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Keweenaw Mountain Lodge and Golf Course Photograph Collection

 Collection — Box: 1
Identifier: MS-777

Collection Scope and Content Summary

Photograph collection, undated, of the Keweenaw Mountain Lodge and Golf Course in Copper Harbor, Michigan. Includes images of the interior and exterior of the Keweenaw Mountain Lodge, cabins at the site, the golf course and other area scenes. In addition, it includes a blueprint map of the golf course, a copy of a menu and postcards of Brockway Mountain and highway M-26.

Dates

  • undated

Access

Available for use in the Michigan Technological University Archives and Copper Country Historical Collections.

Biography

The Keweenaw Mountain Lodge and Golf Course is a resort located near Copper Harbor, Michigan. It covers 167 acres, and consists of multiple buildings, including the main lodge and 23 cabins. A golf course, constructed at the same time as the lodge and cabins, covers much of the remaining land. All structures within the district are unified by their rustic construction; the structures have low gable roofs and are made using rough-cut stone and dark painted logs. __During the early 1930s, the Great Depression hit Keweenaw County hard. The mining industry had fallen on hard times, and unemployment stood at over seventy percent. Ocha Potter, the head of the Keweenaw Road Commission and superintendent of Ahmeek Mine, conceived of constructing a resort complex in the county. In 1933, he applied to the Federal government for funding under the newly minted Civil Works Administration. The county Board of Park Trustees had previously negotiated purchase of 167 acres of land from the Keweenaw Copper Company, situated about one mile south of Copper Harbor. Clearing of the forest cover began in the winter of 1933/34, and the stumps were cleared as the weather let up. The logs from the property were used construct the lodge. By the end of 1934, the lodge was nearly completed and the first nine holes of the golf course were cleared and seeded (a second planned nine holes was never completed). In 1935, another project to build 20 cabins was approved by the Works Progress Administration, which were completed during the next few years. Four additional cottages were built in 1947/48 using profits from the operation of the lodge.

Extent

0.18 Cubic Feet (1/2 manuscript box (letter size))

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

Photograph collection, undated, of the Keweenaw Mountain Lodge and Golf Course in Copper Harbor, Michigan. Includes images of the interior and exterior of the Keweenaw Mountain Lodge, cabins at the site, the golf course and other area scenes. In addition, it includes a blueprint map of the golf course, a copy of a menu and postcards of Brockway Mountain and highway M-26.

General Physical Description note

0.18 cubic feet1/2 manuscript box (letter size)

Processing History

Elizabeth Russell, January 28, 2010; revised by Lindsay Hiltunen, January 8, 2021.

Title
Keweenaw Mountain Lodge and Golf Course Photograph Collection
Author
Finding aid prepared by Elizabeth Russell, revised by Lindsay Hiltunen
Date
January 28, 2010
Language of description
Undetermined
Script of description
Code for undetermined script
Language of description note
Description is in English

Repository Details

Part of the Michigan Technological University Archives and Copper Country Historical Collections Repository

Contact:
1400 Townsend Drive
Houghton 49931 U.S.A. US