still there. Bob asked for the results of the archeological
study done of the sewer system. Ed Yarbrough reported that MTU industrial archeology
professor Pat Martin and graduate student Dennis Leopold did a full archeological survey
following the lines of that sewer system. Ed has only seen a draft but it seems very thorough.

Reports from Legislative Officers

Diana Charles congratulated KEWE on its new independence. Sen. Levin is involved in the
investigations regarding corporate tax shelters, intelligence leading up to the war in Iraq, and
contracts for the rebuilding of Iraq. He is concerned with the relaxing of clean water regulation
which affects the Great Lakes region. The economy continues to worsen at every level.

Sheri Davie reported Sen. Stabenow has been working with Sen. Levin on the trash import issue.
She has been visiting communities statewide to rally support for stronger legislation and has
been successful in passing stricter guidelines for import. She was unsuccessful, however, in
funding a Month for America campaign in which one month of the Iraq budget increase would
be used for U.S. education, health care, and other national projects.

Amy Wisti confirmed Pauls inquiry regarding the passing of Bart Stupaks mother. Ron will
send a card on behalf of the Commission. The funeral will be Thursday evening in Gladstone. 8 KNHPAC Meeting Minutes / 10-28-03 Congressman Stupak had a recent guest editorial in the Daily Mining Gazette where he explained
his decision to vote against the House Bill on the war in Iraq.

Public Comments

Ed Yarbrough reported the completion of significant repairs to the 1918 hoist house to stem
some water leakage, and window repairs to the #2 shaft house. Ed thanked KEWE in general,
and Steve DeLong, Charlie Masten and Ken Kipena specifically, as well as two volunteers from
MTU, in cleaning up some of the properties on the northwest side of U.S. 41. John Rosemurgy,
Steve, and Ed have reactivated their work on the T21 grant that will match Park funding already
in hand (the Midwest Regional grant applied for two years ago) for emergency stabilization
money for both the boiler house #5 and the locomotive roundhouse. The amounts received from
the regional office were $36,000 for one building, and $39,200 for the other; that money will be
used as leverage for larger stabilization projects. Ed is looking forward to starting his training in
accessioning and cataloguing with Brian Hoduski and Abby Sue Fisher. In the spring, a new bat
kiosk will be installed in the gift shop to interpret the bat colonies, made possible by a grant from
Bat Conservation International, working with Ed and MTU graduate student Laura Krueger, who
did a bat survey underground and found two endangered bat species. Ed would like to return to a
development concept plan for Quincy, which was a priority years ago that has been set aside.
That needs to be done before undertaking other interpretation, such as a walking tour. The third
printing of Old Reliable was released last week. Ticket-buying visitors were down this year,
from about $24,000 to about $21,500. However, gift shop revenue increased.

Erik Nordberg said the structural steel went up this week on the construction for the new MTU
Library building, the Center for Integrated Learning and Technology. There have been some
temporary moves of archival material; he hopes to move the entire collection next summer. A
compact shelving bid has gone out including 1,000 drawers for flat material. He has been
meeting with Brian and Abby Sue to determine if the Park has interest in some three-dimensional
objects and artifacts more conducive to KEWE interpretation. The archival collections have
contributed to the HCHS and Village of Laurium grant projects. Planning continues on a
digitization project; hopefully, a pilot project will be in place by the spring. The Fourth Thursday
in History series completed its 2003 schedule with a presentation on the Huron Mine work. The
series continues to be very well-attended. Planning for the second Local History Smackdown is
underway and a date should be settled soon. Erik welcomed ideas for speakers and venues for the
2004 series. Planning has begun on the Copper Country Homecoming and Old Settlers Ball
scheduled for July, 2004. Erik will be releasing a call for papers shortly regarding a symposium
of local history topics in connection with the homecoming, scheduled for July 1 and 2. Deadline
for submissions for the symposium is February 1.

Jill Burkland has been working with Kathleen Harter on a scope of sales statement for the Park.
A publications plan will result, which will aid in developing new books and products. A series of
3 or 4 postcards with historic photos will be for sale soon.

Julie Sprenger reported the Laurium Manor Inn is no longer doing guided tours. There are self-
guided tours every day from 11-5, and that has worked out well. Abbey Green has completed a
piece of stained glass for the Inn. 9 KNHPAC Meeting Minutes / 10-28-03
Sue Cone asked Susan Burack if Susan would be working with organizations like the Calumet
Theatre that lost all of its grant funding. Susan has met with Dick and Jim of the Theatre and
they are moving forward with some plans. Ron said the Park would be hosting a grant workshop
with all of the cooperating sites to make them aware of what Susan has to offer.

Larry thanked the Daily Mining Gazette for recent favorable articles highlighting local history
events. Frank added that Garrett Neese is a big factor, as he attends the KEWE meetings and
reports on Park projects.

John Schneiderhan asked if there was a central location to find out about Park activities. Frank
said the Park newsletter comes out on a quarterly basis, and quarterly meetings are open to the
public. There is no central visitors center yet. Because the Park is built on a partnership premise,
it is difficult to wrangle all the information. John asked for a contact for the Laurium project;
Julie will speak with him after the meeting.

The meeting adjourned at 11:10 a.m.

The Keweenaw National Historical Park Advisory Commission meeting dates for 2004 are:
January 27, 2004
April 27, 2004
July 27, 2004
October 26, 2004


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