Calumet Downtown Historic District
Encyclopedia
The Calumet Downtown Historic District is a historic district located in Calumet, Michigan
, on 5th Street and 6th Street, between Scott Street and Pine Street. It is also known as the Red Jacket Downtown Historic District, reflecting the original name of the village. The Historic District is completely contained in the Calumet Historic District
(a National Historic Landmark
District) and the Keweenaw National Historical Park
. It was designated a Michigan State Historic Site in 1973 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 1974.
, which mined a rich vein of copper running just south of Calumet. From 1868 through 1886, it was the leading copper producer in the United States, and from 1869 through 1876, the leading copper producer in the world.
As the fortunes of the Calumet and Hecla Mining Company went, so went the fortures of Calumet. The majority of the structures in the downtown Calumet district were constructed in the years between 1880 and 1910, when the copper imning industry was at its peak. The structures reflect the progress of Calumet's fortunes as first frame, and then more substantial sandstone and brick business blocks, were built.
The copper strike in 1913 created an economic depression in the area whose effects lingered for decades. The depressed economy was favorable to preservation, and as a result few of the buildings have been altered or destroyed; in fact, many of the buildings still serve their original function. Many commercial buildings have had their facades altered, but for the most part these treatments have been
applied over original material and are reversible.
Two substantial buildings, St. Anne's Roman Catholic Church and the Calumet Opera House, anchor the district at the south and the north ends, respectively. In addition, the Calumet Fire Station
, now the Upper Peninsula Fire Fighters Memorial Museum, is also located in the district.
Calumet, Michigan
Calumet is a village in Calumet Township, Houghton County, in the U.S. state of Michigan's Upper Peninsula, that was once at the center of the mining industry of the Upper Peninsula. Also known as Red Jacket, the village includes the Calumet Downtown Historic District, listed on the National...
, on 5th Street and 6th Street, between Scott Street and Pine Street. It is also known as the Red Jacket Downtown Historic District, reflecting the original name of the village. The Historic District is completely contained in the Calumet Historic District
Calumet Historic District
The Calumet Historic District is a historic district that was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on March 28, 1989. It was further designated a U.S...
(a National Historic Landmark
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...
District) and the Keweenaw National Historical Park
Keweenaw National Historical Park
Keweenaw National Historical Park is a unit of the U.S. National Park Service. Established in 1992, the park celebrates the life and history of the Keweenaw Peninsula in the Upper Peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan...
. It was designated a Michigan State Historic Site in 1973 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1974.
History
The village of Calumet, then known as "Red Jacket," was originally settled in 1864, and was incorporated in 1867. Calumet was an offshoot of the Calumet and Hecla Mining CompanyCalumet and Hecla Mining Company
The Calumet and Hecla Mining Company was a major copper-mining company based in the Michigan Copper Country. In the 19th century, the company paid out more than $72 million in shareholder dividends, more than any other mining company in the United States during that period.-History:In 1864, Edwin J...
, which mined a rich vein of copper running just south of Calumet. From 1868 through 1886, it was the leading copper producer in the United States, and from 1869 through 1876, the leading copper producer in the world.
As the fortunes of the Calumet and Hecla Mining Company went, so went the fortures of Calumet. The majority of the structures in the downtown Calumet district were constructed in the years between 1880 and 1910, when the copper imning industry was at its peak. The structures reflect the progress of Calumet's fortunes as first frame, and then more substantial sandstone and brick business blocks, were built.
Description
The Calumet Downtown Historic District consists of sixty-two structures. These buildings along Fifth and Sixth Streets comprise the main commercial section of Calumet. These structures include buildings with a frame or shingle exterior, ones covered with metal sheeting, sandstone buildings, brick buildings, and those constructed of a combination of sandstone and brick. These structures define the streetscape of the downtown, with some presernting imposing facades. Most buildings are embellished with common stock elements purchased by the builders; some of these elements are used in combinations, including terra cotta trim, metal cornices, turrets, and cast iron thresholds and columns.The copper strike in 1913 created an economic depression in the area whose effects lingered for decades. The depressed economy was favorable to preservation, and as a result few of the buildings have been altered or destroyed; in fact, many of the buildings still serve their original function. Many commercial buildings have had their facades altered, but for the most part these treatments have been
applied over original material and are reversible.
Two substantial buildings, St. Anne's Roman Catholic Church and the Calumet Opera House, anchor the district at the south and the north ends, respectively. In addition, the Calumet Fire Station
Calumet Fire Station
The Calumet Fire Station is a firehouse located on 6th Street in Calumet, Michigan. It is also known as the Red Jacket Fire Station. The building was designated a Michigan State Historic Site in 1971 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974, and is part of the Calumet...
, now the Upper Peninsula Fire Fighters Memorial Museum, is also located in the district.
| Contemporary images of the downtown |
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Further reading
- Downtown Calumet from the Keweenaw National Historic Park
External links
- Main Street Calumet
- Keweenaw National Historical Park, downtown Calumet
- Hunt's Guide to Downtown Calumet (tourist information)