Keweenaw National Historical Park Headquarters, Calumet
July 23, 2024
Present:
Commissioners
- Glenn Anderson, State of Michigan (President)
- Karin Cooper, Houghton County (Secretary)
- Dan Jamison, at-large (Treasurer)
- Thomas Helppi, Calumet Township
- Gerald Juntunen, Commissioner, at-large
- Mary Sears, Franklin and Quincy Townships
Executive Director
National Park Service (NPS)
- Wendy Davis, Superintendent (via Teams)
Absent:
- Andrew Ranville, Village of Calumet
Decisions and Announcements
- Commission will write a letter of support to congressional delegation requesting a base increase for Keweenaw National Historical Park in order to properly operate and staff the historic C&H Warehouse building once converted into a curatorial facility.
- The Commission acknowledged the efforts of park staff and Superintendent Davis and thanked them for securing over $3 million in Abandoned Mine Lands funding for safe-ing the Keweenaw’ historic mining landscape.
A.1. Call to Order
A regular meeting of the Keweenaw National Historical Park Advisory Commission was opened at 1:00 p.m., Tuesday, July 23rd, 2024.
A.2. Introductions
Guests:
- Mark Wilcox, IRKPA
- Anita Campbell, Keweenaw County Historical Society.
- Gina Nicholas, KORC
- Chad VanBennekom, KORC
- Erik Mustonen, MTU Alum
- Beth Baker, Agassiz house
- Vince Kanthak, Painesdale Mine & Shaft
A.3. Approval of Agenda for April 23rd, 2024
Motion made by Sears. Seconded by Cooper. Motion carried unanimously. (6/0).
A.4. Approval of Minutes of April 23rd, 2023
Motion made by Juntunen and seconded by Helppi. Motion carried unanimously. (6/0).
B.1. Superintendent’s Report
A. Staffing updates:
- The Historian position was posted on USA Jobs on Monday (22nd).
- The Interp and Education lead assistant position is in the interview stage.
- Still no update on the Landscape Architect position.
B. Project updates:
- Waysides for the C&H pay shed are ready here in the pay shed and will be installed inside and outside the pay shed in the coming weeks.
- Abandoned Mine Lands-related work is ongoing:
- Work on the Quincy No. 2 Shaft Rockhouse.
- Drill shop (Calumet) repointing.
- Mine shaft openings study and possible capping.
- Smokestack study for future preservation.
- Historic Trades Preservation Center in Maryland is sending a team this summer to work on the roof, windows, and doors of the park’s History Center (C&H Library).
- They will also conduct another masonry workshop (site/s TBD) similar to the one held last fall at the Quincy Smelter. More details to come.
- Visitor Center is open Thursdays and Friday from 12-4pm, starting Memorial Day it will be open 7 days a week.
Questions for the Superintendent
Campbell asked if the Gay smokestack was included in the AML smokestack study. Davis replied yes, it is targeted for stabilization at some point.
Campbell asked for an update on signage for the Gay School museum owned and operated by the Keweenaw County Historical Society. Davis replied that signs are coming. There is a staffing shortage in the Facilities department of the park, but signage is on the agenda.
B. 2. Executive Director’s Report
Keweenaw Heritage Grants
- The Commission awarded 13 heritage grants this year totaling $117,082.
- Projects ranged from:
- Accessibility upgrades at the KCHS and Carnegie Museums
- Shaft house preservation and interpretation at the Painesdale Mine & Shaft.
- Continued support for OCHS and their collections inventory and cataloging project.
Quincy Smelter Updates
- The park and commission are working with PAL (The Public Archaeology Laboratory, Inc.) to conduct a Historic Resources Survey of the Quincy Smelting Works. An HRS, as defined in NPS Cultural Resource Management Guidelines (NPS-28), is a key baseline document that provides a historical overview of a park or region and identifies a park’s cultural resources within historic contexts.
- Staff from PAL visited in May to acquaint themselves with the property and archival resources available needed for the research.
- Already producing draft chapters for review.
- The smelter is open at limited hours for tours with the Quincy Mine Hoist Association. Learn more at the QMHA website.
Commissioned Artist project
- The commission, park, and Isle Royale Keweenaw Parks Association are pleased to announce that Kasey Koski has been selected for a commissioned work (or works) of art to be displayed on the park-owned Quincy Mining Co. land west of US41 and surrounding the dry house ruins. This work is to “repopulate” the historic landscape with representations of workers and/or community members, thereby tying the workplace of the mine to the community that existed along side it.
