Keweenaw National Historical Park Headquarters, Calumet
April 8, 2025
Present:
Commissioners
- Karin Cooper, Houghton County (Secretary)
- Thomas Helppi, Calumet Township
- Gerald Juntunen, Commissioner, at-large (Vice President)
- Mary Sears, Franklin and Quincy Townships
- Andrew Ranville, Village of Calumet
Absent:
- Glenn Anderson, State of Michigan (President)
- Dan Jamison, at-large (Treasurer)
Executive Director
National Park Service (NPS)
- Wendy Davis, Superintendent
- Amber Kraft, Interp and Education
Decisions and Announcements
- Announced the close of the 2025 Keweenaw Heritage Grant application window. Received 19 applications asking for ~$192,000 in awards. $115,000 in awards available.
- The Commission is working on updating its Goals and Objectives as part of strategic planning. Hope to present those finalized goals at the next meeting in July.
- The Commission was able to secure it’s annual operations funding after several weeks of DOGE-related spending freezes. No word yet on its project funding.
A.1. Call to Order
A regular meeting of the Keweenaw National Historical Park Advisory Commission was opened at 1:03 p.m., Tuesday, April 14th, 2025.
A.2. Introductions
Guests:
- Vince Kanthak, Painesdale Mine & Shaft
- Paul and Anita Campbell, Keweenaw County Historical Society
- Bill Fink, former Superintendent for KEWE
- Tom Wright and Clayton Gomez, QMHA
- Sarah Greene, community member
A.3. Approval of Agenda for April 8th, 2025
- Motion made by Ranville. Seconded by Cooper. Motion carried unanimously. (5/0).
A.4. Approval of Meeting Minutes from January 14th, 2025
- Motion made by Cooper. Seconded by Helppi. Motion carried unanimously. (5/0)
B.1. Superintendent’s Report
A. Staffing updates:
- Seasonal staff are returning to the park. Two in the day-labor crew; four in interpretation and education (three GS7s and one GS5); one museum tech as well.
- Several interns will be on hand this summer as well: history researchers linked to UW-Eau Claire’s Public History program and funded through Isle Royale Keweenaw Parks Association; a Mellon Fellow continuing research begun here a couple years ago; interns with MTU working on Copper Traces educational programming.
B. Project updates:
- The park is “rather thin” at the moment and operating under a directive of “constant state of readiness.”
- The Administrative History of the park has been cancelled as part of agency-wide cuts.
- Projects linked to Abandoned Mineral Lands funding have also been cut or scaled back. Some of these are still up in the air, but possibility of $1-2 million in safeing projects coming later this year. More TBD.
Questions for the Superintendent
None
B. 2. Executive Director’s Report
Commission Funding
Keweenaw Heritage Grants
- The applications deadline passed on Friday, April 4th.
- A minimum of $115,000 in awards are on offer this year.
- 19 applications were received for projects totaling $192,560 in ask towards $602,725 in projects.
- Applications will be reviewed later this month with awards announced May 9th and funds will be made available by May 27th.
Quincy Smelter Updates
- The commission and Quincy Mine Hoist Association are working on an updated interpretive tour for the Quincy Smelter property. The route is changing, as is the script. A focus will be placed on the process of smelting, as well as the themes of milling, transportation, and labor.
FY25 Planned and Proposed Projects
- Working with the park’s Interp team to develop a Heritage Site “guidebook” for sale in the Visitor Center or other gift shops. No hard date on completion or format yet.
- Heritage sites will be asked to provide info for inclusion.
- We’re still awaiting the approval of our annual project funding agreement with the park. Once in hand, a few “safeing” projects are in the works related to the Quincy Smelter.
- Currently having discussions with Kasey Koski, the artist we commissioned to create the artwork on Quincy Hill across from the Quincy Mine Hoist Association, on creating more similar pieces this summer either at the smelter or on the historic Quincy Mine landscape.
