Keweenaw Report Your Source for Local News and Sports
Christmas Eve is bittersweet in the Copper Country.
On one hand, we look forward to the holiday tomorrow. On the other hand, we remember what happened 106 years ago today.
At the height of the 1913 Copper Strike, a Christmas party was held for the children of striking miners on the second floor of the Italian Hall in Calumet.
As the party was wrapping up, someone yelled “fire.” There was no fire, but 73 people – most of them children – were crushed to death in the stampede down the stairway toward the exit.
No one was ever arrested or tried for causing the tragedy.
Again this year, the CLK Rotary Club will light 73 luminaries at the Italian Hall Memorial, in honor of the victims.
