Ironwood Area Chamber of Commerce

The following map and tour route through the central commercial district (Tour A) and residential district (Tour B) are from "Fashioned From Iron", a brochure done about 1975 by the Historical Society. Many of the buildings have been torn down and these have been noted in the words of the tour.

1) Ironwood Historical Society - 226 E. McLeod. The building was constructed in the early 1900s and was occupied by Frank's Lager Saloon - 1912, Gianunzio's Garden and Restaurant - 1935, and Newman's Furs - 1938, to name a few. The Historical Society recently moved its headquarters to the restored C&NW railroad depot in Old Depot Park.

2) Old City Hall - McLeod and Marquette. This brownstone and brick building was first occupied Feb. 7, 1891. The fire and police departments have been housed here since then. From 1891 to 1901 it served as the library and as City Hall until 1923. The building was dedicated as registered Michigan Historical Site May 14, 1977. The building was demolished in 1989 and the site is now the home of Gogebic County Transit.

3) Theatre North - 200 E. McLeod. Built in the 1890s, this structure originally served as the Scandinavian Hall. Later it became the home of the Eagles, and in 1967 was purchased by Theatre North, one of the most active community theatres in Michigan. The interior was redecorated to its former Victorian look during the summer of 1977. Theatre North moved to its present location on Lake Street recently

4) Lieberthal Block - Corner of McLeod and Suffolk. Many of the older buildings on Suffolk St. exhibit the Commercial Italianate architectural style.

5) Sears Roebuck Building - 123 E. Aurora. This building is the best example of Georgian Revival architecture in Ironwood. It was constructed in 1925 as the Masonic Building and remains standing to this day.

6) Ironwood Theatre - 111 E. Aurora. The theatre opened in 1928. The interior decor is Venetian in style and exemplifies the theatres built in the heyday of mining activities in the U.P. It was one of the first air-conditioned structures in the United States. The theatre was renovated in 1995 to restore its former state of beauty. Click here for more information on the Ironwood Theatre.

7) Chicago and Northwestern Railroad Depot

- Off Frederick St. between Lowell and Suffolk. Built in 1892 in Richardson Romanesque style, it's distinguished by having walls of rock-faced masonry with arches and lintels. (The depot now houses the Ironwood Historical Society and its collection of artifacts).

8) U.S. Post Office - Between Lowell and Suffolk. The current post office was built in 1931 and has remained virtually unchanged since then.

9) Early Post Office - Ayer and Suffolk. More recently housing the A&P store, this building was constructed as a post office in 1898. The first post office in Ironwood opened Jan. 22, 1886. (The building has been demolished and now is the home of D&N Bank).

10) Brownstone Building - 106 E. Suffolk. This building, constructed in 1902, is an excellent example of classic Richardson Romanesque style. Brownstone is another name for Lake Superior sandstone, primarily quarried in the L'Anse and Bayfield areas. The building originally housed a bank.

11) Davis & Fehr - (S&L). Corner of Suffolk and Aurora.

One of the oldest buildings in downtown Ironwood, it was built in 1890. Its original brownstone exterior is still visible on the upper story and is a fine example of Vernacular architecture. (The building was demolished in 1996 and will soon be the home of a park).

12) Carnegie Library - Corner of Aurora and Norfolk.

Authorized in 1900, built in 1901, and dedicated in January of 1902, this was the first Carnegie Library in Michigan. It was built from funds donated by philanthropist and steel magnate Andrew Carnegie who, from 1881 to 1918, contributed $56 million to found some 2,800 libraries worldwide.

This building is an example of Second Renaissance Revival architecture and now houses the city offices and courts. Construction of the building started in 1921 and was completed four years later. It contains a large auditorium, swimming pool, and gymnasium. The foyer contains several interesting panels displaying early mining and logging days. (The Historical Society is presently constructing a series of exhibits of Ironwood's historical past)

B) Knights of Columbus Hall - On Vaughan between Norfolk and Marquette. This building was originally the Jefferson D. Day home, constructed in the Queen Anne style in 1889. It served as the home for the resident manager of the Oliver Mining Co.

C) Curry Street - As you walk this street towards McLeod, you will see many examples of homes constructed in the bungaloid style, the most common residential architecture used on the Gogebic Range from 1900-1940. Many of these home were originally built by the mining companies for their employees.

The 18 room Solomon S. Curry mansion was constructed in 1895. It was dedicated as a Michigan Registered Historical site on Memorial Day, 1978. It still retains its original stained-glass Tiffany windows. All inside woodwork, banisters and fireplaces have been restored to original condition or replaced by fixtures of the period by the (then) owners, Mr. & Mrs. Tim Kornwolf. Soloman S. Curry was a pioneer in the mining industry and instrumental in building the City of Ironwood.

E) Judge Haar House and Coach House - 701 Ayer Street. Built for the second Circuit Judge of Gogebic County in 1899, it was successfully owned by numerous mining company companies and is now under private ownership/ The adjacent coach house on Monroe St. served as a livery for the Haars. Hay and grain were stored on the upper level. Horses were stabled, coaches and sleighs parked in the lower level.

F) L.L. Wright High School - on Ayer St. between Park and Curry. This late Gothic Revival style school was completed in 1925 at an inclusive cost of $1,057,577.93. Luther L. Wright was Ironwood's first superintendent of schools, leaving that position in 1907 to become the state superintendent of public instruction. The building remains one of the finest of its styles ever constructed. It also housed Gogebic Community College from 1932-1969, when the college moved to its present home on the slopes of Mt. Zion.

G) St. Ambrose Church - corner of Ayer and Marquette. This church was built in 1925 in the late Gothic Revival style. One of the many beautiful churches found on the Gogebic Range. Now called Our Lady of Peace.

H) Church of the Transfiguration - Corner of Marquette and Aurora. This church is built in the Vernacular style using local trap rock and wood. The cornerstone of the building was laid on July 7, 1886. Please note the fine rose window above the entrance to the church.

Old Depot Museum
150 North Lowell
PO Box 45
Ironwood, MI. 49938
906/932-1122 (phone)
906/932-2756 (fax)
email: chamber@ironwoodmi.org

TAKE A WALK THROUGH IRONWOOD IN THE 1950's