Calumet in Houghton County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Clearing the Way

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, August 2, 2017

1. Clearing the Way Marker

Inscription. The Calumet and Hecla Mining Company couldn't allow winter to derail its operation. In a remote region that can receive upwards of 300 inches (762 cm) of snow each year, snow removal was serious business. Clear rail lines were essential for moving people, equipment, and supplies that kept the mines operating smoothly. To open the lines after a storm, a steam locomotive pushed the Russell Snowplow through the snowdrifts. Winter brought many challenges, but wouldn't stand in the way of the people or the mine.

Erected by National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Railroads & Streetcars.

Location. 47° 14.575′ N, 88° 27.025′ W. Marker is in Calumet, Michigan, in Houghton County. It is on Red Jacket Road 0.1 miles east of 4th Street, on the right when traveling east. Marker is located beside the sidewalk, overlooking the Russell Snow Plow exhibit, on the east side of the Coppertown USA Mining Museum. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 25815 Red Jacket Road, Calumet MI 49913, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on Michigan’s Upper Peninsula

and in Copper Country.

It is also in the American Midwest,

on the Great Lakes,

and on Lake Superior’s South Shore Region.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Great North Woods,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 6 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: C & H: The Copper Giant (a few steps from this marker); Float Copper

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(about 700 feet away, measured in a direct line); Suomi Synod (approx. 0.3 miles away); Calumet Theater (approx. 0.4 miles away); St. Paul the Apostle Church (approx. 0.4 miles away); The Italian Hall / Italian Hall Tragedy (approx. half a mile away); George Gipp Memorial (approx. 0.8 miles away); The Copper Country (approx. 5.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Calumet.

More about this marker. Marker is a large composite plaque, mounted horizontally, on waist-high posts.

Also see . . .
1. Railroad Snow Plows. One of the first, and most common types of railroad snow plows used was the wedge plow. As its name implies the wedge plow used a simple wedged design, in later years made from reinforced iron or steel. The railroad snow plow itself was usually attached to the front of either a customized rail car of some type with a pilot house attached to the top for the spotting crew. One of the most common types of wedge plows were those built by the Russell Snow Plow Company, which began manufacturing the machines after World War I. Developed

Marker detail: Calumet & Vicinity Map 1915 image. Click for full size.

NPS Image, Keweenaw NHP Archives

2. Marker detail: Calumet & Vicinity Map 1915

Notice the abundance of railroad tracks converging in the industrial area between Red Jacket (Calumet) and Laurium. A mix of mining company tracks and passenger carriers crossed through local communities. Today, only fragments of these lines exist; one is right before you.

with a bit of versatility, Russells were equipped with wings attached to the outside of what was known as the "tongue" (the wedge device that actually plowed the snow clear of the track), which could be adjusted. All wedge plows could not propel themselves and required being pushed by a locomotive. (Submitted on August 27, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

2. Images of Russell Snowplows on exhibit. (Submitted on August 27, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Marker detail: Opening areas the Russell Snowplow couldn't reach... image. Click for full size.

NPS Photo, Keweenaw NHP Archives, Foster Collection, Glass Plate #178

3. Marker detail: Opening areas the Russell Snowplow couldn't reach...

Surface laborers finish clearing the tracks. Even with the present day's technological improvements of snowblowers, bulldozers, and front-end loaders, manual labor is still sometimes necessary.

Clearing the Way Marker (<i>wide view; Russell Snowplow in background</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, August 2, 2017

4. Clearing the Way Marker (wide view; Russell Snowplow in background)

Russell Snowplow (<i>side view; marker visible at far right</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, August 2, 2017

5. Russell Snowplow (side view; marker visible at far right)

Russell Snowplow (<i>front / "tongue" view; adjustable "wings" visible behind the tongue</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, August 2, 2017

6. Russell Snowplow (front / "tongue" view; adjustable "wings" visible behind the tongue)

Credits. This page was last revised on August 28, 2018. It was originally submitted on August 26, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 826 times since then and 69 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on August 27, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.