Faces, Places, and Days Gone By - Volume 1: A Pictorial History of Michigan's Upper Peninsula

by Mikel B. Classen

Enjoy a Visual Trip to See How People Lived and Worked in the U.P. in Centuries Past! Classen's pictorial history is the next best thing to a time machine, as we get a front-row seat in the worlds of shipping and shipwrecks, iron and copper mining, timber cutting, hunting and fishing and the everyday lives of ordinary folks of Michigan's Upper Peninsula across more than 100 years. Faces, Places and Days Gone By peers into our past through the lenses of those that lived and explored it. See what they saw as time passed and how the U.P. evolved into the wonderous place we know today. From the author's unique collection, witness newly restored images from long lost stereoviews, cabinet cards, postcards and lithograph engravings. Join us on a visual journey to relive some of those moments, and discover a unique heritage through those faces and places. From the Soo to Ironwood, from Copper Harbor to Mackinaw Island-you'll never see the U.P. in quite the same way! "With his book Faces, Places, and Days Gone By , historian Mikel B. Classen has achieved a work of monumental importance. Drawing from his collection of archival photographs, Classen takes readers on a journey in time that gives rare insight into a vanished world." --Sue Harrison, international bestselling author of The Midwife's Touch "Classen's compilation of photographs from his personal collection span more than 100 years of U.P. history and is sure to bring history to life for readers. Each photo is accompanied by a blurb explaining the story within the image. The collection encompasses myriad subjects, such as homesteading, lighthouses, ships, and even sled dogs. The restored images honor the everyday lives of Yooper and document U.P. heritage and culture." Chronicle , Vol. 46., No. 2 (Historical Society of Michigan) "Mikel Classen's Faces, Places, and Days Gone By provides a fascinating and nostalgic look at more than a century of Upper Michigan photography. From images of iron mines and logging to Sunday drives and palatial hotels, you are bound to be in awe of this chance to visit the past." -- Tyler R. Tichelaar, award-winning author of The Chief, The Legend, The Man "Mikel Classen's new book, Faces, Places, and Days Gone By, belongs in every library in Michigan. And when I say every library, I'm talking about every public, high school and college storehouse of knowledge." -- Michael Carrier, MA, New York University, author of the award-winning Jack Handler U.P. mystery series "I found this photographic history of Michigan north of the bridge surprisingly informative and enjoyable. It piqued my interest when I did a first quick look and had to stop and return to one striking photograph after another. And then there is the photo of a Native American mother holding her baby. I can't help but wonder if, in a few years, the child will be taken from her and sent to a church or government school which will ruthlessly try to entirely strip the child of its Native American culture. Regretfully it was a fairly common practice. Obviously, my response to the photographs was both intellectual and emotional. This book is a rich historical look at the Upper Peninsula that literally shows it from the ragged edge of the frontier to the 1920s." -- Tom Powers, Michigan in Books Learn more at www.MikelBClassen.com From Modern History Press www.ModernHistoryPress.com

138 pages, Hardcover

Published February 17, 2023

About the author

Mikel B. Classen has been writing and photographing northern Michigan in newspapers and magazines for over thirty-five years, creating feature articles about the life and culture of Michigan’s north country. A journalist, historian, photographer and author with a fascination of the world around him, he enjoys researching and writing about lost stories from the past. He is founder of the U.P. Reader and is a member of the Board of Directors for the Upper Peninsula Publishers and Authors Association. In 2020, Mikel won the Historical Society of Michigan’s, George Follo Award for Upper Peninsula History.
Classen makes his home in the oldest city in Michigan, historic Sault Ste. Marie. He is also a collector of out-of-print history books, and historical photographs and prints of Upper Michigan. At Northern Michigan University, he studied English, history, journalism and photography.
His book, Au Sable Point Lighthouse, Beacon on Lake Superior's Shipwreck Coast; was published in 2014 and his book, Teddy Roosevelt and the Marquette Libel Trial; was published in 2015. Both published by the History Press. He has a book of fiction called Lake Superior Tales, which won the 2020 U.P. Notable Book Award. His book, Points North is a non- fiction travel book published in 2019. Points North has received the Historical Society of Michigan’s, “Outstanding Michigan History Publication,” along with the 2021 U.P. Notable Book Award. Since then, he has released, True Tales, the Forgotten History of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, and the newest release is Faces, Places, & Days Gone By, a Pictorial History of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, all published by Modern History Press.

Reviews

[Sue Harrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well known in his home state of Michigan for his riveting tales and amazing photo collections, award winning historian Mikel B. Classen gives us another classic that belongs in every Michigan library. Well-researched and documented, this collection is a treasure trove for anyone interested in Michigan's history. Photos include rare Native American engravings and lithographs as well as photos of families, towns, and processes (farm and factory, lumber and mining industries). One of my favorites is a cabinet card of five men--Classen's educated guess being they are three law enforcement men standing over two captured criminals. As Classen says, "from the rough and tumble days of the U.P. "(Upper Peninsula). Treat yourself to a visit back in time, and treat your library shelves to a very important history book.

[Catherine Yezak · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is a great book about an unknown time in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. The story of Theodore Roosebvelt campaigning in Marquette and then files a libel suit against a local newspaper is fascinating. The inclusion of actual testimony really brought the story to life.