Photographs, circa 1948, taken by A.B. Quello of people and activities in Laurium, Michigan. The collection consists of sixteen black-and-white photographs depicting people, events, and streetscapes in Laurium, Michigan. Three of the pictures are duplicates of others in the collection, resulting in thirteen unique images. As proprietor of a popular tavern, Quello was extensively involved in various social circles in the village; consequently, most of the photographs depict his friends and acquaintances in front of his establishment, the Board of Trade Tavern on Hecla Street. Cars feature prominently in many of the pictures, with subjects leaning on, riding in, or standing next to parked automobiles. Quello also captured events and oddities unique to the Keweenaw Peninsula, such as the Copper Country Homecoming Parade and a man with a domesticated fox.

While the photographs were primarily intended to capture individuals and activities, their setting on Hecla Street--the primary business district of Laurium--provides a documentary glimpse into the architecture and commercial activities of the village in the late 1940s. Visible in the background of many of the images are the exteriors of such businesses as bowling alleys, bakeries, grocery stores, and banks.

The collection also includes a copy of A.B. Quello’s obituary from the Daily Mining Gazette.