Harbour House Museum

Harbour House Museum
17 North 4th Street
Crystal Falls, MI
906-875-4341

 info@harbourhousemuseum.org


We are open from the first Tuesday in June through the last Saturday in August.
Guided tours are available Tuesday-Saturday from 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. or by appointment.


Crystal Falls Sketches
Harbour House Calendar from 1991
Twelve Ink Renderings of Historic Architecture by Steve Waldvogel
Copyright 1990 by Steve A. Waldvogel
Pangaea Press
483 S. Kirkwood Road Suite 183
St. Louis, MO  63122

Click on any of the pictures to see a larger picture of the building.

January

The Harbour House � circa 1898
17 North Fourth Street

Michael Moriarty, Iron County Prosecuting Attorney, built this beautiful home that the Harbour family occupied.

Moriarty was known to be politically active on both the local and state governmental levels.  Later it was known as the Murphy house, after Timothy Murphy married one of the Harbour sisters and bought the place.  The building has been restored and refurnished and is open to the public as a historical period home.  It is on the National Historic Register.

   February

Iron County Court House � 1890
Top of Superior Avenue

The jewel of Crystal Falls architecture, this Romanesque Revival-styled structure can be seen from miles around upon its high hilltop.  Built for less that $45,000, it is a monument to the energy and success of the north country loggers and miners.  It is truly a castle in the wilderness.

 The yellow brick used in the construction was made from clay found in the banks of the Paint River just below town.

March

The Holmes House � circa 1900
616 Marquette Avenue

William A. Holmes, a lumber dealer, built this grand house and shortly thereafter sold it to Herman Holmes (no relative) in 1906.  Herman Holmes was a busy man, involved in road building, contracting, and the lumber industry.

Later he also served as Iron County Sheriff from 1900 � 1908.  The yellow bricks used to build this cozy home were possibly left over from the courthouse construction.  The Robert Dalpra Family purchased the house in 1967.  In 1991 Gail Dalpra is the proud owner.

April

The Flewelling House circa 1895
201 South Fifth Street

Investor for iron exploration and local attorney, A. L.

Flewelling had this fine Victorian home buildt for his family.  After becoming an executive with the Northwest Railroad, he sold the house to Dr. Frank Noyes.  Dr. Noyes used part of the living room for his dental office and practice.  His son, Bennett Noyes, was raised in the house.

With the help of Bennett's memory and some old photographs, it is depicted here in its original decor.  Owned in 1991 by Peggy and Edward O'Halloran, other residents have included the Nester Hill Family and high school coach, Bob Boldt.

May

The Russell House � circa 1900
209 Michigan Avenue

Contractor, saloon keeper, and livery stable operator, William Russell is known to have been the first resident of this beautiful house.  He is also credited with construction of the stone foundation under the Iron County Courthouse.  A part-like sideyard (on left) once surrounded an ornate Victorian gazebo.  Vastly restored in the 1980�s by Dave and Ellen Stuart, and in 1991 this elegant home is well-kept and loved by John and Pat Sundquist.

June

The Fisher House � Circa 1895
117 South Fourth Street

Tom Fisher, early local carpenter and dairy farmer, built this elaborate Victorian home for this family, shown here in its present state.  Old photos reveal that the original front porch was open with an arch of bent wood.  Best known as the Ellingboe Funeral Home, it also served as the residence of City Police Chief, Robert Wilson.  Ion 1991 it was owned by Jack Schultz.

July

The Anderson House 1908
703 Crystal Avenue

This uniquely designed home was built for John and Mary Anderson.  John is known to have been a blacksmith at the Mansfield mine around the time of the famous cave-in / flood disaster.  Mary was a strong-willed businesswoman as well as landlord in town, and it is believed she had great influence in the design and construction of the house.  Her daughter, Mayme Anderson, and son-in-law, Virgil Skewes, raised their family in this house.  Back in 1991, Virgil (at 80), maintained it in excellent condition.

August

The Bendick Building � circa 1887
& The Dr. Darling Brothers Hospital � circa 1885
416 & 410 Superior Avenue

 The Bendick Building (left), once sat opposite its present location, there serving as a sort of Annex to the first city hall.  Around 1914 it was moved across the street where it later housed a soda fountain / candy shop.  Greater Crystal Falls Arts Association plans to reopen this space (including a new soda fountain) for their youth and arts center called, �Good Times�.

 The Dr. Darling Brothers� Hospital (right) was later known as Dr. Haight�s Hospital into the 1960�s.  Both Oswald Casanova and Joseph Schwedler�s law offices have also used this space.  The Schwedler beautifully restored the exterior in 1989.

September

The Old Crystal Falls High School  1906 � 1971 Formerly the Northwest Corner of Marquette and Seventh Avenues

This substantial brick structure replaced the smaller Central School and was in use for over 50 years.  Some residents recall being sent to the high balcony of the tower with binoculars to watch for enemy planes during air raid drills in conjunction with WWII.  Due to disrepair and modern needs, this grand landmark was demolished in 1971.

October

The Hasselstrom House � Circa 1895
400 Crystal Avenue

This unusual home with its octagonal, front tower was built for the John Hasselstrom family.  John is believed to have made his living cutting and selling firewood in Crystal Falls.  Later it served as the home and office of Dr. Harry Larson through the 1930�s and �40�s.  Re-roofed and remodeled in the 1960�s by Nester Hill, its exterior character has been well maintained.  In 1991, it contained two apartments and was owned by Dawn Schnulle.

November

The Old Ejay Theatre � 1927
304 Superior Avenue

After the tragic fire of 1916 at his opera house down the hill, E. J. Bregger opened his Ejay Theatre.  Later, the movie hall was operated by the Delft Corporation, and then, once again, reopened as the Aldo Theatre through the 1960�s and �70�s.  Today, a major restoration project is underway, including the installation of a massive, 3 / 36 Moller Theatre Pipe Organ!  The Greater Crystal Falls Arts Association is readyed this beautiful facility and it has reopened as a performing arts center.

December

Welch House � circa 1901
100 South Fifth Street

Designed by an architect named Parmelee for the Luck Welch Family, this home was one of Crystal Falls� finest.  Welch was known to own interests in both the Dunn and Crystal Falls iron mines.  Two bankers families have also lived at this address, the James Corcoran family, and more recently, the Joseph White family.  Shown here as it appears today, this home has maintained the charm that is still so evident in many local structures.

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