Calumet has helped shape important parts of the country’s history. And after 150 years there are plenty of stories to tell. At its height, the village was home to more than 100,000 people. Many are connected to the region’s mining industry. And the nation’s labor movement.
The village of Calumet was formed during the heyday of the copper mining boom. We were formed out of the history of the Calumet and Hecla Mining Company and we were at the forefront of the strikes that occurred in 1913 and beyond. So really the village has marked itself as sort of a frontier for that mining history, but also for the labor union movement. That’s very important time within our history here in the village and something that we still celebrate today. – Megan Hasselden, Village Manager, Village of Calumet
After the mines began to close Calumet began to slow down. However, in more recent years the village has worked hard to reinvigorate that same kind of energy. Calumet Electronics added onto its chip manufacturing facility, the Keweenaw National Historic Park continues to fascinate visitors from around the country, and residents regularly find themselves at parks and trails nearby.
It’s been a very exciting couple of years here in the village. We are seeing a lot of growth, a lot of redevelopment, a lot of properties are getting cleaned up, and people are doing some pretty major projects. We as a village are also doing some pretty major projects. We have a new green space park that’s going in next door that we’re very excited about that’s going to open up this summer. And you know, we’re just kind of moving forward and making improvements generally. – Megan Hasselden, Village Manager, Village of Calumet
Toward the end of summer, Calumet will begin celebrating 150 years of existence in the Copper Country. Village Manager Megan Hassleden says the festivities will start by celebrating Croatian heritage, followed by one of the Upper Peninsula’s events Pasty Fest. After that Calumet will host an official 150th event, then the Red Jacket Ball in December.
Croatian food and our new green space park have music and dance and then that weekend will culminate with the Tamburidzins performance at the Calumet Theater on that Sunday. The following weekend is Pasty Fest. So Pasty Fest is a really exciting time here in the village. We are going to be working with the local Cornish Heritage Society. The village of Calumet is named as a sister city to Camborne in Cornwall, UK. So we are going to rededicate the sign, marking us as their sister city in our new green space park. And we hope to have a big party in that park and a big screen TV so that our friends from Cornwall can join us virtually. Then we will kind of let. Let the rest of the summer festivities play out in September. The weekend of September 12th and 13th will be our big 150th celebration. So that Friday night we will have some festivities that will occur here in the Red Jacket Ballroom and with the Calumet Theatre. And then on Saturday we’re gonna do a block party on this block of 6th Street. So we’re gonna block off the street in front of Village Hall in the theater and have live music, games for kids, some historical presentations, and walking tours. Should be a great time with good food. – Megan Hasselden, Village Manager, Village of Calumet
Calumet makes the village an easy and fun place to explore history, community, and nature. Stop at the Keweenaw National Historic Park on 5th Street to learn some basic knowledge of the area. Or enter the Calumet Theatre to view its historic majesty. Learn more about activities and news with the village of Calumet online. Calumet village council meetings occur once a month on the third Tuesday inside the Village hall at 6 pm.
