torch-lake-background

Michigan Tech Archives and Copper Country Historical Collections

 
People, Place and Time
Michigan’s Copper Country Through the Lens of J.W. Nara, 1874-1934

jw-nara_urban_crop

Urban Life

At its zenith, the population of the Calumet area reached 88,000, including a broad mix of immigrants and first-generation descendants from more than 20 nations. Calumet's Fifth Street compared favorably with most Midwestern cities, offering everything from a grand opera house and fine restaurants, to dozens of shops and saloons. J.W. Nara was particularly adept at capturing the varied culture of urban Calumet, with its multistoried sandstone buildings, bustling streets, and complex ethnic population.

jw-nara_motor_carriage
Motor Carriage
Image #: Nara 42-094

jw-nara_barbershop
Barbershop
Image #: Nara 42-098

 

photo-edge