Graham Jaehnig/Daily Mining Gazette The Aho Building, at 425 Fifth Street in Calumet, was built in 1895, during the peak of the village’s population and activity. Volunteers are requested to help install support posts in the front section of the building, as part of a stabilization effort. The building on the right is the 1882 Schindler Building, constructed in 1882, by Anna Schindler, who had the building constructed after the death of her husband. Both buildings are within the Red Jacket Downtown Historic District, and within the Keweenaw National Park.

CALUMET — Leah Polzien, executive director of Main Street Calumet, and chairwoman of the Downtown Development Authority (DDA), is requesting volunteers from the community for a project in the Historic District of the village.

The DDA, along with the Keweenaw Economic Development Alliance (KEDA), and the Houghton County Land Bank, are working together to stabilize the historic sandstone structure at 425 Fifth Street, known as the Aho Building, and are asking for help.

The project for the morning of Wednesday, Nov. 4, will be to install shoring posts from the basement of the roof in the front portion of the building, said Polzien. The long-term goal is to stabilize the property and make it more attractive for sale and redevelopment.

The building has been on the radar for some time now. Jeff Ratcliffe, from KEDA, addressed the Village Council at its regular Nov. meeting in 2019, regarding the temporary stabilization of the building, as well as the need for the village to make investments in infrastructure to support such efforts, as there is an increased interest and activity in downtown real estate for redevelopment, and at the meeting, he strongly encouraged the village to continue to move forward on the Redevelopment Ready Communication Process.

The building is currently for sale by the landbank, and Main Street Calumet said the price is very negotiable, Polzien said in a recent Facebook post on the DDA website, but could likely be had for a few thousand, possibly less.

“Our community is looking for property owners who are able to redevelop this property,” Polzien said. “That is no small task.”

The historic Aho Building was constructed in 1895, and is within the Calumet Village Historic District, which covers Fifth and Sixth streets, between Scott and Pine streets. It is also known as the Red Jacket Downtown Historic District, reflecting the original name of the village. It was designated a Michigan State Historic Site in 1973, and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.

For anyone wishing to volunteer on the project:

• WHEN TO MEET: Wednesday, Nov. 4 8 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

• WHERE TO MEET: 425 5th Street, Calumet, MI

• WHAT TO BRING: Dress warm (even though weather should be nice), work gloves, safety glasses, face mask (require for COVID and is dusty/dirty in this location).

Polzien said that an RSVP is appreciated, either by email to leah@mainstreetcalumet.com or 906-337-6246.