City of Ishpeming 150th celebration

ISHPEMING, Mich. (WZMQ) – Chartered on this very day in 1873, Ishpeming holds a lot of history within its city limits. Celebrating 150 years when MIchigan legislator granted the Village of Ishpeming its charter, becoming the City of Ishpeming. Ishpeming Historical Society hosts a business after hours this evening from 5 – 7 pm at their museum located on the third floor of the Gossard building.

Excited to be a part of it, Karen Kasper, Vice President of Ishpeming’s Historical Society told us, “Today, happens to be the exact day, 150th anniversary because it’s published within the State of Michigan’s Legislator proceedings, and they granted Ishpeming our city charter on April 10th in 1873.”

Along with the Village of Ishpeming becoming a chartered city with the state of Michigan, they also gained their first city government and fire departments, requirements of maintaining their chartered status. And lest than 1 year later, this newly chartered city experienced one of the biggest disasters in their history. A fire destroying two blocks of downtown Ishpeming.

Kasper knowing in the devastation the city faced at that time was more than just the fire, she shared more about that same time and told us, “Also a time of financial panic and so the mines weren’t working at full strength it almost doomed the city before they got started but fortunately the city rebuilt.”

Now Building for 150 years, Ishpeming’s historical society proudly celebrates many of the happenings and people who have contributed to the growth of Ishpeming and the town it is today.

Knowing the importance of all this city has to offer, Ishpeming Mayor, Jason Chapman shared one of Ishpeming’s treasures that put them on the map, “One of the most important things for the city of Ishpeming would have to be skiing and ski jumping, we are the birthplace of that in the United States. Having the Ishpeming ski club and us national skiing and snowboard hall of fame here is quite significant.

Showcased inside Ishpeming’s Historical Society Museum located in the Gossard Building, Ishpeming’s rich history can be celebrated every day, keeping the history of the past alive.