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REPUBLIC
POINTS
OF
INTEREST
Republic Open Pit Iron Mine. Look down into a vast open pit of an inactive mine. Interpretive panels detail Republic's mining history from the 1870s into the open-pit era ...
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Pascoe House. An unaltered 1880s house is a museum with changing exhibits, an illustrated timeline of Republic, Witch Lake, and Black River history, and recreated rooms from 1900 ...
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Witbeck Rapids and Paddling the Michigamme. A pretty, easy to reach stretch of whitewater, a large and complex reservoir with wilderness shores and many sand beaches, and varied paddling and good fishing without much pressure ...
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Republic Township Hall exhibit. Photos and text about the area's Finnish homesteaders, famously resourceful and hardy ...
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Woodworks Unlimited/Quiet Sports Outfitters. Partly an informal hardware store & workshop museum, partly a showroom for striking rustic furniture, partly a kayak and canoe dealer that also offers paddling safety lessons and guided trips on the Michigamme River system ...
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Antiques of Republic. Lots of homey and serviceable furniture, cookware, waffle irons and other small applicances, and dishes, largely from the 1930s through the 1950s in the former Arola Bottling Works ...
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Region: Marquette Range
REPUBLIC
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Koski Corners on U.S. 41 about 3 miles east of Champion marks the intersection with M-95 heading toward Iron Mountain. The town, beach, and mine at Republic, seven miles south, are a worthwhile detour. Today the village of Republic has around 600 residents in two locations. They are separated by the huge, now inactive open-pit iron mine that has been developed into an interesting year-round visitor attraction with outstanding interpretive panels. Our paraphrased history is drawn from theirs; see the panels for a detailed on-site illustrated explanation.
The original government land survey in 1848 noted the presence of iron ore, which turned out to be a very rich deposit. The village, first known as Iron City, goes back to the first mine in 1870. Some houses and storefronts reflect the earliest boom and the ongoing development of Kloman Street in downtown Republic (today it would be called North Republic) as a trading center for the surrounding area of mining locations as far as Witch Lake and Black River.
The Republic Mine continued in operation until 1926. By the 1950s, new technology enabled low-grade iron to be concentrated and efficiently shipped as taconite pellets, and Cleveland Cliffs Iron decided to develop an open pit mine at Republic to extract low-grade ore closer to the surface. Three streets of houses were moved to a new location south of the future pit, now known as South Republic, reached with its own exit off M-95. The old downtown is now called North Republic. The best way to get to downtown is to take the exit by the town beach, go up the hill, and turn left at the T intersection. A right turn leads to the open pit. Pretty Munson Park is at the T intersection, with a pavilion, picnic tables, and grills.
The open pit mine set off another boom in the 1950s. Solid ranch homes and the new school were built in South Republic. The Republic Open Pit Mine closed in 1981 when the price of iron ore dropped to the point where operations were unprofitable.
The Michigamme River, one of the Upper Peninsula's longest rivers and largest watersheds, flows past Republic. Sandy Republic Beach is right off the highway just west of North Republic on a wide stretch of river above the Republic Dam. It's a beach that you can often have all to yourself. A horseshoe pit and basketball court are by the beach. Jon Mykkanen uses the beach to launch kayaks in the safety-oriented kayaking classes offered through his Quiet Sports Outfitters a block away in downtown Republic.
On M-95 a mile or so south is another river access point for paddlers at a very pleasant Michigan Department of Transportation roadside park with parking and a picnic area. The river is shallow here, sometimes too shallow for paddling.
Today the Republic-Michigamme School District, with some 150 students in grades kindergarten through 12, has instituted a four-day school week to save money. One father and school board member says that his kids love it, and their grades are better. They are in school from 8 a.m. to 4:10 p.m., then stay in the school library - doing homework! - until parents pick them up. He says kids are more rested, sick less, and available to go to medical appointments and other trips on Mondays. The district has saved a whopping $100,000 out of a $1.3 million budget - nearly a 10% savings. Savings come not only from 20% lower transportation cost, but also from reduced heating, cafeteria, and support staff costs. Only the working parents are unhappy with the new schedule.
The Republic area is surrounded by woods, lakes, and wetlands, much of it part of the Escanaba River State Forest. Rustic state forest campgrounds are on Squaw Lake and North Horseshoe Lake west of the town of Witch Lake, which is a little over 10 miles south of Republic. Land prices have climbed so high that younger people in the area can't afford to buy a camp, once a standard perk of Upper Peninsula life.
Back to Marquette Range
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REPUBLIC
RESTAURANTS,
LODGINGS
& CAMPGROUNDS
These are our choices, not ads.
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REPUBLIC
RESTAURANTS
THE SUMMER PLACE
(906) 376-2419
This friendly, unpretentious community gathering place, housed in a former ice cream parlor, is where to come to hear or overhear some stories from the old days told over morning coffee. It's open year-round, the Summer Place name from the former ice cream parlor notwithstanding. Because this is the only Republic restaurant, it's where everybody meets. The U.P. accent is the strongest in homogeneous mining areas in more isolated places, and some good ones can be heard in Republic.
You can get a burger and fries here, but broasted foods (broasted chicken, cod, shrimp, potatoes) deep-fried in a pressure cooker are the big sellers. Takeout broasted chicken with coleslaw and pie would make a terrific picnic. Some regular customers love the soups, daily specials, and homemade bread. There's homemade pie, for about $1.90 a slice. The new soft-serve ice cream machine will bring longer summer hours.
139 W. Kloman in downtown North Republic. Take either North Republic exit from M-95. Downtown is evident. (906) 376-2419. Open year-round. Winter hours: Mon 7 a.m.-1 p.m., Tues-Thurs 7-7, Fri 7-7, Sat 7-6, Sun 8-1. Call for longer summer hours. Wheelchair-accessible.
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REPUBLIC
LODGINGS
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REPUBLIC
CAMPGROUNDS
MOOSE RAPIDS TOWNSHIP CAMPGROUND
(906) 376-8827
After the DNR closed the Witbeck Rapids campground, the Republic Sportsmen's Club worked with Republic Township to develop this rustic campground. Like Witbeck Rapids, it's on another pretty Michigamme River fishing and paddling spot - in this case, on 40 acres at the forks where the Spruce River joins the Michigamme. The forks is less than two miles downstream from the southernmost part of Lake Michigamme. There is no pump as yet, so bring water or be prepared to purify it. The area isn't exactly divided into sites. Some camping areas are open, and some are shady with a good deal of privacy. Some spots for tents are down a trail to the river, which is a good place to fish and swim. Other areas could handle large RVs now that the access road has been improved. Portajohns are provided, and there are a few picnic tables and fire rings
From M-95 and the Republic Beach in North Republic, take County Road LG/River Road 6 miles northwest to campground. Call (906) 376-8882 or (906) 376-2456 for further information if needed. Campground is open from snowmelt through the end of deer season or the first real snow, whichever is sooner. Donations appreciated. Wheelchair access: probably OK. Ground is grassy, not sandy.
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