Rockland - Michigan's Upper Peninsula

<html> <head> <title>Rockland - Michigan's Upper Peninsula</title> <meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html;charset=ISO-8859-1"> <META Pragma: No-Cache> <META name="Pragma" No-Cache> <META Cache-control: No-Cache> <META HTTP-EQUIV="expires" CONTENT="Wed, 26 Feb 1997 08:21:57 GMT"> <META name="description" content="Profile of Rockland, with candid descriptions of travel attractions, recommended restaurants, lodgings,campgrounds."> <base href="http://hunts-upguide.com/"> <link href="/style.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" /> </head> <body bgcolor="#FFFFFF"> <center> <table width="100%" bgcolor="#F5F5D5" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 border=0> <tr> <td width="18%" colspan=2 height=82 bgcolor="#306799" valign="top"> <table width="100%" cellpadding=22 cellspacing=0 border=0> <tr> <td align="left"> <b><font size="-2" face="Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"> <font color="#FEE384">We welcome<br> your comments<br> experiences &<br> corrections.<br></font> <img src="images/1x1.gif" width=10 height=8 alt="---"><br> <a class="whitelinkunderlined" target="_top" href="http://hunts-upguide.com/cgi-sys/cgiwrap/dehunt/feedback.pl">E-mail us</a> </font> </b> </td> </tr> </table> </td> <td width="63%" height=82 bgcolor="#306799" align="center" valign="top"> <table cellpadding=22 cellspacing=0 border=0> <tr> <td align="center"> <img src="/images/online_words.gif" width=386 height=13 alt="The online version of the popular regional travel book""><br> <img src="images/1x1.gif" width=500 height=2 alt="---"><br> <nobr><font color="#FFFFFF" size="+2" face="Georgia,Times New Roman,Times"><b>Hunts' Guide to Michigan's UPPER PENINSULA</b></font></nobr><br> <img src="images/1x1.gif" width=500 height=7 alt="---"><br> <img src="/images/candid_words.gif" width=391 height=13 alt="A candid guide to enjoying and understanding the U.P."> </td> </tr> </table> </td> <td valign=top width="1%" bgcolor="#F5F5D5" rowspan=3>  <img src="images/1x1.gif" width=9 height=25 alt="|"></td> <td width="18%" rowspan=3 valign="top"> <a target="_top" href="/cgi-sys/cgiwrap/dehunt/click.pl?nextfile=http://hunts-upguide.com/up_travel_map.html"><img src="/ads/Small_map_ad_ver_6.gif" border=0 ALT="UP Travel Map ad" width=160 height=418></a> <p>  <a target="_top" href="http://www.wunderground.com/US/MI/Rockland.html?bannertypeclick=bigtemptr"> <img src="http://banners.wunderground.com/weathersticker/bigtemptr_both/language/www/US/MI/Rockland.gif" border=0 alt="Click for Rockland, Michigan Forecast" height=94 width=185></a> <br> <img src="images/1x1.gif" width=20 height=3 alt="---"><br>  <center> <script type="text/javascript"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"> </script> </center> </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan=5 width="100%" height=9> <img src="images/1x1.gif" width=790 height=9 alt="---"></td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="17%">  <table width="100%" cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0> <tr> <td width="100%" valign="top">  <table width="100%" cellpadding=10 cellspacing=0 border=0 bgcolor="#306799"> <tr> <td valign="top" bgcolor="#306799"> <font face="Verdana,Arial,Helvetica" size="-2"> <b> <a class="sidebar" href="/" target="_top">Home</a><br> <img src="images/1x1.gif" width="85" height="5"><br> <a class="sidebar" href="porcupine_mountains_and_ontonagon.html" target="_top">Back to Porcupine Mountains and Ontonagon</a> <img src="images/1x1.gif" width="85" height="20"><br> </b> </font> </td> </tr> </table> </td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="100%"> <table width="100%" border=0 cellpadding=0 cellspacing=10 bgcolor="#FFE09B"> <tr> <td align="left"> <img src="images/1x1.gif" width=100 height=10 alt="-"><br> <font face="Verdana,Arial,Helvetica" size="-1"> <center><font color="#C82F2C"><b>ROCKLAND<br>POINTS<BR>OF INTEREST</b></font><br> </center> <font color="#263692" size="-2"> <p> <a name="e104"><b>Rockland Museum.</b></a> Volunteers talk about Rockland life while showing visitors around this interesting local museum. Outside there's a jail cell, a piece of 10' wood pipe from Victoria Dam, and other displays ... <a href="http://hunts-upguide.com/rockland_rockland_museum.html"><font color="#C82F2C">more</font></a> <p> <a name="e105"><b>Military Trail Roadside Park.