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good morning

Good Morning from cold Midland!! 1 degree with a possibility of snow today. OH BOY!!

Good morning and have a great weekend everyone!

I think we could use the horse and plow when it snows here. What we have for snow plowing is not up to that standard. Great weekend folks!

Good Morning everyone, It's a great day, it didn't snow last nite, hopefully no shoveling today. Anyway, thought some of the 'What's Up' visitors might like this pic of the old Charles Briggs School....

Hey Norma in Midland-
Were going to have 9 inches by the end of tomorrow here in Cleveland. We are alittle warmer though at 10 degrees. TGIF!

Very cool picture of the school. Lots more snow then we have in SW Michigan. Good Day all!

Thanks for the school pic.... I grew up two blocks from there... went to school there...great memories.

many great memories! too bad the school isn't being used for some worthwhile purpose. Ms Sandlin was sure strict!

Anyone want to play a game of "rock" at recess?

or do you have to stay in and clap erasers?

Dale

Susan from FL,

Having a bonding moment here :) Read your post from last night, and I am ROFL, because I check the real estate in the UP too. Hubby is years from retiring, but I would love to be able to purchase the land now....so I am ready.

But who knows, hopefully I won't have to wait that long. And in the meantime, some police department in the UP may initiate a crime victim program, and we will be in the UP before we know it.;)

Good morning folks :) The sun is shining and the temps are in the teens...as long as it doesn't get any warmer, it will be a perfect day.

So beautiful with the fresh snow we got last night...hoping that snow shower forcasted for Saturday comes through. Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

Hopefully this is the correct forum. Can anyone advise me on a home built sauna? The husband offered to build one, he's a very handy guy, but never been in a sauna.

Any resources anyone would recommend? Advice? Good things, bad things?
Thanks,

First, to Dave: Love the photo, keep them coming! To LZ, MI: the electric sauna's are really quiet nice. Ahmeek Cliff Dweller has one and it is toasty hot in no time at all, lots less work. You can find them on the internet, also check out Pasty.com home page for lots of help there.
Speaking of the ol' Cliff Dweller, her (yes, her) birthday is coming up on Feb 1st, those that know her I am giving you lots of time to think up some good practical jokes for her:-)
This one doesn't end in a zero..yet hehe

Thanks for the shot of Charles Briggs, Dave -- looks like home to me, too -- I lived just a few short blocks from there for many years and walked past there many, many times on evening jaunts with hubby. Sigh.

Susan and Sur5er, I look at CC property all the time, too -- we only have 15 years to go to retire!

LZ, FinnLeo (http://www.finnleo.com/) is a good place to start checking out saunas. You can get ready-to-install saunas (including the stove, shell, benches and flooring) from many places including http://www.saunafin.com/indexgg.html.
Just Google 'sauna kits' and you'll be amazed what you'll find -- including how-to's to build your own. You're in for a real treat!

dale,,,nothing worse than clapping erasers, achew,,
and the scretches of the objects on the blackboards.

Candy,

20 years to go until hubby retires (sigh). We were talking this past week about him working another 10 years, here in Indiana, and then relocating to the UP. In the meantime, I am hoping something pops sooner with a project I am working on, and we can get up there sooner...or at least get some land purchased.

I'm excited, my husband only has 6 years until retirement and the UP will be home in the spring and summer. We may try it one winter to see if we like it! I can hardly wait. I have also beein looking at Keweenaw properties too. Have a great weekend everyone.

Sarah Stuck in OH, Be careful in your snowstorm. We are suppose to get 4-8 starting tonight too. Have a good weekend!!

Rachel, I miss you!

LZ, Michigan:
Here's a local UP enterprise (and PastyCam advertiser!): Nippa Sauna Stoves
They've been manufacturing quality sauna stoves right in "beautiful downtown Bruce Crossing" for 75+ years!

Who was Charles Briggs? That was my maiden name.

