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On December 24, 1913, striking mine workers gathered with their families for a Christmas party at Italian Hall in Calumet, Michigan. A man wearing a badge from a group of citizens aligned with the mining companies entered the crowded second-floor room and shouted “Fire!”
Frightened partygoers ran towards the exit and fell down the stairs, on top of other fallen people. Seventy-three people, including about 60 children, died. The community scrambled to find enough small coffins.
No one was ever accused of causing these deaths. A full century later, the event still haunts the Upper Peninsula's Copper Country.
“I have received death threats,” says Steve Lehto, a Michigan lawyer who has written extensively about the tragedy. “I have been attacked, literally, at book signings. “I’ve had people come up to me and start yelling.”
Lehto understands and even sympathizes with such reactions, which he believes influenced the decision to raze Italian Hall in 1984. The community just wants to forget; Your duty as a historian is not to let that happen. “This is too important a story,” he says.
Folk singer Woody Guthrie immortalized the tragedy in “1913 Massacre,” written in 1941. The song was taken up by Bob Dylan and, most notably, Woody’s son, Arlo. His devastating final line: "Do you see what your greed for money has done?"
Now, an excellent new documentary, "Red Metal: The Copper Country Strike of 1913," is airing on PBS stations nationwide. It is not scheduled to air on Wisconsin Public Television, but Milwaukee Public Television plans to show it starting Tuesday, December 17. Lehto, who has been screening the film in Michigan, says many audience members relate his account of the strike to current events. , including the 2011 labor eruptions in Wisconsin.
Lehto, in establishing the film's relevance to Wisconsin, also cites the Badger State's geographic and psychological ties to the UP. As he says, “There are more Green Bay Packers fans than Detroit Lions fans in Copper Harbor.”
When the strike began in July 1913, an average of one miner per week died on the job. “More people died in the mines than in Italian Hall,” Lehto says. “No one could make the mine owners worry about that.”
The strike ended in April 1914, in total defeat for the union. The miners had to give up their membership to get their jobs back. But Congress moved to pass pro-worker laws and, Lehto says, the ball moved a bit in favor of the unions.
The truth matters, no matter how much time has passed. Guthrie's song is woefully lacking in facts. In his account, the “copper boss's thugs” deliberately caused panic and kept the door closed so that no one could leave. Then, when the children died, “they laughed at his killing joke.”
Lehto's 2006 book about the tragedy is titled "Death's Door: The Truth Behind Michigan's Largest Mass Murder." He believes the person who yelled "Fire!" acted with malevolent intent and incurred criminal culpability.
But Lehto believes the goal was to disrupt the party, not kill people. The culprit was probably as horrified as anyone. And “Metal Rojo” reveals that mining officials made a secret donation to the miners' families.
In the wake of tragedy, people tend to demonize. A newspaper article at the time claimed that more than 20 armed men burst into the hall, after which one of them broke a child's neck and threw the body under the feet of the fleeing crowd. None of this was true.
Pro-mining newspapers also engaged in malicious distortions. When union president Charles Moyer called for an investigation, without assigning blame, a Christmas Day headline screamed: “HE USES KIDS' DEATHS FOR HIS STRIKE.”
The next day, Moyer was accosted in his Calumet hotel room, beaten, shot, and put on a train to Chicago. During a brief stop in Milwaukee, reporters saw his bloody wounds. Famed attorney Clarence Darrow, fearing for his safety, canceled his plan to deliver a eulogy at the funeral.
But there were many other mourners on hand.
2. MINING DISASTERS

 Keweenaw has witnessed several tragedies and significant events that have left an indelible mark on the region. Here are some of the most important ones:

1. The Italian Hall Tragedy (1913):
   - Description: During the miners' strike of 1913-1914, on December 24, 1913, a Christmas celebration at the Italian Hall in Calumet ended in tragedy. Someone falsely yelled "Fire!" in a room full of mining families. In the panic that followed, 73 people were crushed to death while trying to flee, most of them children.
   - Impact: This event became a symbol of the labor struggles and difficult conditions of the miners of the time.
2. *Mining Disasters*:
   - *Accidents and Collapses*: Mining in Keweenaw was marked by numerous accidents and collapses in the mines. Harsh working conditions and a lack of adequate safety measures contributed to a high rate of fatal accidents.
   - *Example*: In 1911, a fire at the Painesdale Quincy #2 mine claimed the lives of more than 70 miners.

