311 5th St.

311 5th St.

NPS Photo

Quick Facts

Location:

Calumet, MI

Significance:

Contributing Structure to the Calumet National Historic Landmark District

MANAGED BY:

Private Property

Amenities

2 listed

Cellular Signal, Parking - Auto

Irish immigrant Edward Ryan got his start in business working for Ransom Shelden in Houghton in 1857. In 1864, he opened his own store in Hancock. Shortly thereafter, Ryan established a branch store here, in Red Jacket. Ryan, who lived in Hancock, soon became one of the wealthiest people in the Copper Country. His nephew, John D. Ryan, was head of the Anaconda Copper Company in Butte, Montana, and was one of the wealthiest people in the United States in the early 20th century. The original wood-frame store building here was destroyed in the great fire of 1870, but Ryan soon rebuilt. In 1887, he erected a large brick store building here on the same site. Edward Ryan died in 1900, but while the store was managed by his estate, a third story was added to the building, sometime around 1905. In 1917, the store was destroyed in another catastrophic fire. It was never rebuilt. These lots sat vacant for many years, until the Michigan American Water Company was established in 1959, and the existing office building was erected here.