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Located
near Portage Lake in the Keweenaw Peninsula, Chassell was once a busy
lumbering town. Today, the tranquility draws retirees, summer tourists,
and families seeking a slower pace of life. During the summer, Chassell
hosts a Strawberry Festival. The annual events pays tribute to the
town's
once burgeoning strawberry industry. This year the Strawberry Festival
takes place on July 8-9.
A
permanent museum exhibit has been established at the Chassell Heritage
Center, titled "Lumber Kings to Strawberry Queens" and
features the strawberry industry, the Chassell Lions Club and the
Strawberry Festival. E-mail nancy@einerlei.com
for more information. To learn about Chassell's noisy past, read "Bells,
Whistles and Horns" by area resident, Richard Rupley.
Click
on a photo to view a larger image. Photos Chassell Historical
Organization (CHO) or Michigan Technological University (MTU) |
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| Teamsters
at a logging camp near Chassell fed and took care of the horses. Without
healthy horses and dedicated handlers, no timber operation could work in
the forests, summer or winter. (MTU) |
During
the spring, summer and fall, most of these men were farmers or
fishermen. When winter arrived, they left their homes and became
timbermen for Worchester Lumbering Company. (MTU) |
A
Chassell Township farm family stands in their backyard garden,
approximately 1900-1910. Most area residents were French-Canadian or
Finnish immigrants or the children of immigrants. (MTU) |
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| This
eight-foot diameter tree stood 200-215 feet tall and would yield 6,000
board feet of lumber. The inscription on the photo reads: Falk woods
1907. (MTU) |
This
view shows the Worcester Lumber Mill from Pike Bay, 1927. This mill was
one of the largest and most productive operations on the Great Lakes. (CHO) |
This
Chassell Township farm is shown circa1930-1940. Many farms were
reclaimed forestland. (MTU) |
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| The
Chassell Mercantile, an early 1920s general store, thrived while the
Worcester Lumber Company was in operation. (CHO) |
These
agile young men brought logs to Pike Bay (photo taken about 1910).
Excellent coordination was a necessity for these men. They had to walk
across logs to break up jams and keep the logs moving down the river. (MTU) |
A
Strawberry Festival princess enjoys her shortcake (photo taken about
1968) while her little canine friend looks on. The little princess, Sue
Barkkari, still lives in the area. (CHO) |
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| Chassell’s
main street today has a few antique and merchandise stores. (CHO) |
These
2004 Strawberry Queen candidates participate in the Strawberry Festival
parade. (CHO) |
The
Marine Corps League Color Guard marches during the 2004 Strawberry
Festival parade. (CHO) |
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| The
2004 Strawberry Festival parade brings friends and neighbors together in
the downtown area. Unlike many other festivals throughout Michigan,
there are no carnival rides. Instead, people enjoy visiting with one
another and indulging in strawberry shortcake. (CHO) |
Lions
Club volunteer John Lehman hands out strawberry shortcakes at the 2004
Strawberry Festival. Over 3,000 of these delicacies were devoured during
the event (there were no leftovers!). Photo Daily Mining Gazette/Will
Rice |
The
Chassell Historical Center houses the Chassell Township Museum, the
Friends of Fashion vintage clothing collection and hosts skiing and foot
racing events sponsored by the Chassell Recreation Committee. (CHO) |