</b></a> A pretty park overlooks the Ontonagon River next to an old military trail ... <a href="http://hunts-upguide.com/rockland_military_trail_roadside_park.html"><font color="#C82F2C">more</font></a> <p> <p>   </font> </td> </tr> </table>  </td> </tr> <tr> <td>   </td> </tr>  <tr> <td align="center"> <script type="text/javascript"> </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"> </script> </td> </tr> </table>  </td> <td valign=top width="1%" bgcolor="#F5F5D5">  <img src="images/1x1.gif" width="9" height=500 alt="|"> </td> <td valign=top width="63%">  <table width="100%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 border=0> <tr> <td valign=top align=center bgcolor="#018650" colspan=2> <center> <img src="images/1x1.gif" width="30" height=8 alt="-"><br> <b><font color="#FFFFFF" face="Verdana,Arial,Helvetica" size="-1"><a class="whitelink" href="porcupine_mountains_and_ontonagon.html" target="_top">Region: Porcupine Mountains and Ontonagon</a></font></b><br> <img src="images/1x1.gif" width="100%" height=3 alt="-"><br> <h1>ROCKLAND</h1> <img src="images/1x1.gif" width="30" height=8 alt="-"></center></td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" width="63%">  <table width="100%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=8 border=0> <tr> <td align="left">  <font face="Georgia"> <img src="images/1x1.gif" width=15 height=6 alt="-"><br> <center> <table cellpadding=3 cellspacing=0 border=0 width=420> <tr> <td> <img src="http://hunts-upguide.com/photos/468.gif" width=420 height=196 alt="Rockland" border=0> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <font face="Verdana,Arial,Helvetica" size="-2"> <b>Entering Rockland from the east. The picturesque village is in a valley surrounded by rocky outcrops. The Methodist Church, destroyed by fire not long ago, has been rebuilt in a style close to the original. </b> </font> </td> </tr> </table> </center><p> Surrounded by rocky hills, this Victorian village sits in the beautiful valley of the lower Ontonagon River. It's 12 miles east of Ontonagon on U.S. 45. Rockland feels like somewhere out of time, but the area has a surprising number of attractions, as indicated on <a href="http://rocklandMI.org" target="_new">rocklandMI.org</a>. It was first settled in the 1840s when deposits of pure copper were discovered and substantial mines were dug here and at Victoria, three miles to the south. The Minesota (not a typo, they spell it with just one "n") Mine just southeast of town, begun in 1847, was one of the first U.P. copper mines to strike it rich. On U.S. 45 just east of town, an interpretive marker indicates the mine site. <br><br>Following the traces of prehistoric Indian miners, the <b>Minesota Mining Company</b> found and removed a six-ton mass of copper and soon followed a <b> vein of mass copper</b>. It extracted over four million pounds of copper a year. The site attracted both Irish and Cornish miners. By 1870, the Minesota Mine was played out. Inspired by the Minesota's immense profits, many companies continued to develop mines in Ontonagon County into the early 20th century. Most lost money.<br><br><center> <table cellpadding=3 cellspacing=0 border=0 width=420> <tr> <td> <img src="http://hunts-upguide.com/photos/469.gif" width=420 height=193 alt="Rockland downtown" border=0> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <font face="Verdana,Arial,Helvetica" size="-2"> <b>Downtown Rockland, rebuilt in the 1890s after a fire. Henry's Inn is the local hub; its rotating buffet dinners draw hungry diners from the Porkies, Ontonagon, Houghton, and Baraga.</b> </font> </td> </tr> </table> </center><p> By the early 1890s Rockland had almost a thousand inhabitants. It was then the epitome of frontier modernity and could even boast of having Michigan's first telephone system. But ultimately Ontonagon County's much purer mass copper proved insignificant compared to central Keweenaw's amygdaloid copper deposits, where huge quantities of black, heavy volcanic rock had to be stamped and smelted to create pure copper ingots to sell.<br> <br>Rockland owes its 1890s Victorian architecture to a fire on July 4, 1892 that destroyed most of the town. A little girl whose parents told her not to use firecrackers managed to find one and lit it in her dining room. In a panic, she threw it out the window, igniting the lace curtains and, soon, quite a bit of Rockland as well. The fire spread unchecked because the townspeople were a mile and a half west of town dedicating the new cemetery. It took the girl a long time to get there and convince them to return and deal with the fire. When Rockland rebuilt, it installed a state-of-the-art water system. <br><br>In the early 20th century, the mines here closed down one by one. Finnish immigrants came here to farm. Rockland's population declined steadily — to 700 in the 1930s and under 200 today. Losing the elementary school to consolidation especially hurt. Today Rockland is a "<b>garden village</b>," as its civic leaders like to say. What with all the wildflowers and prominent flower and vegetable gardens, it's a pretty place for a walk or bike ride. Now all that's left in the way of commercial establishments are the Rockland General Store (which sells <b>Jilbert's ice cream cones</b> among many other things) and <b>Henry's Inn</b>, a popular bar and restaurant that draws visitors from far and wide. The Methodist church has been rebuilt in a historical vein after a fire burned the landmark church to the ground. <br><br>Stop by Henry's tavern on U.S. 45 in