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News from the Keweenaw Peninsula Posted August 21, 2003  Updated August 24, 2003 Text and photos © 2003 Michele Anderson. NPS photo by T. M. Baker © 2003 as indicated.

Governor Jennifer Granholm tours Calumet's "Main Street"

CALUMET -- For Laurium resident Lynn Alsen and her four children, Wednesday, August 20, 2003, was no ordinary end-of-summer day. It was a historic event -- the day they had the opportunity to shake hands and speak with Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm on Fifth Street in Calumet.

"The kids are excited about her coming here," said Alsen, whose oldest son, Dillon Gherna, 15, is vice-president of his Calumet High School sophomore class.

During her tour of Calumet's downtown "Main Street" district on Wednesday, Aug. 20, Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm shakes hands with Jordan Gherna, 12, of Laurium, and greets the rest of the family, pictured clockwise: John Gherna, 12; Mom Lynn Alsen; Dillon Gherna, 15; and Katelynn Gherna, 10.

While Dillon is especially interested in politics, Alsen's twin 12-year-olds, Jordan and John, and her daughter, Katelynn, 10, seemed just as anxious to shake hands with the first woman governor in Michigan's history. Granholm, mother of three children, has made the education of Michigan's younger generation one of her top priorities.

Granholm has also demonstrated concern for historic preservation and vital downtown communities as opposed to unhealthy sprawl. Calumet Village officials, along with Keweenaw National Historical Park (KNHP) staff and commissioners, led her on a tour of historic Fifth and Sixth streets, pointing out buildings that have potential for preservation and revitalization under the new Main Street Program designation, known now as Main Street Calumet!

Gov. Jennifer Granholm chats with Frank Fiala, Keweenaw National Historical Park (KNHP) superintendent, during her tour of Calumet's Fifth Street on Aug. 20. Also accompanying the Governor on the tour are Sue Cone, left, Calumet Village comptroller and KNHP commissioner, and Tom Tikkanen, far right, director of Main Street Calumet! (National Park Service Photo by T.M. Baker © 2003.)

The Main Street program seeks economic development through historic preservation. Calumet Village and Calumet Township received the designation in June 2003. Administered by the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), Michigan Main Street is a downtown revitalization program that offers year-round assistance in strategies designed to create jobs and stimulate investment in downtown communities.* 

"The preservation part is very key to the whole program, and is why Calumet is such an excellent candidate for it," said Tom Baker, KNHP Park Ranger for Interpretation and Management Assistant. "With the preservation-minded community leaders and the collaborative assistance of Keweenaw National Historical Park, Calumet was nearly a shoe-in."

Tom Tikkanen, second from right, director of Main Street Calumet!, tells Governor Jennifer Granholm about plans to rehabilitate older buildings in the downtown district. Also pictured are, from left, Sue Cone, Calumet Village comptroller and Keweenaw National Historical Park (KNHP) commissioner; Frank Fiala, KNHP superintendent; and (far right) Matt Johnson, director of the Governor's Upper Peninsula office in Marquette. Granholm is holding flowers presented to her by Sandy Johnson, owner of Calumet Floral and Gifts on Fifth Street.

Calumet native and Village Trustee Paul Frederickson, a member of the Calumet Heritage Celebration Committee and owner of Affordable Funeral Planning Group, was among the Calumet Village officials accompanying Granholm on the tour, which was the first stop on her August 20th visit to the Copper Country.

"It's nice to see that the Governor wants to be here and see what we have," Frederickson said.

Other local residents greeted the Governor as she walked along Fifth Street and then over to Sixth Street for a visit to the Calumet Theatre and Village Offices.

Melvin Fraki, a retired Detroit teacher, was born in Calumet and is now retired here. He introduced himself to Granholm and chatted with her.

Governor Jennifer Granholm pauses in her tour of Calumet's Fifth Street to shake hands with Melvin Fraki of Calumet. Standing next to Granholm is Matt Johnson, director of the Governor's Upper Peninsula office in Marquette.

"I've heard a lot about her," Fraki said about Granholm. "She's done a great job. I'm so glad she's coming to the Copper Country. I think it's wonderful she's here, and it's such a beautiful day for her."

Among the local business owners who greeted the Governor were Ed and Karen La Bonte, owners of  Herman Jewelers.

"We have the oldest family-owned business in the U.P.," Karen La Bonte noted.

Governor Jennifer Granholm poses for photos in front of the Calumet Village Offices, located in the historic Calumet Theatre building on Sixth Street. Also pictured with her are, from left, Tom Tikkanen, director of Calumet's Main Street Program; Sue Cone, Village comptroller and Keweenaw National Historical Park commissioner; and Frank Fiala, KNHP superintendent. On the steps are, from left, State Senator Mike Prusi (D-Ishpeming); Matt Johnson, director of the Governor's Upper Peninsula office in Marquette; and Gov. Granholm's security officer.

