Photos

Champion Mine #7 Shaft House

Champion Mine #7 Shaft House
Champion Mine #7 Shaft House viewed toward the south on September 19, 1949 about one year after the mine reopened. A total of ten shafts aligned in nearly an east-west orientation over a distance of 0.5 mile comprised the Champion Mine. The No. 7 Shaft produced the most ore and was the deepest reaching about 0.7 mile. CBHHS Collection

Humboldt Surface Mine

Humboldt Surface Mine
Humboldt Surface Mine, a joint venture of Cleveland Cliffs Iron Co. and Ford Motor Co., c. 1964. The Mine shipped ore from 1953 to 1972, the first years as fine particle concentrates and thereafter as pelletized concentrate produced by the pellet plant added at the right in the photo. This was the first integrated beneficiation-pelletizing plant in Michigan. Courtesy CNR Collection

Humboldt Depot

Humboldt Depot
Humboldt Depot of the DSS&A Railroad c. 1900. The Marquette & Ontonagon RR came to Humboldt and Champion in 1865. Early station houses were replaced by depots in Champion (1873) and Humboldt (1874). The depot in the picture was built in 1883 and served until 1929. Courtesy RN Collection

Champion School

Champion School
Champion School was built over the years 1917-1919 to replace the wooden school building on the same site that burned after serving for 34 years. The last high school class to graduate from this school was in 1974. It was used as a middle school until 1995 when it was closed. Picture taken in 1962 – Courtesy D&SM Collection

Swimmers at Champion Beach

Swimmers at Champion Beach
Swimmers at Champion Beach c. 1950 – Beginning as a local “swimming hole”, the beach development was started by Champion Township about 1914, it became a County Park by 1920 and was dedicated as Van Riper State Park in 1964. Courtesy RD/MP Collection

Horse Pulling Contest in Champion

Horse Pulling Contest  in Champion
Horse Pulling Contest in Champion, The Horse Pulling Capital of Upper Michigan, featuring Gary Hamel pulling with his team “Doc” and “Tony” in 1982 at the 27th Annual Contest. The 65th Annual Event occurs in 2020. – Courtesy GH Collection