Front Page

Larger than life

\'Big Annie\' statue unveiled

CALUMET - Anna Klobuchar Clemenc is a historical figure from the Keweenaw who has a legacy known far and wide. Known as “Big Annie,” she was at the lead of the parades protesting unfair working conditions in the mines during the 1913 strike carrying a huge American flag. She returned to the Copper Country in a few ways on Saturday.

First, a parade down 5th street kicked off the afternoon led by a Big Annie reenactor, complete with a large American flag. A children's choir, decked out in period clothing, followed. The Big Annie committee, those responsible for raising the funds and making the statue a reality in Calumet, were next in the lineup.

Adding a musical flair to the event was the Copper Country band. Behind them were descendants of Big Annie who came from Chicago and beyond to attend the festivities. A group dressed in period appropriate garb for mining strolled the streets next and the Michigan Tech pep band brought up the rear.

Once the parade made it to the Calumet Greenspace, people started filing in and gathered around the new statue, covered in a tarp. The master of ceremonies was Anita Campbell who was on the Big Annie committee for three-and-a-half years, the time it took them to make the dream of a statue a reality.

Addressing the large gathering, Campbell said, "On behalf of the entire Big Annie statue committee, thank you for being here to share this historic moment for Calumet, for the Copper Country, and for all who believe in community, courage, and the American spirit."

Before the tarp came off, Campbell pointed out a feature at the base. "I want to draw your attention to the historic brick walkway around Big Annie's statue. We are fortunate that the Village of Calumet and Calumet Township were able to store a good amount of brick pavers that were on 5th and 6th street many, many years ago. So I think it's very fitting that Big Annie is surrounded by the old brick pavers that she marched on."

Adam Saari with the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers, helped lay those bricks. "As a union member myself, the pride I have in helping is unexplainable," he said. Saari spoike about how important he finds this statue to be. "I hope this is never just viewed as a statue of someone from the past who did some marching for a union. This is a monument to a will that was passed on to each one of us. Annie's will, courage, strength, and upbringing galvanized a young lady to lead a community to a better future."

Big Annie was known for carrying a large American flag through every parade. "She carried it day after day through sun and wind and snow," said Campbell, "as a symbol for hope and fairness for working families. Today, that same spirit stands before us in bronze, a reminder that ordinary citizens can do extraordinary things when they work together."

Author Mary Doria Russell had Big Annie as one of the main characters in her book "Women of the Copper Country, bringing a story of this area to a wide audience. Speaking at the unveiling, Russell said, "We are here to dedicate this statue to the memory of Anna Klobuchar Clemenc and to the enormous flag that she lifted up and carried day after day, week after week, as the months of the 1913 strike went on. But I hope when you see this that you will also remember the ordinary women of the Copper Country whose names are forgotten."

Russell made the flag an integral part of the story in her book, nearly making it a character unto itself and a driving symbol inseparable from Big Annie herself. She drove home the importance of the symbol in the conclusion of her comments, saying, "Big Annie led [the people] as far as she and they could go in 1913. Today, you'll see her offer that flag to each of us. Now it is our turn to believe that our communities and America itself can be better tomorrow than it is today if we are bold, organized, and courageous. Now it is our turn to carry the flag."

The sculptor of the new statue of, Andy Sacksteder from Port Clinton, Ohio, was also in attendance. Addressing the audience, he said, "I just want to say it was a great honor and privilege to sculpt Big Annie."

Campbell wrapped up the formal portion of the event in saying, "May this statue remind us every day of courage, unity, and the power of people standing together for what they believe is right." She then let everyone know the festivities would continue into the later afternoon with ice cream, face painting, and even Big Annie memorabilia, all presented for free for those who gathered at the event.

The Big Annie statue is located in the Calumet Greenspace in downtown Calumet. It is best viewed on the 6th Street side, next to the Calumet Theatre.