Calumet, once the center of the U.P.’s copper mining industry, is getting some help to revitalize its historic downtown.
The Keweenaw Community Foundation has created a special fund to spearhead the revitalization of the village’s historic downtown. Calumet, home to about 600 people, is located on the Keweenaw Peninsula, about 30 miles from the tip at Copper Harbor.
The Bring Back Calumet Initiative Fund will raise money to preserve the village’s industrial past while also cultivating economic growth and redevelopment.
Its first significant fundraising campaign is the Save the Ruppe Building project. Officials want to prevent the collapse of one of Calumet’s most important historical structures and prepare it for future use.
“This effort is about more than saving a building; it’s about preserving our identity and investing in the future of our community,” said Nikki L’Esperance, chair of the Village of Calumet Downtown Development Authority. “The Ruppe Building holds immense historical and economic potential, and its preservation is critical to maintaining the vibrancy of our downtown.”
What’s happening: The Keweenaw Community Foundation has launched a fund dedicated to revitalizing historic downtown Calumet. The fund focuses on preserving Calumet’s rich industrial heritage while fostering economic growth and development.
Fund’s first project: The first significant campaign is Save the Ruppe Building project, an urgent effort to prevent the collapse of one of Calumet’s most significant historic structures and prepare it for future use. To date, the Bring Back Calumet Initiative has already secured pledges for over $60,000 to help fund the first stabilization phase. Emergency shoring work has been done, the most important
step in preventing collapse, but additional funding is needed to complete this vital stabilization.
About the Ruppe Building: Located at 211-213 5th Street, the Ruppe Building has been a cornerstone of the Calumet Historic Landmark District since the 1870s. Featuring an arched terracotta façade and ornate metal cornice, the building reflects the town’s role in America’s industrial growth during the copper boom. However, years of water infiltration have severely compromised its structure.
“The Ruppe Building stands as a testament to Calumet’s economic history and embodies the national significance of the copper industry that supported the development of this nation,” said Wyndeth Davis, superintendent of Keweenaw National Historical Park. “By preserving this structure, we honor the generations that built this community and continue to create opportunities for its future. The park is proud to be a part of this vital effort.”
About the Bring Back Calumet Initiative: The Bring Back Calumet Initiative is a community-driven effort committed to stabilizing and redeveloping historic structures in Calumet. Over the past eight years, the initiative has:
● Secured $9 million in funding for historic preservation.
● Stabilized 12 historic buildings in downtown Calumet.
● Supported 17 new or expanded businesses in the district.
● Earned the Michigan Governor’s Award for Historic Preservation (2023) and the
Vernacular Architecture Forum’s Advocacy Award (2024) for outstanding preservation
efforts.)
Members of the Bring Back Calumet Taskforce: Village of Calumet and Downtown Development Authority (DDA), Keweenaw Economic Development Alliance (KEDA), Houghton County Land Bank Authority (HCLBA), Keweenaw National Historical Park and Advisory Commission, Main Street Calumet, Inc.
About the Keweenaw Area Community Foundation: The foundation’s purpose is to support a thriving community through collaboratively matching community needs with resources to improve quality of life. The Keweenaw foundation is an affiliate of the Community Foundation of the Upper Peninsula, a registered non-profit charitable organization.
How to contribute: Community support is critical to the success of this project. Contributions can be made directly by visiting the Bring Back Calumet Initiative donation page (
https://bit.ly/bbc-donate-KCF).
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