NEGAUNEE –Donald J. MacDonald was born in Inverness, Scotland in 1841.

He emigrated with his father and brother Angus to Sarnian, Canada after his mother had died in Scotland. From Sarnia he moved to Eagle Harbor in the Copper Country to work in the copper mines.

This is where he met and married Catherine Monahan. Soon after his marriage, he was called to serve in the Civil War as a member of the Michigan cavalry.

He was wounded in the Battle of Shiloh, considered by historians as one of the bloodiest battles of the war. He was taken prisoner and spent time in Libby prison where his fellow prisoners, without the benefit of anesthesia, amputated his badly wounded leg.

After his discharge from the army, he returned to Eagle Harbor, but soon after settled in Negaunee. in a few years he built a large store and a saloon. On the second floor he opened the MacDonald Opera House. Many famous people appeared at the Opera House. Harry Lauder of Scotland made several farewell dates.

The great Caruso, and the Schumann Heink were among the stars that performed in Negaunee over the years. The show that was repeated year after year was “Uncle Tom’s Cabin.” It seemed that the people of Negaunee never tired of this play, and the performers played to a full house every season.

As the store prospered, the family of the Civil War hero also grew. Eighteen children were born to the MacDonald’s, but only 12 reached maturity. The girls were Minnie, Kitty, Alice, Agnes, Ann and Adelaide. The boys were John, Willie, Angus, James, Archibald,and Donald.

Grandpa MacDonald, as he was called, sent all the girls to college where they all received degrees. The boys all left home and never returned. They had incurred the wrath of their father for disobeying the rules of the family.

Donald Jr. remained here. Grandpa MacDonald obtained a large plot of land east of Negaunee and proceeded to set out a large farm. At the time, the old cemetery began to cave in due to mining operations and a new cemetery was necessary and needed at once.

Grandpa MacDonald was asked to sell his farm for cemetery purposes but refused to do so. It was finally declared “Public Domain” and arrangements were made to give him other land in exchange for his farm. As the years went by, all the girls left Negaunee and accepted teaching jobs in different cities.

Minnie, who was the oldest, was crippled and sent to a school in Cincinnati. The school caught on fire and Minnie burned to death. Grandpa MacDonald went to Cincinnati and dug through the ashes and brought her braces home to Negaunee.

It was buried in a beautiful casket with all the pomp and ceremony of a human body. The only child that remained in Negaunee was Donald MacDonald ll. He married Margaret Nolan of Negaunee in 1906.

He worked for the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad. They lived on East Case Street where their home still stands. They had three children, one which died at birth, a daughter, Mary, and a son, Donald lll.

Donald lll married Helen Tregoning of Negaunee and they had two daughters, Mary Ann and Catherine. Donald MacDonald lll was the principal at Negaunee Central Grade School. His wife Helen taught at the Kirkpatrick School in Palmer.

One connection left of the MacDonald family is a wooden Scotsman that was carved by Angus MacDonald, brother to the owner of the Opera House. Angus was created in 1867 in Canada and came to Negaunee by train and welcomed into the city with a parade.

He has found a home in the entryway of the Negaunee museum. The old opera house building was sold to Arvid Nyland and was operated as a hardware store. It was used as a post office for many years. It was on February 8, 1952, that Joseph Selin and Sons purchased the building.

For about a year they operated it as a hardware and furniture store. Eventually just concentrating on selling furniture. The manager was Joseph Mahoski, Pauline Erickson was in charge of dishes and glassware, Jack Williams assisted with rugs and furnishings.

Oscar Honkala was in charge of appliances. Vito Roti and Reino Laitinen made deliveries. Mrs.Norman Boyer was the office manager.

Ironically the opening dates of Selins and the day they ended business because of a fire that destroyed the building coincide.

The fire was on Feb. 9, 1960, just eight years after opening. The Negaunee Elks Club is now on the corner of Pioneer Avenue and Main Street.