• Wednesday-What'sUP September 14 - 07:26 am

Thanks to this picture from Geoff Zarzecki over in our ever expanding Guest Gallery, we are reminded of an tragic story that took place during the Copper Strike of 1913 - 1914. This excerpt from Kevin Musser's website, www.copperrange.org, gives you a quick idea of what took place in the early morning hours one December day:

Calumet born and wandering miners, John Huhta and his brother were tried and convicted for their part in a triple murder that occurred at the boarding house of Thomas Dally on Baltic Street in Painesdale at 1:55 am, December 7th 1913. Killed by random rifle shots fired into their home from the woods on the outskirts of Painesdale were brothers, Arthur and Harry Jane and boarding house operator Thomas Dally.

For more details and even a map showing the location of the incident, check out this link, again from Kevin Musser's informative website: Murders in Painesdale.

Is that Johnny Wolf's house in the background?

Geez, never heard this one! How tragic!

Read "Rebels on the Range" to learn more of the 1913 strike. The president (I think Woodrow Wilson D) sent troops, the Italian Hall disaster, and the above murder are just a few of the incidents.
The author has the same name as the bakery that closed in Calumet. Sorry, can't think of his name. Somebody help out here please.

Very Nice pictures in your album, Geoff. I especially like the bridge shots at night.

Thurner?

My uncle was John Huhta. I'm assuming he's a different John Huhta unless he got a very short sentence, and we were never told about it!

Yes, I think it's Thurner. Are Brita and I correct?

Hey, neat to see my section of town featured! I love living in Seeberville. I lived there for quite a few years before I learned about the murders. It was fascinating to meet the family of the miner that was murdered. They came to town for the Seeberville Murders presentation a couple years ago.

Charles, yes that is where Johnny Volf lived in the background. John sure had some stories to tell. We used to call him "The Mayor". My son, who now drives the pickup in the picture, used to be best buddies with John.

Does anyone have pictures of the cliff where they do cliff diving by L'Anse?

Do you mean Canyon Falls where the locals dive into the water below?

Too many murders in Painesdale during 1913-14 I think has everyone confused. The Dally-Jane murders (referenced by Mary) did not take place in Seeberville, those were the murders of Steve Putrich and Alois Tigan at the Putrich boarding house in Seeberville. The Dally-Jane murders (Thomas Dally and the two Jane brothers) occured at the northwest end of Painesdale on Baltic Street and is the subject of the story on my site. Let's keep our murders straight here for the record :)

Mary says: Oops, that's my mistake for not reading the information correctly on your site, Kevin. I saw the Seeberville murders there and got carried away, I guess! Thanks for setting the record straight!

I was always intrigued about all of the places not found on maps in the UP. It's great that people still remember places of a bygone era, despite their signficance in modern times. One place that comes to mind is Chickensville in between Lake Linden and Hubbell. I think this name is more of a joke, but I have met people that know the name.

Re today's picture:

Well now you've got me - this self-professed geography nut has just been stumped!

I hate to admit it, but that's one place in da Copper Country that I have never heard of, and probably have never been to!

So where exactly is Seeberville?

Yes Marsha that is probably what I mean. Any pics? Thanks

was up recently for my dear aunt's funeral, and cousin took me around to all kind of places I would have had no idea were there. Met some great people. The UP is an endless wonder!

http://www.michiganhistorymagazine.com/extra/up/pdfs/annie.pdf more on Seeberville

Kkfromsd: Go to "Search the Archives" on the page preceding this and type in "Canyon Falls" for a wealth of info and pictures.

The Seeberville masacre occurred in Seeberville during the Summer of 1913 and was perpritrated by Rent-a-cops on striking miners who dared to cross Copper Range grounds at the Champion Mine and refused to heed orders to stop. The officer who tried to stop or detain the strikers gathered some reenforcments and the followed the strikers to their Seeberville boarding house to arrest them. The guys refused and the hired guns opened fire. They (the Rent-a-cops) left the Copper Country with out being convicted for the killings and injuries. The Dec. 1913 murders on Baltic street were done by WFM Union men who killed two non-union men who returned from Canada to work in the Champion Mine. These killings sparked the mobilization of the Citizen's Alliance against the Western Federation of Miners. This, in turn,led the Union to suspect or claim that a Citizen's Alliance member shouted the false fire alarm at Italian Hall. Thurner's REBELS ON THE RANGE gives the most unbiased account of the 1913 strike available in the popular press.

Thanks Paul. I need to find out more about the strike. My
grandfather was involved in it. He lost his job after the strike and
took up farming instead. The Copper Miner's granddaughter.

FR Nash, Seeberville is actually a location in Painesdale. If you turn off M-26 onto Hubbard and follow it all the way down to the old Copper Range machine shop, you are in "E-Location". Seeberville is a just a hop past the machine shop. Of if coming up from the Chassell/Painesdale road, turn left by the rockpiles towards the shafthouse. Come on down, and I'll make sure you get a tour! I'm the first house in Seeberville. Anyone remember the Bagnieski family house? Don't worry, no murders here lately ;)

dlp (Babyseal):
Thanks for the detailed directions, I guess I still have plenty of explorin' to do in the neighborhood! (One of the fun bits o' da Copper Country - no shortage of explorin' ta do!)

There are several photos relating to the Seeberville shootings on the "Keweenaw Digital Archives" based at the MTU Archives. Log into:
http://digarch.lib.mtu.edu/
and search for "Seeberville"

In particular, there are images from the Putrich family, descendents of those slain in the incident. Have a look at
http://digarch.lib.mtu.edu/showbib.aspx?bib_id=600557#
which is one of the well-known postcard photos of the house -- but includes notations for "mom" and "dad" by one of the family members.

Isn't Seeberville actually a suburb of Painesdale, a separate town, rather than just a part of it? 99% sure... it's close to Painesdale but not Painesdale.