Menominee was important to people in the 1950s when Wisconsin tried to regulate oleomargarine out of existence. As people in Milwaukee would go to the Illinois side of the WI/IL state line, so did people in the upper part of the state, especially Green Bay go to Menominee to bring illegal margarine to Wisconsin. At the time my dad worked for a business with a satellite office in Marinette. The guy who manned the one-man office had to come to meetings in Green Bay every other week. He was generally considered to be worthless but was tolerated because he smuggled the margarine.
Wow I grew up in Oconto County, and this is the first time I heard this story. I really only passed through Marinette/Menominee up to fish in the U.P. or over to Lower Michigan to visit the extended family. Very cool.
Beautiful views from the public library also. Menominee was in the process of saving/renovating its town when I was there. Wonderful sewing and hobby shop there also.
I lived the the Marinette/Menominee area for 30 years before returned to my hometown near Madison, WI. My kids loved the Spies Library (downtown too) and the park right next to it. I also worked in Menominee. It was wonderful to see the town once again.
Menomonee is the birth place of my parents, and all four of my grandparents. Also one of my brothers was born in Menomonee. Thanks for highlighting Menomonee!!
Sally, I'd like to thank you for your tours of forgotten, tiny mid-western towns. I will never visit these places you feature in your videos. But because of your videos, I feel as though I already have. The attention to details in your videos is superlative. Again, thank you.
I'd go smelt fishing in the Menominee river with my dad and brother. We'd get up to the U.P. every summer and fish on the St. Mary's River which was interesting because of all the big ships that pass through the channel and locks. To be honest, by my teenage years I was thoroughly bored out of my mind by the whole thing LOL. Nostalgia can be fun, though.
While I grew up in Marinette and have lived in Wi my whole life, I am a Yooper as I was born in St Joseph Lloyd Hospital in Menominee! Now I own a cottage on the bay 6 miles north of there.
The store in elecric square that has the sandwich and ice cream store was a drug store when I was a child in the 1950's and 1960's. It had a small ice cream shop in it at that time. Great place to stop after a long afternoon on Victory Beach.
Love your travel adventures. Thank You for showing us another great Northern Midwest town. I appreciate seeing the architecture and hearing of the historic notes you’ve come across. 🌹
I have always lived in mid-Michigan. I've heard of Menominee all my life but have never been there. This is a very nice video showing a beautiful city. The preserved buildings are just wonderful. I've so glad it hasn't turned into an abandoned city. Thank you so much for the tour.
Thank you for the tour of Menominee. Menominee is my hometown. It was nice to see all the old buildings. The Lloyd Building housed Montgomery Ward store in the 1950s and 1960s as well as an A& P in the basement with the twine Company upstairs. The movie theater was in the back of the building. Fun memories of going to the movies in the old threater.
The best ways to find out more about Menominee is to go to our museum and the best guy to talk to is Mike Kaufman also there is a logging museum on Stephenson island Thank you for your show about our town
Nice video. The info you had must have come from a more modern version of history. The Algonquin tribes did not move west from the east coast until the 1400s and did not get to Michigan area until the 1600s. They even had this on their web pages in the past. The eastern tribes fought with and warred other tribes but the Great Lakes and Mississippi region had a long period no tribes lived in it. They used to say the Portuguese explorers wiped out the middle of the country with disease. The Portuguese that went up the Mississippi early 1500s wrote about massive villages the first time up the river but the second trip a couple years later they found the villages empty. (archeologist have found some of these massive villages along the Mississippi) The current tribal groups living in the Great lakes area moved in in the 1600s and 1700s and the only contact they would have had with the older groups was to fight a war or kidnap slaves. The groups fought, that was what pushed some west. History is being rewritten the last few years with no evidence to prove it. There is archeological evidence dating when people lived in different areas of the Great lakes. Be safe.
I grew up in Menominee but on the opposite side of the city. I was just there this past weekend visiting. In the days where the drinking age in Michigan was 21 and Wisconsin was 18 my group of friends would get a case of Wisconsin Club beer (4 dollars) and sneak it into the drive in movie just west of Marinette. We never got in trouble or got anyone hurt. I went to the movies in the Lloyd building and as a little kid banked at the First Nation Bank on 1st street (with my passbook savings.) One of the most beautiful places in Menominee is Henes Park. It is on M-35 going north. If you get a chance don't miss that! I loved the video!