During Granholm's visit to the Village Offices, Tom Tikkanen, director of Calumet's Main Street Program, thanked her for the Michigan Main Street designation, which allows organizing a community to become more eligible for resources such as grants, state and federal programs and low-interest loans.

Granholm replied, "Your group had an application that was off the charts!"

In the Calumet Village Hall, Governor Jennifer Granholm speaks with Sue Cone, Village comptroller, and Tim Bies, Village president, about some of their concerns, including snow removal needs. On the table is a gift of historical items from the Village to Granholm. Not pictured, but also present, were Calumet Township Supervisor Paul Lehto and State Senator Mike Prusi, who spoke to the Governor about their concern for de-listing the Torch Lake Superfund site.

The Rev. Robert Langseth, a member of the KNHP Advisory Commission, offered the Governor an enthusiastic welcome.

"I have one word to say -- Yahoo!" said Rev. Langseth, delighted at Granholm's visit to Calumet.

Houghton County Sheriff Brian McLean, was also on hand, along with Calumet Village Police Chief Craig Plante, for some back-up security, while the Governor's own security personnel accompanied her on the tour.

Pictured here on Fifth Street in Calumet, Houghton County Sheriff Brian McLean, left, and Calumet Village Police Chief Craig Plante follow the Governor's Calumet tour for "perimeter" security. Gov. Granholm was also accompanied by her own security officers.

Sheriff McLean said he thought it was good that the Governor was getting to know people of the Copper Country.

"I think it's great. It's always good to see someone from Lansing come up here," he said. "People here are easy to get a liking to. When she gets up here and gets to know us, she'll have a liking for us."

Jim Lowell, Calumet Theatre executive director; Eve Lindsey, Calumet Theatre Board chair, and Carole Baranowski, Theatre Board member, welcomed Granholm to the historic Calumet Theatre.** Also greeting her in the Theatre were Calumet Village Trustees Abe Voelker, Paul Frederickson and Jim Flood.

In the center of the Calumet Theatre stage, Governor Granholm is joined by, from left, State Senator Mike Prusi (D-Ishpeming); Frank Fiala, KNHP Superintendent; Sue Cone, Calumet Village comptroller and KNHP Advisory Commission member;  and Eve Lindsey, Calumet Theatre Board chair.

"What a great building!" Granholm commented as she walked from the stage up the aisle of the Theatre toward the balcony.

The Calumet Theatre, at 340 Sixth Street, opened on March 20, 1900. At that time, during the heyday of the copper mining industry, Calumet Village had a population of 4,000; and more than 30,000 people lived within walking distance of the Theatre. It is now a cooperating site of Keweenaw National Historical Park (KNHP).***

KNHP Superintendent Frank Fiala accompanied Granholm on her Calumet tour.

"We're delighted to be able to showcase Calumet with the Governor," Fiala said.

After her downtown tour, Granholm's August 20 schedule included a visit and tour with the Michigan State Police, Calumet Post; lunch with friends and supporters at Gino's in Hancock; a tour of BHK Child Development Center in Houghton; a Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony for GS Engineering, Inc., in Houghton; and Constituent Office Hours with Keweenaw Area Residents.****

Her schedule for Thursday, Aug. 21, is as follows:

9 a.m. -- Roundtable Meeting with Executives at Smurfit/Stone Paper, 1 Superior Way, Ontonagon;

11:30 a.m.-- Lunch with friends and supporters at LaPanetteria, 202 South Sophie, Bessemer;

1 p.m. -- Tour of Jacquarts, 1238 Wall Street, Ironwood;

1:50 p.m. -- Tour of Ironwood Plastics, 1235 Wall Street, Ironwood;

3 p.m. -- Tour of Gogebic Community College,  E4946 Jackson Road. Tour begins at Solin Center for Business Education, Ironwood;

 4 p.m. -- Stop by the Gogebic County Economic Development Board Meeting, Gogebic Community College, Room B-22, Solin Center for Business Education, Ironwood;

 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.-- Constituent Office Hours with Western U.P. Residents, Gogebic Community College, Room B-22, Solin Center for Business Education, E4946 Jackson Road, Ironwood.

Editor's Notes:  *For more on Calumet's Main Street Program designation, see our article of June 20, 2003. **To learn more about the Calumet Theatre, its history and programs, visit the Theatre's Web site. ***Learn about Keweenaw National Historical Park and its cooperating sites on the KNHP Web site. ****Visit Gov. Jennifer Granholm's Web site to learn about the first woman Governor in Michigan's history.