Snowmobiling Chatham, MI

Welcome to the Chatham, MI Snowmobile Information Site.  Over the years, there have been a lot of changes made to the snowmobile trail in western Alger County, but one thing remains pretty constant - the snowmobilers continue to visit the Chatham community.  The object of this page is to inform visitors about snowmobiling in the village and surrounding areas, outlining any future changes and closures of the main groomed trail.  Chatham has become a small snowmobiling-Mecca, as thousands of snowmobilers pass through the community each winter season.  Since Trail 8, which runs through Chatham, is the only east-west trail connector in the entire U.P., it's no wonder why Chatham has become such a popular stop-over for those passing through.  Enjoy the snowmobiling content we have about Chatham in this site! 

Trail 8 Changes Through the Years

Within the past five years, the main snowmobile trail system within western Alger County has remained fairly constant, with no major alterations or detours. Prior to that, however, some significant changes took place.  Most notably, Trail 8 was rerouted around Eben Junction and through property owned by Superior Central Schools (just east of the baseball fields) and travels east along Old M-94.  The trail then meets up with the existing trail along the railroad grade near the curve with M-94, west of Chatham.  Just east of Chatham, the trail meets with Finns Spur Road and follows the east side of that road north until reaching the junction with Nykanen Road.  The snowmobile trail follows Nykanen until reaching the Chatham cemetery and meeting up with the existing trail.  The Michigan Department of Natural Resources as well as caretakers of the trail have been working to improve the trails along these county roads by clear-cutting brush and creating a smooth base for snowmobilers to follow.  As long as the Alger County Road Commission continues to grant easements for the trail, then snowmobile access in and around Chatham should continue for awhile. That can always change if a landowner decides not to allow access on their property along existing parts of the trail.  As always, please remember to respect private property. The land-owners who granted permission of the trail through their land is giving the snowmobilers a chance to show their good behavior, by staying on the trail, and respecting private property.  Keep this in mind as you visit the Chatham area and it will ensure that a snowmobile trail will continue to exist in the community for years to come.  

Snowmobiling in Chatham

The trail running through Chatham is one of the best in the entire Upper Peninsula.  Chatham is one of those communities that can receive up to 200 inches of snow during a good winter season.  The area's weather is often influenced by Lake Superior, especially in the winter-time.  Alger County is a prime area for heavy Lake Effect snows, because of North and Northwest winds blowing onshore and dumping heavy amounts of snow onto the county.  One thing is for certain, we probably wouldn't be a such a tourist draw if it wasn't for Lake Superior.  And I am sure, many are thankful for that.  Trail 8 is groomed by Trails Inc. out of the Marquette area.  During prime winter conditions, with ample amounts of snow on the ground, the trail is groomed often.  In fact, its not uncommon for the groomer to make a day-time and a night-time pass through the area.  This makes for a very smooth ride on the trails.  And for one, a snowmobiler doesn't have to come to Chatham in order to enjoy our community.  Trail 8 is connected to a variety of other trails west or east of Chatham, so it makes for a very convenient stop on the way to Little Lake or Gwinn, or Munising and AuTrain. 

The Business Community

The Chatham business community is very patronizing to the snowmobilers that come through town. Most of the time, you will find friendly people that will assist you for any need you may have.  Need to ask directions? Don't be afraid to ask, because you will get a friendly response.  If you need a place to stay and find Chatham to be a charming community, why not check out the Village Inn just south of downtown Chatham.  Other businesses where you can get food and hospitality include the Chatham Co-op, Rock River Cafe and the Village Pub in downtown Chatham.  You will find all the essentials, friendly folks and hospitality during your snowmobile adventures through Chatham!  To find out more about the businesses listed here, please check out my Chatham, MI Business Directory.

Trail Conditions

For up-to-date snowmobile trail conditions in and around the Chatham area, please check out the following links.  Most of these sites are updated daily, and after each significant snowfall.  All are highly reliable, so don't be afraid to trust the information they provide:

Official Munising Area Trail Report

Grand Marais Area Trail Report

The New School Dedication

From Dreams to Reality

The following speech was presented by Mr. Kim Peterson, President of the Superior Central Board of Education at the dedication ceremony of the new school.

"When I was in school, just 12 miles up the road there was another school - that also had a basketball team - and the day before we were to play, Coach Ellis would become a nervous wreck and start saying things like - "Beat Eben, you know you gotta beat Eben."  

Meanwhile, 12 miles up the road in Eben, team members were hearing the same thing about Trenary, from coaches with names like Depew or Jacobson.  This was not just another basketball game, this was important.  

What a rivalry!  We brought out the best in each other.  Rivalries like this don't just happen - they are born.  Born of respect - mutual respect for people who never gave up - never quit. 

Both teams knew that the other would never give up.  And after the games, the fans would get together and say things like: good luck or tough luck, or just think what we could do if we were together! 

If we were together!  How many times have we heard that over the years?

But, to bring us together, would mean change, and change is never easy.  It takes people with vision to bring about change - to see the need to change.  People with the courage to let go, of something they are used to, so they can make things better, not for themselves, but for their children.

In this case, change meant consolidation. 

Just as change is never easy, neither is consolidation.  But I see no need to rehash our growing pains.  After all, some problems were expected, others were not.  All were handled and that is why we are here today.

For a school to be successful, it needs the support of its people.  People with the vision to see the needs as they arise and the courage to bear the burden.

The courage to bear the burden, not every school district has that kind of support.

The results of your quick action are here for you to see today.  Not only in the new high school wing and new library, but in improvements in the whole school.

We now have the buildings that will help us grow educationally.  Buildings that provide science rooms and lab stations, computer and business rooms.  Buildings that provide room for  the implementation of the middle school concept for our 7th and 8th grades, during their transition period between elementary and high school.  Buildings that provide offices for our administrators. 

