Photo courtesy of Keweenaw Community Foundation The historic Ruppe Building on Calumet’s Fifth Street, has been selected for revitalization as part of the Bring Back Calumet Initiative

By GRAHAM JAEHNIG

Mining Gazette,

Houghton

CALUMET — The Ruppe building on Fifth Street, has been selected for revitalization as part of the Bring Back Calumet Initiative, according to the Keweenaw Community Foundation. Initial stabilization of the building was recently completed.

The Ruppe Block is significant for a number of reasons. It was one of the first buildings constructed after a fire in 1870 destroyed most of the village. The building also reflects the village’s role in America’s industrial growth during the copper boom, KCF states. Its iconic architecture, including an arched terracotta facade and ornate metal cornice, exemplifies Calumet’s rich history and craftsmanship.

The Ruppe Block, at 211-213 Fifth St. in downtown Calumet, is a three-story, 15,000-square-foot structure that stands as a symbol of Calumet’s industrial past and architectural craftsmanship. Situated in the Calumet Historic Landmark District, the building played a vital role in the town’s copper mining and industrial era and remains an essential part of the Keweenaw National Historical Park.

The Bring Back Calumet Initiative is a community-led effort dedicated to stabilizing, preserving and redeveloping historic structures in downtown Calumet, according to the KCF website. The initiative protects Calumet’s National Historic Landmark District designation by restoring key landmarks, strengthening the local economy and fostering community growth.

Peter Ruppe, who was the original owner of the building, is also significant, not only to Calumet Village but to the Copper Country as well.

Ruppe was born in Slovenia in 1823 and immigrated to the U.S., arriving in Hancock in 1864. He entered a retail business with fellow Slovenian Joseph Vertin. In 1866, they dissolved their association and Ruppe opened a store in Hancock. He opened his second store in Calumet in 1869, and a third in L’Anse in 1873. He was also a director of the First National Bank of Hancock, as well as a director of the Mineral Range Railroad and one of the organizers of the Grand Portage mine in Houghton.

His building in Calumet was originally two stories, but in 1899 a third story and a new storefront were constructed to keep up with growing demand and competition from other stores, such as Vertin’s Department Store (his former Hancock associate) on Oak Street.

In 1923 the Ruppe family sold the building to the JCPenney Company. In 1980 JCPenney moved to the Copper Country Mall, in Houghton, and closed both the store in Calumet, and a store in downtown Houghton. Though briefly occupied by a fitness center, the Ruppe building has been largely vacant since.

“The Ruppe Block is a powerful symbol of Calumet’s rich heritage and its designation as a National Historic Landmark District,” the KCF website states. “It highlights the town’s critical role in America’s industrial growth as a hub of the copper industry.”