David Adam Kess

“Have you practiced yet?” came the voice from another room. It was an all-too familiar question to those who grew up in the 50s, 60s, and 70s. Seventy years ago, many Ely families had a piano at home, usually an old upright. Back then children were frequently subjected to weekly piano lessons. Some were visited by a teacher who came to one’s house. Most, however, went to the teacher’s home for lessons.

For many years, the homes of the mining company officials were among the most imposing in town. But then, there were no more officials as the mines shut down in 1967. The truly imposing homes in and around Ely now are probably the million-dollar-plus ones out on lakeshores. But in the late 1890s and early 1900s, the mining companies built quite impressive homes for their company officials.

North on the Echo Trail or northeast of Ely towards the North Shore, are some newer groves of pine—too young to be virgin timber but looking like they will someday be ready to be logged. These trees were likely planted by young men enrolled in the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps). The idea was developed by President Franklin Roosevelt as a part of his New Deal at the time of the Great Depression. He was extremely concerned about the prevalence of forest fires and the restoration of forest lands.