The Upper Peninsula of
Michigan is ideal for creative inquiry and contemplation with its rugged
landscape; miles of old growth forests, untouched glacial lakes, wild rivers,
and stark weather conditions. Out-of-the way small towns are strung together beside shorelines and
mountains, serving as a reminder of a community with a history steeped in
industry, built on mining and logging industries in the 19th and 20th
centuries.
Ontonagon County (from Ojibwa tribes
who first lived in the area) encompasses the town of Ontonagon and the handful
of towns surrounding the Ontonagon River near the Porcupine Mountains.
Ontonagon reflects the unique culture and community of the area. Many
inhabitants are descendents of Finnish settlers who immigrated in the 1800’s.
Logging and mining were primary employers until 1995 when the last mine
closed.
The Upper Peninsula accounts for 30 percent of Michigan’s land area, but only three percent of the state’s population (down from 1910 when the Upper Peninsula accounted for 12 percent of Michigan’s population). There are many examples of a community once present: abandoned homesteads contain traces of lives lived there, remnants of furniture, kitchen items, and clothing, sun spotted and moth eaten, still hanging on hooks on the wall.
The Upper Peninsula accounts for 30 percent of Michigan’s land area, but only three percent of the state’s population (down from 1910 when the Upper Peninsula accounted for 12 percent of Michigan’s population). There are many examples of a community once present: abandoned homesteads contain traces of lives lived there, remnants of furniture, kitchen items, and clothing, sun spotted and moth eaten, still hanging on hooks on the wall.
The remaining UP population has developed
its own culture and traditions, including its own dialect and a shared
commitment to the outdoors. The oldest
standing log home in the US is an example, now the Ontonagon Historical Museum.
Local businesses include Henry’s Never Inn where Yoopers (the locals) gather on
Fridays for a community fish fry.
LOCAL FAVORITES
The Paulding Light
The Irish Hollow Cemetery is on the way to the abandoned
rock quarry and Lake Superior. It's creepy and beautiful. There are some plots
that still get mowed, but most of it is like a hike through the woods
with ruins of graves and tombs. Cameron said he wants to be
buried here.
The Paulding Light
A mysterious "floating" light in
Paulding, MI, which attracts all sorts of curious folks to the end of a
deserted road to stare into the woods at night. Bring your binoculars.
http://www.pauldinglight.com
Ewen Building Supply
Our
local hardware and building supply store, family owned and operated for
over 50 years. These guys are always friendly and helpful. They also sell lumber and appliances, and build sheds and cabins. The story goes
that they started out building sheds, selling them to make the money to
build a few more sheds each time, until they had made enough money to
buy the building supply business. The Visitors' Center tool shed was
originally one of their creations. We re-sided and repainted it,
restoring it to it's former glory.
Brambleberry Quilt Shop, 134 Pine St. M-28 E. Ewen, MI 49925
A
cozy shop filled with quilts, fabrics, yarn, patterns, candles,
jellies, jams, and gifts. Run by friendly women who teach classes on quilting, knitting, and
basket weaving. You can
check out their giant purple sparkly long-arm quilting machine, and if
you're curious about something, they'll tell you all about it!
"Our
motto is Where creativity begins & the fun never ends. We love
quilting, & basically having a good time & sharing Ideas, our
classes include, quilting, knitting, basket weaving."
Settler's Co-op, Bruce Crossing, MI.
For all your basic food and beer-buying needs, plus some camping and fishing supplies.
SCENIC PLACES
A 39 foot high waterfall on the Ontonagon River. There is an old railway, now a hiking bridge, that spans the falls.
Bond Falls, Watersmeet, MI
A 50 foot high waterfall on the Ontonagon River.
Gogebic Ridge Hiking Trail near Bergland, MI
This trail starts around Weary Lake and brings
you to the top of a rock face called Trap Hills, over-looking lake
Gogebic. It's one of the longest and tallest cliff faces in MI. Keep an eye out for many types of song birds along the way.
Lake Gogebic
A 20-minute drive
west from Ewen to Bergland, MI brings you to the northern tip of this
huge lake. The Upper Peninsula's largest inland lake.
The Irish Hollow Cemetery is on the way to the abandoned
rock quarry and Lake Superior. It's creepy and beautiful. There are some plots
that still get mowed, but most of it is like a hike through the woods
with ruins of graves and tombs. Cameron said he wants to be
buried here. 