housing tour draws crowd
By JANE NORDBERG, DMG WriterMASON - Some are occupied, some not. Some were grand, some built from a catalog. But all of the houses Thursday played a vital part in telling the story of Quincy Mining Co. housing.
Thursday's "Company Housing at the Quincy Mine" event, which drew 93 people despite torrential rains earlier in the day, was the third event in the Quincy Anniversary Series. The series, organized by the Quincy Mine Hoist Association, celebrates the 50th anniversary of the formation of the Quincy Mine Hoist Association, the 100th anniversary of the construction of the Quincy No. 2 shaft rock-house, and the 160th anniversary of the incorporation of the Quincy Mining Company.
Starting from the Martin House on the Quincy Mine Site property, architectural historian Kim Hoagland provided an overview of the homes on the tour, which ranged from 1850 to 1917.
"It's not your typical home tour, in that we're not going to be looking at pretty furnishings or gardens," she said. "Rather, we want to focus on how many rooms the company gave the workers and what the rooms might have been used for."
From the Martin House, participants carpooled from site to site, taking in a superintendent's home near the Quincy Pay office to homes under new ownership in Mason.
"These homeowners have done a great job of keeping the historic integrity intact while making the home their own," Hoagland said.
Also during the tour, Keweenaw National Historical Park Historical Architect John Rosemurgy explained the process behind receiving tax credits for historical properties.
Hoagland said it was gratifying to see such a big turnout for the home tour event.
"I thought the weather would keep some people away, but it was nice to see everyone come out," she said. "It's a good sign that an interest in our industrial heritage is alive and well."
The next event in the 2008 Quincy Anniversary Series is a presentation on the Quincy and Torch Lake Railroad, with participants meeting at the QTLRR roundhouse at 1 p.m. Aug. 9.
For more information on events in the series, contact the Quincy Mine Hoist Association at 482-3101 or go to www.quincymine.com.
Jane Nordberg can be reached at jnordberg@mininggazette.com
