Historic Trail Progress
Last Wednesday started off with conversation with the County Treasurer Lisa Mattila about how we can go about transferring a piece of property to the Houghton County Land Bank that should have been transferred there in the first place as part of a settlement agreement the township had recently reached with the representative of a landowner. Once I learned how to do that from Lisa, it was on to reworking a request for proposals that we hope the Land Bank will issue soon seeking proposals for the redevelopment of that piece of land and an adjoining property.
With a Chassell Lions Club meeting scheduled for 6:00 p.m. which was going to prevent my running with the Keweenaw Running Group, I headed out for a late afternoon run on the rail-trail where the fall colors have been rapidly emerging!
The Lions Club meeting provided a nice opportunity to brief members on our current projects with the historic trail, the church property/adjoining property, the Master Planning process, and remote worker networking event.
Thursday morning I met up with Terri Frew’s art and design class on the south end of Centennial Park from where we walked around on the proposed course of the historic interpretive trail where the Sturgeon River Lumber Company and Worcester Lumber operated from 1888 to 1928. We discussed the location for the nine interpretive signs for which the students will develop three designs for each.
We then headed over to the Sturgeon River canoe/kayak launch where the class is also designing two interpretive signs for that site. One will provide a map of the river highlighting put-in and take-out points as well as interpreting the river’s historical use for moving softwood timber to the mill in Chassell. The second will interpret the wildlife and fishery found along and in the river.
My afternoon was spent working with Abe’s in Dodgeville on needed repairs for my mower. I was able to get a loaner mower from them so I could knock out my 20th lawn cutting of the season!
Julie and I squeezed in a pre-dinner walk on the Chassell Fitness Trail where the recent rains had stimulated the growth of mushrooms along the trail!
After getting word on Friday that the EGLE approved the boardwalk permit for the Historic Interpretive Trail, we headed down to the farm to find that we have a bumper apple crop this year! In addition to spending time with our neighbors, we picked over one hundred pounds of apples that will provide a great juicing, applesauce, and dehydrating supply. We will be back soon to get more for cider!
Saturday, Julie headed up to Copper Harbor with a couple of friends and I went out to participate in a work bee on the Mud Lake Loop at Maasto Hiihto. As part of grant received from the Portage Health Foundation, the Keweenaw Nordic Ski Club was able to pay for bulldozer time to smooth what was a rather rocky trail. In addition to making it easier to mow, trail smoothing helps extend the ski season as the groomers can get out there both earlier in the season and later in the season. On this day, a group of us spread grass seed, raked, and removed rocks. You can see my GoPro of this nearly four hour effort on this link to the Remote Workforce Keweenaw YouTube channel:
Do you embrace winter and have the ability to work remotely? Would you value living in a place with ubiquitous natural beauty that has NO congestion and lower crime? Consider locating in the Keweenaw where you will be surrounded by amazing places! Learn more by visiting the Remote Workforce Keweenaw website at https://remoteworkforcekeweenaw.com and learn about those who have made the decision to locate here by following our ongoing series of vignettes on the Remote Workforce Keweenaw Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/RemoteWorkforceKeweenaw.