While snow is a welcome sight for those who enjoy outdoor sports and recreation, not all winter activities are fun and games. Some require dedication and hard work—like snow removal! Thankfully, we have tools to help: the Yooper scoop, steel shovels, and for the really big jobs, heavy equipment.
Our flashback image takes us back to the winter of 1950, when the area’s first mechanical snowblower was deployed. Ernest C. Schmidt of Oskar proudly poses with the machine on Liminga Road, taking a break from clearing snow for the Houghton County Road Commission.
Today, modern plows and high-powered snowblowers keep our roads and sidewalks clear. But we’d love to hear—how did you navigate campus through the snow when you were a student? Let us know in the comments!
About the Archives
The Michigan Technological University Archives and Copper Country Historical Collections houses a wide variety of print, graphic and manuscript resources related to the history and culture the Copper Country and Michigan Technological University. If you would like to research in the archives, appointments are available from 1-5 p.m., Monday through Thursday. Appointments may be requested by calling (906) 487-2505 or by filling out the request form on the archives website. If you have any questions regarding archives services, collections, or remote research help, please reach out to (906) 487-2505 or e-mail us at copper@mtu.edu. The Michigan Tech Archives can also be found on Facebook (Michigan Tech Archives), Instagram (@michigantecharchives), and X (@mtuarchives).
Yooper Scoops deserve an honorable mention
I graduated in 1958. Was married and lived in Upper Woodward and walked to classes. So snow was not a problem. Although we got plenty. One day it was snowing and we’re no clouds. It was so cold the air was crystallizing. Love the UP. Home was Sault Ste Marie.
Auto correct got me should be Woodmar.
Just before the start of winter term, 1971, I found myself on crutches. When classes started, it took nearly 30 minutes to make it from Co-ed Hall (now McNair) to the EE building for an 8:00 class. Of course, it was snowing like mad and I was carrying the entire morning’s books and gear in a book bag. I arrived covered in snow but warm from the exercise. Naturally, the class was on the second floor, there were no elevators back then, and the classroom was one of those with desks on risers for each row. I sat there, exhausted and dripping for an hour. It’s just about my only distinct memory from that entire term!
The winter of 1970-1971 we lived in a house in Coburntown (also called Helltown) behind the hoist on top of Quincy hill. Since it was quite windy on top of the hill, when it snowed, we were usually snowed in by drifts. And it seemed that we got the most snow on the weekends – which meant we were snowed in until the plow/snowblower came around on Monday – usually about noon. Several times, Tom and I snowshoed out to the highway and hitch hiked to the hockey game. I also missed a few Monday morning Advanced Calc tests – I would call my professor as early as I could and tell him I was snowed in but would probably make it by 1:00 and make up the test then. When he asked where I lived, he understood. Snowshoeing to the highway for hockey games was one thing, but for a Monday morning test? No way!!
(a big “Hi!” to Kerry Irons who also commented)