EDITOR’S NOTE: Superiorland Yesterdays is prepared by the reference desk staff at Peter White Public Library.

30 years ago

MARQUETTE — The Marquette County Board, fed up with paying even small change to operate the Big Bay Harbor and marina, voted Tuesday to offer to sell the facility to the state. The state paid for part of constructing the harbor and marina in the early 1960s. But the arrangement didn’t obligate the state to pay for operations or repair, said Ronald Koshorek, Marquette County Resource Management-Development director. If ownership is transferred, the original agreement mandates that the state be repaid money it has contributed to construction. Koshorek estimates that at $30,000 to $40,000. A similar amount for maintenance was forecast for this year but $15,000 was set aside to renovate a public restroom and shower to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The county will now put the renovation project on hold until it’s determined if the state is interested in buying the harbor and marina.

90 years ago

MARQUETTE — The Marquette City Railway Company will discontinue operation of its street cars at 10:30 tonight when the last car makes its trip from the terminal at the corner of Baraga Avenue and Front Street to the car barns on Presque Isle Avenue. Officers and directors of the railway company, meeting with the city commission at a special public session yesterday afternoon, informed the commission that it would be impossible for the company to continue operations because of its financial condition and the condition of its equipment. Addressing the commission, A.E. Miller, secretary of the company and one of its directors, pointed out that the railway company’s equipment is in a badly rundown condition and that the company has no funds with which to buy new cars, or to repair its tracks or other equipment. Petitions circulated during the last two weeks, asking the city commission to do all in its power to rehabilitate the street car line, were presented yesterday and the city attorney, John J. Walsh, said that under the state home rule act it is unlawful for any city of less than 25,000 population to operate a railway line. Mayor Jacques expressed the opinion that in all probability discontinuance of the street car line would be followed, before long, by establishment of a bus line which would meet the transportation requirements of residents.