- Koski was here earlier this month, visiting the site, the park, Quincy Mine, and the Michigan Tech Archives to gather information to help inform her artistic work.
- She is working closely with the park’s interpretive team to develop her idea, and there will be opportunities to learn more from her and her work in the coming weeks.
- She will return later this summer to install the work/s.
FY24 Projects Review
- Coppertown Mining Museum pattern storage building roof study was recently completed. This is to advise the museum on how best to protect the structure with a new roof.
- Oral history transcriptions are ongoing at the park. This is through an outside contractor working out of state.
- Working with two interns from Michigan Tech to develop online educational materials for the Copper Traces fourth grade history program.
Travel
- Attended the Michigan Historic Preservation Network annual conference in Kalamazoo in May.
- Next year’s conference is slated for Sault Ste. Marie. I plan to attend and work with others locally to bring MHPN to the Keweenaw in the near future.
- Attended the Society for Industrial Archeology annual conference in Minneapolis in May.
- Next year’s conference is slated for Buffalo, NY. I plan to attend and work with others locally to bring SIA to the Keweenaw in the near future.
- The Keweenaw hosted the Vernacular Architecture Forum annual conference this June. Over 200 attendees came to the Keweenaw, learned about our unique historic resources, and likely contributed well over $100,000 to the area over that weekend.
- Next years conference is slated for Delaware, but it overlaps with the MHPN conference so I will not be attending. The following year is Walla Walla, WA.
B.3. Requests to Commission and Financial Reports
a. Budget/Finance
- Motion to approve billing in the amount of $127,695.58 made by Juntunen and seconded by Cooper. Motion carried unanimously. (6/0)
- Motion to approve payroll and tax payments in the amount of $17,538.76 made by Sears and seconded by Helppi. Motion carried unanimously. (6/0)
- Anderson suggested writing a letter of support for the park to our congressional delegation to increase the park’s annual base funding. This increase is needed to maintain, operate, and staff the upcoming curatorial facility housed in the historic C&H Warehouse owned by the park.
- Motion made by Cooper. Seconded by Juntunen. Motion carried unanimously. (6/0)
B.4. Commissioner Reports
A. Anderson commended the park and Superintendent Davis for securing over $3 million in Abandoned Mine Lands funds. It’s much needed and appreciated.
C.1. Comments from legislators or legislative staff
None
C.2. Comments from Keweenaw Heritage Site representatives
A. Campbell, Keweenaw County Historical Society, stated that the society appreciates the Keweenaw Heritage Grant program. They are currently working on this year’s grant, which include accessibility improvements to the fog signal building in Eagle Harbor.
- The VAF visitors were great. Very pleased to have taken part.
- June’s Visitor numbers were up 28% from last year.
B. Vince Kanthak of Painesdale Mine & Shaft updated the commission on work at the site.
- The #4 shaft rockhouse is now completely open for visitors
- Currently working on a rehab of the historic water tank building on site. Removed the asbestos tiles and looking to replace those tiles with new and appropriate tiles.
C. Dan Jamison, speaking on behalf of the Calumet Theatre, updated the commission on the furnace situation at the theatre. The furnace is finally ready to be replaced. A nice recent article in the Mining Gazette covers the details.
- The Chandelier Society met recently at a fundraising gala to replace the historic chandelier that hung above the theatre.
C.3. Comments from the public
A. Campbell, speaking on behalf of the Big Annie Statue Committee, informed the commission of the recent fundraising gala. $19,000 raised with a sell out event including 18 great grandchildren of Annie Clemenc. The goal is to raise upwards of $150,000 for a stature to be placed at the “Church Corner” of Red Jacket Road.
B. Mark Wilcox of IRKPA informed the commission of this Thursday’s (25th) Keweenaw Service Project. This involves cleanup in and around the Quincy dry house ruins and the old Franklin School foundations along US41.
- Friday (26th) is IRKPA’s semi-annual board meeting held at KNHP headquarters.
- Saturday is IRKPA’s annual membership meeting held at KNHP headquarters.
- A pop-up informational tent with KNHP at Chassell’s Strawberry Fest was a success.
C. Beth Baker of the Agassiz house stated that 7 of 9 rooms in the building are now ready, with the other two coming on line in the coming weeks.
D. Motion to Adjourn
Moved by Jamison and seconded by Helppi at 1:48 p.m. Motion carried unanimously. (6/0).
Next meeting will be held Tuesday, October 8th at 1:00pm at Keweenaw NHP Headquarters.