I just read a couple new journal entries from George Hite. His writing is meant to be read slowly and savored! Anyone have an estimate of how many Eagle Harbor residents there would be right now?

Marsha,,,I would imagine that there might be 25-30 people left in the harbor right now. During the Holiday's there were many more, however many have left for parts south. Will be able to give a better answer after presidents weekend, as we will be up there snowmobiling.

I'm assuming the trails on the canal on BridgeCam are snowmobile tracks. Is that correct? And if so, I guess snowmobiles are even harder to catch on the cam than boats are!

LZ, Michigan: if hubby does build his own, install excellent heat shields all behind and around the stove. (Actually this for a commercial stove as well.) Very close friend built his own sauna--it was so beautiful, but his brother got it too hot and it burned down one night!

LZ: heat shields should go way up as well. Friend had good ones, but speculates that he didn't install them high enough.

Isn't that just like a brother.

To all you snow bound Yoopers. You know you are in California when it's barely sprinkling rain and there is a report on every news station - STORM WATCH.

I attended this school. One very strong memory I have is when we had Ms. Hancock for a sub teacher. She seemed like she was at least 100 yrs. old and I think she DID NOT like kids. I was sure she was a "witch" and was terrified of her. I do have some good memories of that school tho too!

I remember attending school at the Charles Briggs
School many, many years ago when Miss Grearson was
principal. Ms. Rockland was kindergarten teacher.
Ms. Inch and Ms. Soronen was music teacher. Anyone
else remember that far back or am I getting old?

Dale of Calumet, after I clap the erasers, I'm off to play
dodgeball! And how about those schoolyard jumprope
rhymes?
Johnny over the ocean
Johnny over the sea
Johnny broke a milkbottle
blamed it all on me.
how many lickin's did I get?
One
Two
Three...

i remember being captain of the service squad being in fourth grade that was a big deal helping the little ones cross the street you had to wear the orange belt that went over the shoulder and around your waste with a shinny bagde that said captain of safty charles briggs school was fun place to go

oldie but goodie

Yes!! and how about red rover red rover let oldie come over?

And pom pom pull away let your horses run away?? LOL

Yup, I remember Sandy and also Lucy....they really instilled good values and respect for the kids to follow. Gosh I hated it when I had to go home and tell that I had to stay after school, LOL, most of the time it was the whole room!!!

Oh ya, who remembers buying stamps for bonds (in school) following WW II ?

Milk at recess in glass bottles?

The old wobbly merry gound in the play ground that we would spin and jump on to make it vibrate?

all for now...this is fun Dale

school days laurium

Quote...i remember being captain of the service squad being in fourth grade that was a big deal.....end quote
-----------------------------------------------

The safety patrol was a big deal, because they all went to the State Fair in Escanaba each summer.

Dale

Norma in Midland....

I love Midland Michigan. Lots of great shopping close....A Culvers.....wonderful people.....I LOVE the maarket on Saturday's and Wednesday mornings.....it has got the best deals and a wonderful variety of things.

Besides, my good friend Barbara Sumi lives there and I love visiting!!!!

Wet cornmeal snow has started falling.....Storm warning til tomorrow nite....7-15 inches. 6 tonight and 10 or more tomorrow....sigh....I can think of better places to be this time of year!!!
Sigh.....must be getting old.....

Amen on Miss Sandelen (sp?) being very strict. I remember getting the strap one time in her office on the second floor of Charles Briggs. I am sure that I had it coming. And when my mother found out, I got it at home also. Also remember Miss Grearson (sp?), she was far from being one of my favorite teachers, don't remember what grade that was. Miss Inch was one of my favorite teachers. There also was a Miss (Mrs?) Rosemurgy. I attended Charles Briggs in the late 40's and early 50's.