- A contractor (Corbin Desing out of Traverse City) has been identified to assist those working on the Calumet Unit of the park’s wayfinding and signage. We are reviewing their proposal and it’s exciting to get this project first proposed a year and a half ago moving forward.
Travel Updates
- I’ll be attending two conferences in May, Michigan Historic Preservation annual conference in Sault Ste. Marie, and the Society for Industrial Archeology annual conference in Buffalo, NY. I’ll be out of the area: MHPN: May 14-17; SIA: May 28 – June 2.
- While MHPN is mostly a networking event for me, I will be presenting a paper and taking part on a panel session at the SIA conference. I’m part of long session honoring the work and legacy of Dr. Patrick Martin of Michigan Tech. He was my mentor and advisor while getting two graduate degrees at MTU, and I’m presenting on that role and they work he oversaw that I did while he was also the Social Sciences department chair.
B.3. Requests to Commission and Financial Reports
a. Budget/Finance
- Motion to approve billing in the amount of $9,360.77 made by Cooper and seconded by Sears. Motion carried unanimously. (5/0)
- Motion to approve payroll and tax payments in the amount of $19,627.19 made by Cooper and seconded by Ranville. Motion carried unanimously. (5/0)
B.4. Commissioner Reports
A. Helppi announced a public comment hearing regarding the Calumet Township Master Plan for April 17th at 4pm.
B. Ranville announced that the Calumet Downtown Development Authority is meeting Monday (14th). Will be continuing to rent a billboard south of Calumet on the highway. Likely changing the sign to address the 150th anniversary of Calumet.
C. Bring Back Calumet has started a historic preservation fund held by Keweenaw Community Foundation. First fundraising drive is dedicated to the preservation of the Ruppe Block building on 5th Street
C.1. Comments from legislators or legislative staff
None
C.2. Comments from Keweenaw Heritage Site representatives
A. Anita Campbell, Keweenaw County Historical Society
- Three new board members joining this year.
- Most of the eleven sites/museums of KCHS will be opening on Fathers’ Day, June 15 th. Eagle River June 18th. Gay School June 21st .
- Several upgrades taking place at the Lighthouse complex, including more interactive digital displays.
B. Wright, Quincy Mine Hoist Association
- Wants to thank the park and former park Historic Architect, John Arnold, for the assistance in securing and assisting with a recent $1,478,000 grant directed at the Hoist House.
- Thanks to the Heritage Grant program for improvements in the site’s interpretation.
C. Vince Kanthak of Painesdale Mine & Shaft
- REJ successfully completed their 2024 heritage grant work, emptying the ore bins in the no. 4 Shaft Rockhouse. By doing so, access to the area is safer and the structure more stable.
- Will be opening up the steam engine room for the shaft house crusher to visitors shortly after cleaning up the space and putting in new decking. o Will be more access in the space overall with new views for visitors.
- Captain’s Office is also in line for upgrades. New windows and interpretation.
- The water storage tank has had its asbestos tiles removed. New, safe replicas will be installed later this May after stabilizing the structure (also REJ Contracting).
C.3. Comments from the public
A. Sarah Greene, CRAG
- Attending on behalf of citizens concerned with funding cuts that may impact visitor numbers to the area and the overall health of the local economy. Her group attends public meetings all over the area to bring attention to these concerns and learn.
B. Bill fink, former Superintendent of KNHP
- Discussed the Reduction in Force (RIF) targets for Federal Agencies of 20-25% in permanent staffing. “Another shoe waiting to drop,” and people/advocates should make their concerns heard as people are listening.
C. Anita Campbell, Big Annie Statue Fund
- Raised roughly $66,000 of their goal of $150,000 so far.
- Working on finalizing a contract with a sculptor in Ohio.
D. Motion to Adjourn
Moved by Sears and seconded by Ranville at 1:52 p.m. Motion carried unanimously. (5/0)
Next public meeting to be held at a date TBD in mid-July. Will take place at 1:00pm at Keweenaw NHP Headquarters regardless of date.
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