LAURIUM — the catastrophic fire that destroyed Laurium’s public works building also destroyed a significant element of local aeronautic and athletic history.

The building was constructed in 1934 as a hangar for the Laurium Airport.

The facility was constructed in 1933-34, as a Works Project Administration project, and was reportedly the largest WPA project in Houghton County history, employing more than 5,000 workers.

James R. Anderson, in his 2020 book “Roads to Renewal: The Report of Activities and Accomplishments of the Civil Works Administration in Michigan, November 1933-March 1934,” wrote the project was constructed with a CWA (Civil Works Administration) expenditure of $23,800.

Published in 2013, “The WPA Guide to Michigan: The Great Lakes State,” states that the Laurium City Airport, at the eastern end of Third Street, was once used by Army flyers from Self Ridge Field for winter maneuvers, the planes having been equipped with skis for landing on snow and ice.

A map of the airport included in the Michigan Airport Directory for 1946-47 shows the facility with two landing strips, two hangars and building for a classroom.

The Laurium airport operated until 1968, when flights were routed through the Houghton County Memorial Airport, seven miles south of Laurium.

The Calumet Hockey Association then benefited from one of the Laurium airport’s hangars, when the village of Laurium installed a natural ice surface in the hangar, providing an indoor rink for hockey association players to practice in play.

The rink was used until 1976, when the village constructed the Bicentennial Arena, which was later renamed the Gipp Arena.

In his book, Anderson, wrotet:

“The original Laurium airport hanger was so sturdily constructed that it was then taken over by the village of Laurium, probably around 1968, and is now in active service as the village’s heavy equipment and maintenance garage (primarily for winter snow plowing).

Until the building was destroyed on Wednesday morning, it was still the village’s DPW garage and office.