• Sunday-What'sUP August 14 - 08:36 am

As we thread our way back through time, making connections with people and places, our path crosses the lower bridge in Eagle River about 50 years ago. I think this photo was probably taken by fellow Lion, Fred Niemi. It was passed along to me by his daughter Barb, the young bicyclist on the right (looks like Mary Long on the other bike).

The notes on the back of the picture identify the gent in the foreground as Alden Steck. Alden was no stranger to parades, as we see in this clipping from two decades earlier (notice he is named as one of the judges):

from the Wesley Williams collection

Good morning Charlie. Your up early!

I remember standing on both of the old bridges with Jim Carstens throwing rocks at the suckers in the water below when we lived in town. For as many rocks as we let loose you'd think we would have hit at least one over the years but alas nary a one. I miss living there and I miss Jim as well. Maybe I'll see some of you over the Labor Day weekend, we will be there for a few days.

Old pictures and articles are the best.

Save the Bridge.

James,

Your note brings to mind a couple of pictures in your Guest Gallery album. One of them shows the edge of the bridge above, the other is Jim Carstens at the pond not too far from here, up Garden City Road.

Eagle River, winter 1975

Garden City Pond, Jim Carstens

Hi Charlie...(I tried an earlier post but it must have been lost in cyberspace.) Just wanted to fill in some other information about the picture. The man in the foreground is my Uncle Francis. My dad, Alden, is in the background with a white shirt. I think the cowboy is Larry, (my oldest brother) and Dan was probably on a bike with others like Emil Dyni and Rosalie Rogers. I'm behind Mrs Yoki. We loved the Fourth of July Eagle River parade..especially when Mrs. Yoki gave us ice cream and penny candy from the store at the end of the parade route. Shall we try this again next year? Thanks for the happy memory!

Thanks for the memories Charlie and Barb.
Alden Steck is actually the man in the background next to the auto. His brother Francis is the man in the foreground. I also recognize Donna and Jeff(?) Mihelich(baseball uniform), and Lary Steck(hat next to Edith). Alden took 8mm movies of the parades in the 50's and 60's and I took some in the 70's. I hope to preserve them through digitization soon. Let's hope the lower bridge and the 4th of July kid's parade can be restored to ER.

Ditto on save the bridge.....maybe there could be somemore memories made like these. I love listening to the childhood memories that Mary Long has shared with me along with Donna M's younger brother.......the two of them can getcha laughin and wishing you could have been apart of their childhood.

you all have a blessed day.....thanks for the memories.......

So if I understand correctly, the man walking beside the car is Alden, not the one closer to the camera:

My mother, Thelma Kuusisto taught school in the Eagle River school. She taught in many of the outlying schools with a 2 year degree from Northern. My family has many memories of her teaching in Eagle Harbor, Ahmeek, Centennial Heights, Cloverland, Oneco and last at the Mohawk School from which she retired. It would be interesting to hear of anyone who attended while she taught.
I am the oldest daughter, Louise.

While working with M.D.O.T.in the mid 60s we painted this bridge,all done by walking the iron,no scaff0lding.Foolish i know, but we were young.

Lulubelle,

I had your Mother as my 4th grade teacher in Mohawk school 1963-64 school year. I have a picture of that class. E-mail me and I will send it to you.

There are many ways to try and save the bridge for a walkway Charlie. First off, has anyone contacted the same group that helped Calumet receive the grants to restore 5th street?? Also there are many private preservation societies like the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the National Historic Trust, and so on....

Another place to go is a website called PreservationDirectory.com. They have a list of societies from all over the country dedicated to preserving historic buildings and structures. In each case, one would have to show how and why the bridge is significant and deserves restoration. I'm actually surprised the Keweenaw County Historical Society hasn't taken an active role in trying to save and restore the bridge, or don't they think it's important enough to preserve from a tourism standpoint???

Panalopy: splendid or striking array

Charlie,

Jim and myself use to take walks around town. The camper is right in front of where Jim and Sandy and the kids use to live. We lived on the side where the small park was. Don't know if the park is still there. I'll have to check it out when we are there.

Panalopy? Or perhaps Panoply?

Margaret and FRNash:
Panoply is, indeed, the correct term. It comes from the Greek panoplia, which originaly referred to arms and armour. Panoply is still mostly used to refer to full ceremonial military dress or armour, although it can also be used in reference to any impressive display.

Thanks, Dr. Nat.

I thought the participants were splendid to come out in support of being in a parade.