Oh my, I never attended Charles Briggs but I had to go to church with the Miss Griersons every Sunday. And, if we shook their hands wrong or made an etiquette error, we were reminded. They also lived kitty corner from us.( they on Calumet Avenue. Us on Church Street) Couldn't get away with a thing. And, then, Grandma informed me we were related! Holy Katoot, more bad news! And, they were best pals with our great aunt Isabel. Of course, Charlie Stetter was in the choir so we couldn't look cross-eyed or fall asleep during the sermons....as for Ms. Hancock...I was scheduled into her 4th grade class but very soon found myself in Miss Katie Sullivan's combination 4th and 5th grade class instead (also a croney of the above mentioned. Maybe the "G"s and Aunt Isabel had something to do with the class switch.
Anyway, we are supposed to see the Northern Lights in Pocatello Idaho tonight.....guess I have to drive up high somewhere cause the Fog is pea soup thick right now.

How about Mrs.Boove? A very nice lady with a tremendous amount of class,no pun intrended.

Liz, Idaho

LIZ, Can you send me a E mail with your email address? I am interested in where used to live on Church street {23?) Did you move in 1968?

Dale

I remember being locked in a cold empty classroom
at the Charles Briggs School by Principal Grearson
because I was l5 minutes late getting to school
during a snow storm and had to walk from Florida
location. Of course that was after I was slapped
on the hands by her and her using a ruler. She was
a mean lady...of course there was always Ms.Ronklin to comfort you..or Miss Inch. They made
up for the meaness of Miss Grearson. Ms. Grearson
was also the 6th grade teacher.

downstate don, You made me laugh tonight. You must have been a bad boy back in those days. How is it that you moved from the UP to near Pontiac? It sounds like you all had excellent instuctors.....maybe we should have more of these strong willed instructors in the schools today. What do you think?

You should all read the journal of Henry Hobart, an early teacher at Cliffton, whose teaching philosophy was nuturing. (in spite of much, much harder times than Briggs school existed in) Sorry I don't remember the actual title. Perhaps the poster who mentioned it earlier can refresh the info. I am pretty sure it is published by Wayne St U press.

My Dad had endless stories of mean teachers. Why, I wonder? Teachers were not necessarily so before his time, and certainly are not now.

No Karen I was not a bad boy..that was just for
being late l5 minutes walking about three miles
thru a snowstorm. Couldn't even tell you what
happened to the bad kids..of course you didn't
dare be bad back then or you would pay for it.
We were taught by our parents back then. We did not wait to get to school for the teachers to
teach us how to act. Good hearing from you Karen.
You are going to miss a real snow storm here tonight. What are the temps there in sunny Florida?

Karen: just wondering: what makes you thing teachers are not 'strong willed' today? Do you want them to be mean?

Hear there is a fund raising for families of Copper Country guard who are leaving Indiana for the war zone soon. How can we donate? Think it is for a bus to transport them.

You can read a partial article about this very item that was in the Thursday's Gazette here: Copper Country Guard story. Too bad the online article doesn't list the address to which you can send your donations:

Hey Don those Florida location guys were tough!!!

just kidding....
(grew up south end of Laurium) we had to be afraid of the Rambletown kids and the Florida Locations kids every time we went out to the train tracks or the spring at the maple bush!! Good old days
Dale

John, here is the gazette article regarding the fund raiser:

Hitching a ride to Indiana

By GARRETT NEESE, Gazette Writer


HOUGHTON - Copper Country National Guard members who are shipping out to Iraq might soon be getting a visit from their loved ones.

A retired Copper Country school teacher has begun raising money for a charter bus to take the families of National Guard members to visit them at Camp Atterbury in southern Indiana next month before they deploy.
The former teacher, who wished to remain anonymous, said she got the idea while talking with a former student of hers who is working at Joey's Only Seafood Restaurant.

When asked how she was doing, the woman said she was having a rough time due to her husband readying for departure to Iraq, the former teacher said.

"I said to her, 'Too bad you can't charter a bus,'" she said.

The retired teacher wasn't immediately spurred to action, but apparently her subconscious had other plans.

"I didn't think anything of it and then at 4 this morning, I woke up and said 'Why doesn't the community charter a bus for these people?'" she said.