Great video ! You didn't add that highway 41runs through it. The same highway that goes to Miami, Florida and Houghton Michigan making it the longest north south highway in the U.S. The best pasties are made in Menominee and smoked fish. The smelt run in April is great too. Keep the videos coming!
41 goes to Cooper Harbor another hour north of Houghton. Its also referenced in Allman Brother Travelin Man -I was born in a Greyhound Bis rolling down Hwy 41
@@randyborst7517 Hey Man, I've been fishing on the Keewena waterway in Houghton and saw the sign on the way there that said,".End of the world ten miles. Houghton eleven ", so I wasn't sure how far 41 went after that. The Allman Brothers song was ," Lord I was born a rambin' man" and I love it. I love the U.P. and spent many summers on my Grandparents and families farm there.
The northern Illinois’s town with the fifty five fifty six ford cars was amazing. You continue to amaze me how you find these places. You are truly amazing.
Great video!! Final run of the remaining passenger train service between Chicago and Ishpeming, MI serviced Menominee/Marinette was made on July 15, 1969. Indian Trails bus currently service the southernmost city. THe bus line run between Milwaukee and Hancock, MI
Hi Sally, nice to see your smiling face. I do enjoy your videos and especially this one as I was born and raised in Michigan. There are not a lot of videos out there about my home State so this was very interesting. Of course, I was born in 1945 and have been gone for decades so I wouldn't recognize most of the places anyway. Keep up the good work, fantastic video.
Menominee is one of my favorite places ever!... My husband and I got married there at the courthouse outside in front of the big bell... We live in Winnebago County Wisconsin but we try to make it up here at least twice a month to eat at our favorite BBQ place, Pitt Brothers BBQ....
I would have butchered Menomonie pronunciation. First time heard that native American tribe. Algonquin group I know about. Thanks for pointing out the history sign. Looks like there are some great places to hang out at. The waterway with the fall color is beautiful! Thanks pointing out Lloyd's and the history of it. Definitely love that old building that now has the art gallery. The Marmen computer building that used to be post office. That old Livery stable building is definitely interesting! Never would have known what the Landing building would have been in the past. Menomonie opera house will be grand when they are finished restoring it. Love old firehouse like #1. Love the streetlights . The old 1st national Bank building is cool. Love the old saloon building with the bricked up windows. Always love your tours!!
Sally, your so young. You really put out a lot of effort for us all. Thank you so much for these interviews facts of my home State. It's not uncommon that the library was above thr fire department. My home town was that way.
@@SightseeingSally It is gorgeous up there. We went on vacation right on Lake Superior. I had an uncle that was a cook on the Edmund Fitzgerald but he retired long before the tragic sinking. My favorite parts of MI are over towards the Leelanau Peninsula. (Little Finger) lol. Whenever I meet someone from MI we automatically make “the mitten” to point out where us transplants are from. Drives my husband crazy ( in a good way). I’m looking forward to more of your posts.
Was in Kentucky years ago guy came in where i was having breakfast saw my plates on my truck ask me if i was from detroit i replied not even so i know what you mean
Very interesting story I drive through that city every day with my work truck and always wondered about the stone by the welcome center next time you get there go past the Ironworks and check out the guys on the roof thanks from Wisconsin
I wish they had the original marquee on that Loyd building, if Im not wrong, am pretty sure it was more ornate than the one there now, Awesome share 👍👍
My mother came from Menominee so I spent some time there. I've been to the Lloyd theater before it became a twin. I remember the arcade. And the Monkey Ward that replaced the Lloyd department store. I remember when the downtown had functioning stores. Then the M&M mall was built and downtown was finished. I remember the train that ran in the park by the beach. There's an anchor from a ship in the park that my cousin and his friends found when they were in Sea Scouts. I remember getting lime Nehi from the bottling plant. The sugar beet factory and all the trees by the river at were dying from the chemicals from Ansul. The woman who played Mrs. Rayborn on Leave It To Beaver was from there. We always brought margarine back.
