My Summer Activities

Recently, the Crystal Falls Court House celebrated it's 100 year birthday. HERE IS A COPY OF ITS HISTORY:

The Iron County Courthouse in Crystal Falls was built in 1890. It boasts granite steps, large oak doors, arched doorways, high ceilings,chandeliers, turrets, and unique ornamentation. Offices located within the building include the county clerk, county administrator, county treasurer, register of deeds, equalization department, and Michigan State University Extension.

Although the courthouse is the highlight of Crystal Falls today, it would not be there if Crystal Falls had lost its bid to become county seat.

According to Iron County Clerk Joan Luhtanen, the story of how Crystal Falls became the county seat is a colorful one.

When Iron County was carved from Marquette and Menominee counties in 1885, Iron River was designated as the temporary county seat. The permanent county seat would be chosen in the next election. The rivalry between Iron River and Crystal Falls was extreme.

Following a county board meeting in 1887, a group of Crystal Falls residents lured the Iron River commissioners to a high-stakes poker game. Frank Scadden, the Mastodon Township supervisor, and H.J. Hughitt, the county treasurer, used this time to steal the county record books from

Iron River and smuggle them to Crystal Falls. Iron River residents threatened to take the records back once the theft was discovered. However, Sheriff David Lockwood put a guard on the records. (IT IS RUMORED THAT THIS SHERIFF WAS AT THE POKER GAME.)

When the election to decide the county seat was finally held in 1888, citizens in both cities attempted to rig the vote. They registered lumberjacks from other parts of the Upper Peninsula, as well as dead relatives.

Crystal Falls ended up winning the election by a mere five votes.

A second election was held in 1889. Crystal Falls won again, this time by

almost 100 votes.

AT ALAN'S

AT ALAN'S

AT ALAN'S

Last weekend, I actually drove down to Wisconsin to Amy's wedding shower, then afterwards to Sue's & to Alan's.

Maggie & a friend drove up to visit for a week-end. I showed them the museum in Amasa nearby.











There are so many activities going on up here every weekend in the summer. The Humungus Fungus Fest is August 12-15, 2010.


Click here: Humungus Fungus Fest in Crystal Falls, MI






This next weekend is the professional rodeo in Iron River.






"We are pleased to announce that the 43rd Annual U.P. Rodeo will be held July 30th thru August 1, 2010. Plan now to attend the rodeo weekend which includes three PRCA rodeo performances, the Wild West Parade, Market Days, Art Round Up, Chuckwagon Breakfasts, the Miss U.P. Rodeo Queen Contest and the Friday night Rodeo Concert featuring the Kentucky Headhunters, Chasin' Steel and Jamey Johnson! "


Click here: U.P. Pro Rodeo - Welcome










This next weekend is also the "Black Bart Festival/all class reunion in Republic ... also a free Saturday night water ballet show near Spread Eagle. ..... How to chose?


Click here: "Black Bart Festival"