Downtown Ironwood

Downtown Ironwood Gets a Face-Lift One Building at a Time

If you hear that nothing changes in Downtown Ironwood, you shouldn’t believe it! Since the Blueprint Program was first introduced, there have been a number of improvements to Downtown buildings. Some of the improvements were a result of Facade grants and matching funds from the business owners, and others were done strictly through private investment. Here’s a partial list of the improvements (including before and after photos): …

New Business Opens On Downtown Ironwood’s Main Street

Downtown Ironwood’s main street has a brand new business – The Purse Palace. Located at 132 East Aurora Street, between Hitt’s Fine Furniture and the Olde Suffolk Ale House, the new store is owned and operated by Lisa Delich, Wakefield.

Just in case you don’t know, Delich is the daughter of one of Ironwood’s legendary retailer, Mike Rosen. Rosen was well-known as a prominent businessman in Downtown Ironwood, running Sally’s Shoe World for over 36 years. He passed away in 2005.

Lisa worked in her father’s shoe store for many …

Consultants Have High Hopes for Downtown Ironwood

Blueprints for Michigan’s Downtowns is a partnership effort between the Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) and the Michigan Municipal League (MML) to continue to assist communities and their Downtown revitalization efforts. The Blueprints program is a competitive process and each year only a select number of cities are allowed to participate. 2009 marks the sixth year of the program, and to date, forty-four communities throughout Michigan have participated.

Michigan communities participating in the program to date include: (2003) – Adrian, Battle Creek, Brighton, Buchanan, Cheboygan, Davison, Grand Haven, Jonesville, Middleville, Mt. Pleasant, and Norway; (2004) – Charlotte, Fremont, Highland Park, Houghton, Howard City, Imlay City, Ionia, Linden, Menominee, Saline, and Wayland; (2005) – Big Rapids, East Tawas, Grass Lake, Iron River, Romeo, Utica, Vassar, and Whitehall; (2006) – Charlevoix, Muskegon Heights, Oscoda, Petosky, and Tecumseh; (2007) – Caro, Clio, and Ypsilanti.

Ironwood was one of six Michigan communities that were selected in 2008. Others chosen this year were: Gladwin, Hartford, Hillsdale, New Baltimore, and Sparta. …

Poet Laureate of the Gogebic Range Reads

He was given the title Poet Laureate of Ironwood, Michigan a few years ago. The location could have referred to the entire Western Upper Peninsula of Michigan and Northern Wisconsin. That’s the area of influence for the writings of Ironwood’s Pat O’Neill, a prolific poet and essayist.

O’Neill will give a reading from the latest of his six poetry books at 7:00 PM on Wednesday, September 8th at the Ironwood Theatre, a hometown center for the arts. The reading will benefit operations and activities at the historic theater and the evening promises to be …

1st Annual SISU Snowshoe Set for January 16th

Steep Creek Outfitters & Whitecap Kayak, the Friends of the Miners Memorial Heritage Park and the SISU Ski Fest are proud to announce the first annual SISU Snowshoe, Sunday, January 16th at noon at the Ironwood Schools bus garage on Ayer Street (east of Lake Street). The free SISU Snowshoe is designed to highlight outdoor wellness while allowing the Range community to experience the Miners Memorial Heritage Park along portions of the previous day’s SISU ski race. …