3. *Miners' Strike of 1913-1914*:
   - *Labor Conflict*: The miners' strike in 1913-1914 was a period of great tension and conflict. The miners demanded better wages and working conditions, which led to violent clashes between strikers and security forces.
   - *Consequences*: The strike resulted in numerous deaths, including the Italian Hall tragedy, and left a legacy of labor struggle and sacrifice in the region.

4. *Post-Mining Economic and Social Decline*:
   - *Mine Closure*: With the closure of the mines in the second half of the 20th century, the region faced a significant economic decline. The loss of jobs led to an exodus of residents and deeply affected local communities.
   - Social Impact: Population decline and economic decline left a lasting impact on Keweenaw's infrastructure and social fabric.
5. Natural Disasters:
   - Storms and Weather: The Keweenaw Peninsula has been affected by severe storms and adverse weather conditions. Lake Superior's heavy snowfalls and storms have caused damage to infrastructure and endangered residents over the years.
These events have deeply marked the Keweenaw region, leaving a mix of tragedy and resilience in local history.
Keweenaw, a peninsula located in the northern tip of Michigan, has a rich and varied history that has left a significant mark on the region. Here are some key events that have shaped Keweenaw:
1. *Indigenous and Anishinaabe Presence*:
   - *Before European Colonization*: The region was inhabited by the Anishinaabe, who took advantage of natural resources, including copper, long before the arrival of Europeans.

2. *European Exploration and Colonization*:
   - *17th century*: French explorers, such as Étienne Brûlé and Father Jacques Marquette, explored the region, establishing the first contacts with indigenous peoples and paving the way for European colonization.

3. *Copper and Mining Rush*:
   - *1840s*: The copper rush brought numerous immigrants to Keweenaw, turning the region into a major mining center. Mining transformed the local economy and society, with companies such as Calumet and Hecla Mining Company playing a crucial role.
   - Calumet and Hecla Mining Company*: Founded in 1866, this company became one of the main copper producers in the United States. The company developed significant infrastructure, including building housing, schools, and hospitals for workers.
4. Miners' Strike of 1913-1914*:
   - Labor Conflict*: The miners' strike of 1913-1914 was a significant event in United States labor history, marked by harsh working conditions and low wages. The Italian Hall tragedy, where 73 people died due to panic caused by a false cry of "Fire!", is a tragic episode of this strike.
5. Mining Decline:
   - 20th Century*: After World War I, the Keweenaw mining industry began to decline due to global competition and declining profitability. The last major mine closed in the 1960s.
6. Protection and Tourism*:
   - Keweenaw Copper Mining National Historical Park*: Established to preserve the region's mining history, this national park attracts visitors interested in the rich cultural heritage and natural beauty of Keweenaw.
   - *Tourism Development*: In recent years, Keweenaw has developed tourism as an important economic source, highlighting its history, natural landscapes and recreational opportunities.

These events have left a lasting mark on Keweenaw, making the peninsula a region of great historical and cultural importance in Michigan.


1. The Italian Hall Tragedy (1913)*:
   - *Description*: During the miners' strike of 1913-1914, on December 24, 1913, a Christmas celebration at the Italian Hall in Calumet ended in tragedy. Someone falsely yelled "Fire!" in a room full of mining families. In the panic that followed, 73 people were crushed to death while trying to flee, most of them children.
   - Impact: This event became a symbol of the labor struggles and difficult conditions of the miners of the time.