downtown Rockland. There Sally Gagnon will fill you in on Rockland history. She is daytime bartender, co-owner with her husband Henry, cook, local historian and promoter extraordinaire. Ontonagon stole everything from Rockland, she points out, including the famous copper boulder and the county seat. "But our history is still here, and the wonderful setting of our town," she proclaims. Property in Rockland today, however, "has no value," she says. That's how her daughter could buy up a vacant city block and turn it into a beautiful big flower garden right on U.S. 45. <br><br>Jessica Speer is among the artistic transplants to the area. She moved here from Wisconsin to learn Finnish weaving from the late Syl Laitala of Syl's Restaurant in Ontonagon. Jessica's own woven rugs, woven lace, and throws are contemporary. They are sold nationwide in galleries and shops. Call to arrange a visit to her studio, One of a Kind Weaving (906-886-2672). <br clear="all"> <hr> <center> <script type="text/javascript"> </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"> </script> </center> <hr> <p align="right"><a href="porcupine_mountains_and_ontonagon.html" target="_top">Back to Porcupine Mountains and Ontonagon</a></p> </font> </td> </tr> </table> </td> <td width="37%" valign="top"> <table width="100%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=8 border=0> <tr> <td height="4" width="37%">  <img src="images/1x1.gif" width=15 height=1 alt="-"></td> </tr> <tr> <td valign="top" align="center" bgcolor="#C7302D" width="37%">  <font face="Verdana,Arial,Helvetica" color="#FFFFFF"> <b> <img src="images/1x1.gif" width=15 height=8 alt="-"><br> <font size="-1"> ROCKLAND<br> RESTAURANTS,<br> LODGINGS<br> & CAMPGROUNDS </font> <br><img src="images/1x1.gif" width=15 height=6 alt="-"><br> <font size="-2">These are our choices, not ads.</font><br> <img src="images/1x1.gif" width=15 height=8 alt="-"><br> </b> </font> </td> </tr> <tr> <td valign=top bgcolor="#FFE09B" width="37%">  <img src="images/1x1.gif" width=15 height=9 alt="-"><br> <font face="Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"> <center><font size="-1" color="#C82F2C"><b>ROCKLAND<br>RESTAURANTS</b></font></center> <br> <font size="-2"> See also Ontonagon, Silver City, White Pine, Bruce Crossing. <br><img src="images/1x1.gif" width=15 height=8 alt="-"><br> <a name="e102"><b>HENRY'S [NEVER] INN</b></a><br> (906) 886-9910 <br><img src="images/1x1.gif" width=15 height=5 alt="-"><br> This old miners' bar reflects many layers of Rockland history, a subject about which co-owner and bartender Sally Gagnon loves to talk. The original Brunswick back bar is from 1900. When Henry and Sally Gagnon first bought this place, Henry had to work at a job in L'Anse to make the payments. So Sally started calling it "Henry's Never Inn." Now Henry is the chief cook, and he has a big reputation. The regular menu, served all the time, includes Henry's raved-about homemade soups—$3.95 for a big bowl with garlic toast and crackers ($2.95 for a cup). Chili $5.25, Also popular are the stacked ham and chesee ($5.95) and reuben ($7.45) sandwiches. And the half pound hamburger with grilled mushrooms ($6). Evening specials from 5 p.m. are big draws. Wednesday is build-your-own pizza night. Thursday is pasty night. Friday night includes the fish fry (all you can eat for $13.95), along with broasted chicken and ham. Saturday is Italian night with pizza and more ($11.95). The outdoor <b>deck</b> is intimate, especially nice at sunset. Expect some smoke. Cash preferred. <br><img src="images/1x1.gif" width=15 height=5 alt="-"><br> <i>On the west side of U.S. 45 in Rockland. Open daily at 10:30 a.m, noon on Sunday. Smorgasbord 5-9 p.m. W-Sun. Grill and soup daily from 10:30 a.m. to closing at midnight or later. Family-friendly. Handicap access: several steps. Full bar. </i> <p> </font> </font> </td> </tr> <tr> <td bgcolor="#CDCCAD" valign="top"> <font face="Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"> <img src="images/1x1.gif" width=15 height=9 alt="-"><br> <center><font size="-1" color="#C82F2C"><b>ROCKLAND<br>LODGINGS</b></font></center> <br> <font size="-2"> See also: Mass City, Bruce Crossing, Ontonagon, White Pine, Silver City.<br><img src="images/1x1.gif" width=15 height=8 alt="-"><br> </font> </font> </td> </tr> <tr> <td bgcolor="#B6DBA4" valign="top"> <font face="Verdana,Arial,Helvetica"> <img src="images/1x1.gif" width=15 height=9 alt="-"><br> <center><font size="-1" color="#C82F2C"><b>ROCKLAND<br>CAMPGROUNDS</b></font></center> <br> <font size="-2"> See Mass City, Ontonagon, Porcupine Mt. State Park<br><img src="images/1x1.gif" width=15 height=8 alt="-"><br> </font> </font> </td> </tr> </table> </td> </tr> </table>  </td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan=5 align="center">  <br> <center> <font size="+1" color="#454545" face="Verdana,Arial,Helvetica">Copyright © 1997-2007 Midwestern Guides</font> </center> </td> </tr> </table> </center> </body> </html>