I like the rumor about the saloon windows. A keen businessman keeps his customers happy! I heard a somewhat similar rumor about another saloon. There's a little town in northern Lower Michigan called Fife Lake. Local history says that there was a house of ill repute that hosted drinking, gambling, and girls. It was located on a small island in the adjoining lake. The town's women, also upset over their men taking part in "evening" activities at the house, decided to burn down the bridge connecting the island to the shore. Though the crossing wasn't very deep, it did allow the women to catch the men that were partaking due to the fact that they had wet shoes and pants! (And, the building never did get rebuilt!)
I am 70 years old and have actually heard of some of these places, if you towed a few of those little houses to California you could make millions or maybe dig ditches to bring water to a parched land
I have lots c to tell about Menominee since I have lived here 53 years, and in the cou ty my whole life. If you want to know more, and have not spoken to Mike Kaufman yet, he us the man to see. Incidently, even though I did not live here from birth, I was born here and visited during my early years as well. Lots of churches and the city was divided by nationality. Ie, Frenchtown, Geantown. Thank you for the review.
I know it sounds like a funny name, but have you guys ever heard of "Ruin City" Michigan? Something that looks like that is on my grandfathers death certificate as the birthplace of his mother. Of course all that cursive runs together and looks the same, so could be "Rain City" or "Bain City". The other "a's" are open at the top.
I grew up here and left in the 90s, but my parents still live there. Unfortunately, despite all the beautiful buildings downtown, it’s become very rundown. Now instead of oleo, Wisconsinites go there to pick up something else.
just to correct myself from my earlier post it was jacocsville sand stone. most of it cme from white city but it was commonly call jacobsville sand stone
Great, a new channel 2 explore and subscribe to. If you haven't been to the Norway iron mountain area, I would love to see one of them there. I have been much from Norway. There is the Norway springs, I think that's what they call it, and a huge milk bottle, I think off Saginaw Street in Norway
Many years ago, I was working in WI and the UP. We stayed in Menomonee. It was a Holiday Inn, just on the MI side of the river. Later that night, I went to 'Ye OLD OAK' tavern in Marinette, just of the WI side of the river. That was the best looking, coolest, most historic bar I have ever been in. The bar was built in the 30's and reflected many old woodworking tricks. It was very ornate. I believe that bar was brought in from somewhere else. Stained glass, the whole works. If that is still open, I would recommend stopping and looking , even if you do not drink. What a spectacle. Like I said, that was at least 30 years ago, so you know how things change. I will never forget the 'YE OLD OAK'.
I've lived in Menominee/Marinette my entire 37 year old life. Honestly, it's kinda boring. You will have to travel an hour north or south for any fun. Marinette is picking up steam lately, but menominee can't seem to attract any new business.
A town with a lot of heritage, it's very nice to see the old building refurbished, and keep the history. Sally, you don't look a day over 42, I never would have guessed 1972, which was a very good year.
I found your tour interesting but was surprised to hear you giving wrong dates of buildings when the dates were clearly carved into the buildings exterior. For instance, you'd said the Opera House was built in 1902 where it clearly says 1802, and the First National Bank you'd said 1908 where it showed right on building's front 1884. Being born and raised here, I was a bit appalled that you were stating false historic info.
So glad you’re trying to ensure correct information is being shared on RU-vid! The date on the Opera House is worn in such a way that it appears to say 1802. However, I can assure you, the correct date is 1902 and NOT 1802 (that date can be verified on the Menominee Opera House’s website if you’re wondering.) The First National Bank building actually has two dates listed on the building 1884 and 1908. The 1884 date is most likely when the bank was established while the 1908 date is when the building was built as that date appears at the top and in the cornerstone. These dates can also be verified through a quick Google search or in the historical section of your local library Thanks!
@@SightseeingSally The building across from the fire station was a bowling alley built on an empty lot in the 1980s There were other buildings that have been there long ago.
just a corection the red sandstone did not come from the red jacket in calimet only copper came out of the red jacket (later calumet and hecla) no sand stone in calumet only hard rock. the red sand stone came from the white city areaa on the south east side of the keweenaw. white city sand stone was shipped all over the world.
