Michigan’s Copper industry began thousands of years ago when ancient miners attacked exposed veins of pure copper with huge hammer-stones. The tools and techniques of mining advanced considerably in the centuries that followed.

Calumet, originally known as Red Jacket, was an interesting conglomeration of people, buildings, and businesses back in the booming copper mining days. From 1890 to 1910, 60,000 to 70,000 people of every nationality called Calumet home. Calumet Township housed 60 saloons, 33 churches, 30 schools and five theatres. There were Chinese Laundries, Greek Candy Stores, Syrian Fruit Stores, and many other businesses unique to the area. Along with this, there were favorite locations and hangouts for each separate nationality to get together.

Before WWI, Germany bought all the Copper from the "Copper Country." The Copper was put through an Electrolytic Plant which filtered out the silver, and the silver more than paid for shipping the Copper across the ocean. In 1913 there was a mass exodus caused by a miners’ strike. Because of this 10,00 people left the area.

In 1921, the government stopped buying copper. The Detroit area automobile plants were hiring so 6,000 more people headed south to find work. Calumet slowed down to a crawl very quickly.

The great Depression of May 2, 1932 saw everything shut down. 3,000 more left Calumet and the area came to a screeching halt.