GLADSTONE, Mich. (WZMQ) – A Gladstone nonprofit is sharing local history with the community.
This May, Upper Peninsula State Bank is hosting a display curated by the Gladstone Soo Line Steam Engine #730 Authority. Educational panels, artwork, and memorabilia tell the story of an industry that made Gladstone the city it is today.
“Gladstone was built on the Soo Line,” said authority President John Pickard. “Escanaba had all the ore docks already, so when they chose Gladstone as the site, it was pretty much a bare harbor. They built a grain elevator and everything else when they came to Gladstone. The biggest obstacle was the Escanaba River, and that’s when they reached out to Canadian Pacific to borrow funds from them to build a bridge. Once they crossed the River and came into Gladstone, the Canadian Pacific said, ‘Why don’t you continue on to the Soo?’ They built their line all the way to Sault Ste. Marie, where they could ship their grain and all that good stuff up there.”
Next to the display, guests will find Steam Engine #730 merchandise and a donation bucket. The Steam Engine Authority is working to raise $2 million to build a museum dedicated to the steam engine and the railroad’s impact on the U.P.
“If it wasn’t for the railroads in the United States, you wouldn’t have anything west of the Mississippi River,” said retired Soo Line railroader Thomas Moulds. “The original idea behind the Soo Line was that down in Chicago, the railroads raised their rates on shipping flour to the East Coast. We want to preserve this history for future generations.”
The Steam Engine Authority is also gearing up for its annual golf tournament at the Escanaba Country Club on May 28. Entry costs $380 for a four-person team. The 18-hole scramble includes dinner, raffles, and a chance to win a vehicle. Registration is open now at charitygolftoday.com/gladstonesoo. For more information, contact John Pickard at (906) 241-0888.
The Steam Engine Authority states that as a nonprofit, it is not part of the City of Gladstone government structure.