2. Mining Disasters:
   - Accidents and Collapses: Mining in Keweenaw was marked by numerous accidents and collapses in the mines. Harsh working conditions and a lack of adequate safety measures contributed to a high rate of fatal accidents.
   - Example: In 1911, a fire at the Painesdale Quincy #2 mine claimed the lives of more than 70 miners.
3. Miners' Strike of 1913-1914:
   - Labor Conflict: The miners' strike in 1913-1914 was a period of great tension and conflict. The miners demanded better wages and working conditions, which led to violent clashes between strikers and security forces.
   - Consequences: The strike resulted in numerous deaths, including the Italian Hall tragedy, and left a legacy of labor struggle and sacrifice in the region.
There were several investigations into the disaster. At the forensic investigation, non-English speaking witnesses were forced to answer questions in English. Most witnesses were not asked follow-up questions. Apparently many people called to testify had not seen what happened. After three days, the coroner issued a ruling that did not specify the cause of death.
In early 1914, a subcommittee of the United States House of Representatives came to copper country to investigate the strike and took sworn testimony from witnesses for a full day on March 7, 1914. Twenty witnesses testified under oath and were offered interpreters. Eight witnesses swore that the man who first shouted "fire" was wearing a button on his coat for Ciudadanos'. Alliance, an organization that opposed unions and strikes.
A common story about the tragedy states that the doors at the foot of the Italian Hall stairs opened inward. According to the story, when the fleeing partiers reached the bottom of the stairs, they pressed against the doors, preventing them from opening and causing many people to be crushed. However, all the photos of the doors suggest a double set of doors with both sets opening outward. Steve Lehto's book Death's Door: The Truth Behind Michigan's Largest Mass Murder noted that the doors were not mentioned as a contributing factor in the December 1913 coroner's hearing. 1914 or in any of the journalistic news of the time. That book also included plans of the Italian Room drawn by an architect, showing the location and configuration of the doors, staircase and landings.
In her book Mine Towns, Alison K. Hoagland alleges that there were two sets of doors leading into a hallway, and that the exterior doors opened outward; and there may have been a set of interior folding doors. In support of this, Hoagland notes that a "newspaper article at the time of publication mentioned safety features such as 'the wide main staircase,' two fire escapes, and 'All doors open outward.'" He notes that the club had previously been cited (by the predecessor building) for having doors that opened inwards. Furthermore, he believes that foreshortened stereoptic photography was "impossible" in its entirety. and deceptive; and also points out that, according to the "pro-business" Diario Minero report, they opened.
Consequences
After the initial wave of grief following the incident passed, while there was resentment against C&H, it was considerably greater against the citizens. Alliance (the "Alliance"), which opposed the union and the strike. The man who had shouted "fire" was widely believed to be wearing an Alliance badge and WFM president Charles Moyer, who made the accusation public, refused to retract it.
A relief committee formed by Alliance members raised $25,000 to help families affected by the disaster. The grieving families did not want to accept the committee's money, claiming that the WFM had promised them help. The New York Times reported that Alliance members who served on the relief committee learned that Moyer had prohibited them from accepting the funds. Committee members visited Moyer at his hotel in nearby Hancock, shot and kidnapped him, then put him on a train with instructions to leave Michigan and never return. After receiving medical attention in Chicago, Moyer held a press conference where he showed off his gunshot wound and promised to return to Michigan to continue the work of WFM.
The Italian Hall was demolished in October 1984 and only the arch remains, although a state historical marker was erected in 1987. The site is a park maintained by the Keweenaw National Historical Park. The scoreboard incorrectly stated at first that the tragedy was caused in part by doors opening inward; This bug was later removed.
Ella Reeve Bloor was present at the disaster and wrote her version in her autobiography. His way of counting is problematic. She claims she was near the stage when the panic occurred, but no witnesses ever testified to her presence. Some critics claim that Bloor's version of events at Calumet in 1913 is unreliable. Bloor claimed that Big Annie Clemenc led the victims' funeral procession carrying a "red flag," although all other accounts say it was an American flag.
The event was commemorated by Woody Guthrie in the song "1913 Massacre", which states that the doors were kept locked from the outside by "the copper boss' thuggish men".
The disaster generated a great deal of academic debate. Rebels on the Range: The Copper Miners of Michigan' by historian Arthur Thurner. The strike of 1913-1914 raises the possibility that a fire actually broke out elsewhere in the hall, perhaps in the building's chimney. Perhaps the strongest argument against an actual fire is that none of the investigations found witnesses who claimed there was a fire. The fire log from the Red Jacket Fire Department (the local fire department that responded to the fire call) also specifically says "no fire."
Death's Door: The Truth Behind Michigan's Largest Mass Murder, by Steve Lehto, first published in 2006, concludes that the culprit was most likely an ally of mining management. Lehto did not identify in the first edition of the book to the specific person who yelled "fire," but he did exhaustively examine news reports, transcripts of interviews with survivors, coroner's reports, and other documentation. in an attempt to answer the question of whether this was a deliberate act by mine management or a tragic mistake. In the second edition of Death's Door, published in 2013, Lehto identifies the man he believes shouted "fire", going so far as to give the man's name and occupation, as well as evidence to support the claim.
4. Post-Mining Economic and Social Decline:
   - Mine Closure: With the closure of the mines in the second half of the 20th century, the region faced a significant economic decline. The loss of jobs led to an exodus of residents and deeply affected local communities.
   - Social Impact: Population decline and economic decline left a lasting impact on Keweenaw's infrastructure and social fabric.
5. Natural Disasters:
   - Storms and Weather: The Keweenaw Peninsula has been affected by several storms and adverse weather conditions. Lake Superior's heavy snowfalls and storms have caused damage to infrastructure and endangered residents over the years.

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