As a result, the former teacher spent most of Wednesday setting up the "Twenty for the Troops" fund-raising drive, which now has an account at the Michigan Tech Credit Union. The end goal for the drive is Tuesday.

"The idea is because we have to raise money so fast, we're encouraging people to give $20," she said.

While a bus has yet to be chartered for the trip, early estimates are running at about $2,700 for one bus.

Even before noon on Wednesday, the former teacher had had some success. She displayed an envelope already filled with a respectable amount of bills.

"Just at coffee, these ladies gave 60, 70 dollars ..." she said.

The former teacher said the trip would be beneficial not just for the wives, but also for their children.

Florida location guys were tough and you didn't
dare enter their territory. Did you ever go swimming at Inkline? A water holding pond between
Laurium and Lake Linden? Or swimming at Trap Rock?
Those were the good ole days...Didn't cost us much
to be entertained. Made our own fishing poles out
of a tree branch..and we caught fish!!!

To Maija and all interested:

I have a copy of the book containing the diary of schoolmaster Hobart. It is called "Copper Country Journal", published by Wayne State University Press in 1991. On the cover of my copy is a picture of some school boys playing "Snap the Whip"-Ouch! I hated that game.

Sur5er and Candy, Ca......Hate to rub salt in the wound(s), but with your 20 and 15 years before retirement, I feel positively blessed to have only 12 to go....unless I opt for DROP program. I'll look for you at the bridge and give you a real yooper welcome! :) I'll be the one with the big smile and gray hair....red now, but I feel that gray stuff comming on stronger every day!

Susan, Fl: time for that Clairol. And keep in mind that the cold weather in the UP will do us wonders in our older years. Remember, cold preserves :)

Suzy, do you mean crack the whip on ice skates? I can still
remember not enjoying being on the end of the chain - the
kids would circle faster and faster until they let me go and
I'd go flying and ultimately fall on my face! ouch.
Dale, yep, red rover was another good playground game...
also memories of hopscotch, ice skating carnivals, hot
cocoa, warming houses with plywood ramps (so the skates
would't cut up the linoleum)...I loved my old two story brick
school house with its big casement windows,hardwood
floors, grand stairways and cloakrooms. We also had air-
raid drills during the so-called Red Scare when we had to
crouch against the basement wall, hands over our heads
(as if that would help, eh?)

Snow started falling here in northern Indiana at about 7 this evening. It is that really fine snow, and it's accumulating fast. According to the weather channel, an inch of snow per hour was falling in Chicago.

I have already shoveled the back deck three times already, this evening...but with the rate the snow is falling, it is hard to keep it clear for the doggies.

Hubby called from the road, (he is headed home from NJ), and he is headed right into the snow storm. Luckily, he got through the PA mountains before the snow started falling. Now he just has to get through Ohio and Indiana....and the snow storm.

Sur5er....will pray for travel blessings for hubby! Get him back safe and sound to Indiana so you guys can start planning your retirement while I hit the Clairol aisle at to local drug store!

Susan, Fl. Thank you. I worry so much when hubby is out on the roads like this. I know that hubby is a fantastic driver...but you never know about the other drivers and the road conditions.

Hard for me to sleep on nights like this, so I am gonna cuddle up on the sofa with a good book and a nice thick blanket....and pace...and pace... ;)

Have fun in the haircolor aisle...the colors you get to choose from nowadays. Back in the day, it was either blonde or brunette. :)

Good night and have a good weekend all you folks
who shared the picture and rememberances of the
Charles Briggs School. I remember clapping erasers
and having to take the milk money to the bank.
Also churning cream into butter.

Is that Charles Briggs school on the main drag between Calumet and Larium? Thought we saw it last August while visiting you folks.

It was in the 50's last night downstate don. I guess you must be out shoveling today, huh?

Karen,
The "Main Drag" schools are Washington and Calumet High School. Briggs was in Laurium and Morrison in Calumet.