About

Elias F. Messner was born in Redridge, Houghton County, Michigan in 1916 and died in Jackson, Michigan in 1999. He wrote many memoirs and histories about the Copper Country (Keweenaw Peninsula) and surrounding areas, especially Redridge. Redridge, now a ghost town, was the location of the Atlantic Mining Company's stamp mill. It is located in Stanton Township, Houghton County, Michigan. Messner's wife Mary Jane Messner donated his collection to the Copper Range Historical Society.

Elias F. Messner's memoirs of growing up in Redridge make up the bulk of the collection. The collection also contains a short history of Victoria Mine and the Ontonagon Boulder and biographical information about Michael Messner, Sr. (who was presumably related to Elias) and Hiski Salomaa, a Finnish American tailor and musician.

See the full finding aid here.