Energy efficient, aesthetically pleasing buildings, capable of taking us well into the next century.

So, on behalf of the students, the support staff and teachers, the administration and the Board of Education.  I would like to welcome you to this dedication of your new school.

It's well named - It's Superior Central - dedicated to the people in the district."

Demolition Article Featuring the Old Eben School

From early June 1991

Old Eben School Demolished

EBEN - Science teacher Ann Aho didn't believe it would bother her to watch the demolition of the 76 year-old Eben School.  

"But when I came in this morning and saw the hole," Aho said Monday, "I felt teary-eyed.  I think I have taught in every room in that old building.'

  

The school, built of local limestone in 1915, tumbled to the ground Monday to make way for an expansion.

The demolition was in some ways a final chapter in the consolidation effort that produced the Superior Central School District, bonding the Trenary and Eben schools in the late 1980's.  The former Trenary High School has been sold.

  

"It was necessary," said Pat Porter, mother of three Superior Central students.  "The building had outlived its usefulness as a school.  Children are our most important resource and this building just wasn't doing the job anymore."

  

The demolition team - Associated Contractors of Marquette - began razing the limestone structure with a crane early Monday, making way for a 45,916 sqare foot addition and room for 296 students.  Renovation will include a new elementary wing, remodeled gym and conversion from steam to hot-water heat. 

Before workmen could rope off the demolition area, people scrambled to carry away jagged pieces of limestone and window block from the rubble pile.  Bystanders commented that there wouldn't be any rubble for the contractors to haul away, with so many local people grabbing the heavy chunks for mementos. 

"My grandpa, Thomas Hallstrom, was foreman when this school was built,"  said Violet Maki, holding her own grandchildren so they could see what was going on. "It's kind of sad to see this go."  

Elementary school teacher Sue Mohrman, carrying a piece of debris, said the demolition was "sad but necessary."   

"Education wasn't being met in the condition the school was in," she said. "This is not like a death, but for some people there are a lot of memories here."  

Resident Walter Salo, 65, a graduate of the school, wasn't sorry to see it go.   

"When I was a kid we used to play down there in that basement and there was dust everywhere. People were always sick because the dust never left the basement," he said.  "Just the other day I looked down there and it was just the same - no ventilation. I don't mind at all that it is going."  

Although the renovation is on schedule - it's expected to be finished this year - school officials still face problems that have arisen due to the many additions that have been added over the years.  The gym was added in 1947, the elementary wing in 1961, and further additions to the high school, gym and elementary section in 1976.  

Still Superintendent Tony McLain faced the demolition with optimism. 

"This is one more step toward getting our kids in the new building," he said.  "Whenever I get sentimental, and I do, I remember what we have been working toward and that takes care of the sentimentalism."

Article from The Mining Journal - Marquette, MI.  Copyright 1991.

Remembering the Old Eben School

 From 1915 to 1991, it existed as a high school. Today, it is only a memory.

Welcome to the Old Eben School Web Page.  This page is to commemorate the history of the old school building that served the Rock River and Limestone Township communities (and later Mathias) for many years.  The old school building sat where the Superior Central Media Center now stands as part of the Superior Central School District.

Here is a little history of the construction of the old building: The cost to cover construction of the three story building and of the nearby Chatham school was $20,000.  The bond issue was passed in the school district by a vote of 49 to 15 in June of 1914.   

Construction of the Eben school began soon after with bids going to George Leiphart of Munising for the overall construction, and to Oscar Robertson (with the lowest bid of $20) to clear the land of the school site.  Thomas Hallstrom was stone mason foreman on the Eben school, and the cornerstone was laid June 10, 1915.

The school finally opened before Christmas in 1916.  A heated controversy broke out between the two towns of Chatham and Eben because they both wanted the high school in their own village.  The matter was put to a vote and in a close election, 77 voted in favor of changing the high school from Chatham to Eben, with 72 going against that.  And from then on, the entire Rock River Township school system gradually consolidated onto the site now known as Superior Central Schools.

This web site will celebrate the old Eben school in various other web pages.  Please check them out below:

The demolition of the old school was a big thing not only within the Superior Central School District, but also around the central Upper Peninsula.  Here is a front page article about the demolition of the Old Eben School:

The Mining Journal's Old Eben School Demolition Article

Life went on after the school was demolished and with it, rose a brand new school.  On this page is a dedication ceremony speech given by Mr. Kim Peterson, school board president at the time, on the opening of the new school, and a bit about the rivalry between the Eben and Trenary school districts: 

The New School Dedication

The Old Eben School has since been demolished and in its place rose a beautiful one story high school and library structure.  The new building is 20 years old now, yet locals who have moved away from the area before construction began on the new building probably have never seen what the school looks like today.   For those that haven't, please check out our Superior Central School Picture Album: 

The Superior Central School Picture Gallery

Probably the most exciting part of the Old Eben School Page is seeing all of the pictures I have compiled of the venerable structure.  Some date as far back as 1953!  Also as an added bonus, I have pictures of the Veteran's Memorial Gym, which is still standing at the current school, and it's front side before the elementary wing was added.  So check them out:  

The Old Eben School Picture Gallery

Here is the newest and coolest page on the Old Eben School website.  I have compiled some pictures from the demolition of the old building that took place during the summer of 1991.  These pictures are originally from a video source, so the quality might not be as good as an actual photo, but it's still a great source for those people who never got the chance to see the demolition of the old building take place:

The Old Eben School on Demolition Day

Superior Central Schools now has its own website.  You can find a variety of information on the school, including pictures of various interior parts of the building.  Check out the web site below:

Superior Central Schools On-line