CALUMET - It would seem developing an exhibit about the copper-mining era in the Keweenaw would be a pretty straightforward process, but the choice of items may cause negative feelings in some viewers.
Understanding what those negative reactions might be was one of the purposes of a public meeting Wednesday concerning the planned exhibit in the Keweenaw National Historical Park's Union Building.
At the meeting on the exhibit in the park's headquarters building on Red Jacket Road in Calumet, a model of the planned renovations and drawings of the exhibit were shown, and those in attendance were asked to fill out a form and give their comments about the exhibit.
Dan Johnson, KNHP interpretive specialist, said when the park purchased the Union Building in 1999, it hadn't been maintained for a while.
"It was privately owned and it was in a very deteriorated condition," he said. "There was concern it would be torn down."
In 2005, Johnson said the park received funding to repair the roof and do other exterior work. Since then, a new heating system was put in and the windows are currently being repaired or replaced. Some funding for the interior renovation and construction of the exhibit was received last year, and another $1.4 million was received from the recently enacted 2010 Interior, Environment and Related Agencies Appropriations.
The purpose of the exhibit is to show what life was like for all the people involved with the copper mining process, including miners, mine owners and managers, and those who supported those people, such as shopkeepers and even saloon owners.
"It's interesting when you try to tell those stories," he said.
The renovation of the building will include a visitor center on the first floor.
"It's one thing we've been missing in the park," Johnson said.
Facilitating the meeting was consultant Marcella Wells of Fort Collins, Colo., who acted as an evaluator of the responses to the presentation of the building renovation and exhibit plan.
Wells showed a model of the first and second floors of the building and explained the purpose of the layout. The first floor will have the visitor center and some exhibits, including a room for rotating exhibits. The second floor will have the permanent exhibit.
Wells said the exhibit won't be linear, so a visitor can start at any point and move through it as he or she wishes.
Although the exhibit will be permanent, Wells said some features within it may change to give different perspectives of a particular topic.
Attending the presentation was Mary Lewis, who told Wells she lived in Calumet most of her life, and one of the strongest memories of growing up for her was hearing many languages and accents.
"It was charming," Lewis said.
Wells said park officials are trying to determine if there is some way to incorporate some of the oral history recordings the park has archived into the exhibit.
"(Hearing different languages and accents) was part of the experience," she said.
Lewis said the last time she was in the Union Building was for a wedding reception in 1948, but she expected she would visit the building when it's completed.
"It looks good on paper," she said. "I would visit it and correct it."
Also attending was Christina Hermann, who asked if the exhibit would include the dispute over the use of the two- and one-man drills, which led to much friction between mine owners and miners.
"It will be perceived as provocative," Hermann said.
Mine owners saw the one-man drill as an important technological innovation that would save money by requiring less labor. Miners saw it as an attack on their livelihood.
Although she understood the importance of the drill issues, Hermann said if it isn't addressed properly, it could be a problem.
"It's a matter of presentment," she said.
Wells said the final design for the exhibits hasn't been made, and the comments received about the plan, including about the drill issue, would be part of her report.
"Our final decision will be made by the end of the year," she said.
Kurt Hauglie can be reached at khauglie @mininggazette.com.
