To Authors & Creators of Audio/Video related to Lake Superior history:
here's how to submit items for possible inclusion on this site
 

DON’T YOU DARE MISS OUR
CLEARANCE SALE!

CALUMET: COPPER COUNTRY METROPOLIS by Dave Engel and Gerry Mantel

Calumet: Copper Country Metropolis

by Dave Engel and Gerry Mantel (2002)

This entertaining book provides an everyday, life-in-motion look at the heydays of Calumet, Michigan (1898-1913) via informative (and often hilarious or moving) news accounts and a TON of great old photographs. In its prime Calumet was truly the Copper Country Metropolis. The Michigan mining capital, now being developed as Keweenaw National Historic Park, enjoys a storied past, unrivaled in the Midwest.

8 1/2 x 11 softcover, 224p., 100 b/w historic photo reproductions, fully indexed.

ISBN: 0-9722292-0-5

See the item below for details of a recently published investigation of 1913's Italian Hall Tragedy. And click on “1913 Massacre” in our Links page for info about a current film project involving Old Calumet.

Additional Details

Press and Reader Reviews

How to Order


ANNIE CLEMENC & THE GREAT KEWEENAW COPPER STRIKE by Lyndon Comstock

Annie Clemenc
& the Great Keweenaw Copper Strike

by Lyndon Comstock (2013)

with a Foreword by Steve Lehto

The story of  “Big Annie”—Anna Clemenc—heroine of the Calumet copper strike and Italian Hall disasters of 1913, is finally told in full and just in time for the 100th anniversary of these tragic events.

It’s the first such publication by Mr. Lyndon Comstock, a former Michigander and activist himself.

The product of a monumental effort, this excellent work includes never-before-seen photographs and documentation, as well as some interesting revelations about this historic figure.

7.5 x 9.2 softcover, 234p.

ISBN-10: 1489548718
ISBN-13: 978-1489548719

Read Gerry Mantel's Review >>>>

For more information about Big Annie, Lyndon Comstock, and his other projects >>>>

How to Order


DEATH'S DOOR by Steve Lehto

Death’s Door
The Truth Behind Michigan’s Largest Mass Murder

by Steve Lehto (2006); also updated in a second edition, 2013

In this successful investigative effort to sort out fact from fiction, Steve Lehto employs a unique set of talents: detail-obsessed legal savvy, previous historical writing experiences, and impressive Copper Country roots combined with a Finnish-American passion for getting to the bottom of the “1913 Massacre” story.

And need I say, with implications that reach far beyond the time and space of Old Calumet.

6 1/2 x 9 1/4 softcover, 232p., 51 b/w historic photo reproductions, carefully documented bibliography and detailed research notes.

ISBN-13: 978-1-879094-77-2
ISBN-10: 1-879094-77-0

For information about the updated, second edition (2013) of Death’s Door >>>

Gerry Mantel's review of the Second Edition >>>

Steve Lehto appears in the PBS documentary Red Metal: The Copper Country Strike of 1913 (first aired December 17, 2013). You can watch the trailer for this video here >>> or purchase the DVD from PBS >>>.

Steve Lehto also offers this excellent YouTube video overview of the Italian Hall Disaster:

Additional Details

Press and Reader Reviews

How to Order


MICHIGAN'S COLUMBUS: The Life of Douglass Houghton by Steve Lehto

Michigan’s Columbus
The Life of Douglass Houghton

by Steve Lehto (2009)

Steve Lehto takes us back to the genesis of the modern Copper Country through his examination of the life of explorer Douglass Houghton, an early witness to the commercial potential of Keweenaw copper.

Houghton, a native New Yorker, proves to be not only an important entity in the push towards 1837 Michigan statehood, but also an intriguing character whose various hats included those of physician, mayor, professor and investor.

6 1/2 x 9 1/4 softcover, 166p., 11 b/w photos, bibliography plus carefully detailed research notes.

ISBN-13: 978-1-879094-85-7
ISBN-10: 1-879094-85-1

How to Order


SHORTCUT by Steve Lehto

Shortcut
The Seeberville Murders and the Dark Side of the American Dream

by Steve Lehto (2011)

Kudos again to Steve Lehto for “Doing History Right,” particularly as it concerns the controversies of Copper Country labor relations.

