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Community
CASPIAN – The Iron County Historical & Museum Society is once again hosting the History Happy Hour Series for the Summer.
Ironwood based singer/songwriter Bill Jamerson will perform a musical tribute to the early ski jumpers of the Upper Peninsula at the Iron County Museum Friday, June 21 during their 6-8 p.m.
Dressed in a ski jumping costume with guitar in hand, Jamerson tells stories and performs original songs he wrote based on interviews with many ski jumping legends he interviewed 25 years ago in Marquette County. Most of the stories he speaks of took place in the 1930’s and 1940’s in Ishpeming and Negaunee. He shares stories about growing up in a ski jumping culture where teenage boys traveled across the Midwest to compete at tournaments.
Ski jumping was a popular youth sport in the mining towns of the Upper Peninsula through the 1950’s. Long winters, heavy snowfalls and steep hills created excellent training conditions and produced many Olympians. Originally brought to America by the Norwegians, the sport was soon accepted by people of other nationalities. In the 1880’s ski jumping competitions were held in many towns across the Upper Peninsula. Although it was considered an amateur sport, many of the finest jumpers received under-the-table payments to compete.
In his program, Jamerson tells stories about how the teenage boys from Ishpeming and Negaunee drove to ski jumping competitions on Fridays. The following day they competed in cities like Iron Mountain; Eau Claire,Wisconsin; Westby, Wisconsin; Red Wing, Wisconsin and then returned home on Sunday. The boys won prizes such as watches, toasters and rifles.
Some of Jamerson’s songs include; ‘The Flying Bletilla’s which tells the story of six Finnish ski jumping brothers from Ishpeming, ‘Boy Lost’ is based on a ski jumping poem written by a teenager, ‘Brothers Regret’ is a song about a younger brother out jumping his older brother, while ‘Nicknames’ is a song about the many nicknames the ski jumpers had.
Iron County ski hills include Cystella Ski Hill, Caspian Ski Hill and Ski Brule where boys like Jerry Koski, Marv Nordling and Jerry Pangrazzi competed.
For the past 20 years, Jamerson has presented live programs on the Civilian Conservation Corps, Lumberjacks and Iron Miners. He has recorded CD’s, produced a dozen documentary films for Public Television and authored a historical novel on the CCC. For more information, please call the museum at 906-265-2517 or visit Jamerson’s website, www.billjamerson.com.
History Happy Hours are the third Friday of June, July and August are from 6-8 p.m. Attendance is free as is the popcorn. Beer and wine are available for purchase in Toti’s Tavern. Pop and water are also available for purchase.
For more information about upcoming activities, to buy tickets, make donations or learn about volunteer opportunities, visit www.IronCountyMuseum.org or call 906-265-2617.