Here in Shortcut, the author seizes the opportunity to update his popular Italian Hall inquiry, even naming He Who Shouted Fire.

Also detailed are the interrelated 1913 murders of two striking Croatian miners, along with the subsequent investigation and trial, that occurred in the Copper Range district town of Seeberville.

Equally noteworthy is the enlightening “History of History” commentary provided by Mr. Lehto throughout his passionate, meticulous work.

6 x 9 softcover, 348p., including carefully detailed research notes.

ISBN-13: 9781456588656
ISBN-1-4565-8865-6

Read Gerry Mantel's Review >>>>

How to Order


CORNETS & PICKAXES by Paul Niemisto

Cornets & Pickaxes
Finnish Brass on the Iron Range

by Paul Niemisto (2013)

An energetically researched and richly informative study of the Finnish brass band tradition, the history of Finnish-American brass bands, and the role of these musicians in the cultural development of communities throughout Minnesota’s Iron Range. This 2013 publication offers a trove of details that will reward the attention of both scholars in the field and readers curious to get better acquainted with ethnic music’s contributions to community identity, harmony, and vitality.

7 1/2 x 10 softcover, 243p., 74 b/w historic photo reproductions & other illustrations; fully indexed, plus appendices and an extensive bibliography.

ISBN: 978-1-4675-7527-0

For more information on this book and on the CDs of the Ameriikan Poijat Brass Band, directed by Paul Niemisto >>

How to Order


ISLAND FOLK: The People of Isle Royale by Peter Oikarinen

Island Folk
The People of Isle Royale

by Peter Oikarinen (1979; new edition 2008)

Island Folk, first available in the late 70s, has been unleashed again by the University of Minnesota Press, now in an improved format with additional stories and photos. It explores the pre-park days of commercial fishing families who inhabited Isle Royale, based on the author’s personal interviews and evocative photography.

5 1/2 x 8 softcover, 174p. incl. a map, 2 diagrams, and 38 of the author’s b/w photographs.

ISBN-13: 978-0-8166-5336-2
ISBN-10: 0-8166-5336-4

Table of Contents, plus photo-preview of main characters

Press and Reader Reviews

To read  “Close Encounters of a Fine Line (Usually 6-lb. test),”
Lake Superior historian Gerry Mantel’s account of his longtime friendship with Peter Oikarinen

How to Order


ARMOUR: A LAKE SUPERIOR FISHERMAN by Peter Oikarinen

Armour
A Lake Superior Fisherman

by Peter Oikarinen (1991, rpt. 2003)

Author and Copper Country native Peter Oikarinen considers this, his fourth book, his best for good reason: Armour presents an engaging portrait of ‘old timer’ Armour Sarkela, who lived and fished quite hermit-like along the rugged Keweenaw coast for sixty years. Oikarinen befriended, fished with, and observed ‘Sark’ for twelve years inspiring this classic work enriched by the author’s own striking photography.

8 1/2 x 11 softcover, 119p., 65 of the author’s b/w photos.

ISBN: 0-9741784-0-3

Additional Details

Press and Reader Reviews

How to Order


HIGH ON THE BIG STONE HEART by Charles Wilkins

High on the Big Stone Heart
And Further Adventures in the Boreal Heartland

by Charles Wilkins (2009)

Although not set strictly in the Lake Superior basin, there are nevertheless ample reading rewards—particularly the “title track”—awaiting Big Lake lovers in this fitting Hoito sequel.

Likewise, hockey fans will not want to miss the fine chapters on the great “Riot Man” Maurice Richard of Habs fame as well as former Leafs hero Bill Barilko, and for everybody else there's tales aplenty about fishermen (including Rocket Richard and Bill Barilko themselves), trappers, boat builders and swamp hags, all written with a perceptive, humorous and distinctive flair.

6 x 8.8 softcover, 192p.

ISBN-10: 1550028650
ISBN-13: 978-1-55002-865-2

For our info on Wilkins’ Breakfast at the Hoito >>

How to Order


RETURN TO TOP

DON’T YOU DARE MISS OUR
CLEARANCE SALE!

superiorreading.com logo

DON’T YOU DARE MISS OUR
CLEARANCE SALE!

©2004 - 2020 Superior Reading. All rights reserved.
superioreading is enyoing its second decade on the Web

Last Updated 1.29.2020