Photo Courtesy of Bring Back Calumet Initiative This provided photo shows some of the work already done to restore the historic Ruppe Building in Calumet. A new initiative launched by the Keweenaw Community Foundation, seeks to raise additional funds for the restoration effort.

Hancock — The Keweenaw Community Foundation (KCF) has launched the Bring Back Calumet Initiative Fund, a new Special Project Fund dedicated to revitalizing historic downtown Calumet. This community-driven effort focuses on preserving Calumet’s rich industrial heritage while fostering economic growth and redevelopment.

The first significant fundraising campaign under this fund is the Save the Ruppe Building project — an urgent effort to prevent the collapse of one of Calumet’s most significant historic structures and prepare it for future use. The Bring Back Calumet Initiative is a community-driven effort committed to stabilizing and redeveloping historic structures in Calumet. Over the past eight years, the initiative has:

�–� Secured $9 million in funding for historic preservation

�–� Stabilized 12 historic buildings in downtown Calumet

�–� Supported 17 new or expanded businesses in the district

�–� Earned the Michigan Governor’s Award for Historic Preservation (2023) and the Vernacular Architecture Forum’s Advocacy Award (2024) for outstanding preservation efforts.)

The Bring Back Calumet Taskforce is made up of representatives from the Village of Calumet and Downtown Development Authority, the Keweenaw Economic Development Alliance (KEDA), Houghton County Land Bank, Keweenaw National Historical Park Advisory Commission and Main Street Calumet.

The Ruppe Building is Located at 211-213 5th Street, and has been a cornerstone of the Calumet Historic Landmark District since the 1870s. Featuring an arched terracotta façade and ornate metal cornice, the building reflects the town’s role in America’s industrial growth during the copper boom. However, years of water infiltration have severely compromised its structure.

Among the structural issues facing the building are the failure of 11 beams supporting the upper floors, the collapsed mezzanine floor, significant water damage affecting about a third of the structure

According to a press release from the Keweenaw Community Foundation, the building’s current owner has already invested $125,000 in stabilization efforts but can no longer continue. To ensure its preservation and future redevelopment, ownership will be transferred to the Village of Calumet Downtown Development Authority.

The Bring Back Calumet Initiative restoration plan to stabilize and restore the Ruppe Building includes emergency stabilization that began this winter. Phase II involves structural restoration including the construction of a new back wall and roof and preparing the building for future redevelopment. The estimated cost of this phase is $600,000/

To date, the Bring Back Calumet Initiative has already secured pledges of more $60,000 to help fund the first stabilization phase. Emergency shoring work has been done, the most important step in preventing collapse, but additional funding is needed to complete this vital stabilization phase.

“This effort is about more than saving a building; it’s about preserving our identity and investing in the future of our community,” said Nikki L’Esperance, Village of Calumet DDA Chairperson. “The Ruppe Building holds immense historical and economic potential, and its preservation is critical to maintaining the vibrancy of our downtown.”

“The Ruppe Building stands as a testament to Calumet’s economic history and embodies the national significance of the copper industry that supported the development of this nation,” said Wyndeth Davis, Superintendent of Keweenaw National Historical Park. “By preserving this structure, we honor the generations that built this community and continue to create opportunities for its future. The park is proud to be a part of this vital effort.”

The Ruppe Building is not just a relic of the past but an essential part of Calumet’s future. According to the press release, contributing to the project is an investment in revitalizing the entire downtown area. Preserving this historic building will help create jobs, attract new businesses, and provide much-needed housing for the community. It is an opportunity to be a part of something bigger, ensuring that Calumet’s rich history is honored while shaping a vibrant and sustainable future.

Contributions can be made directly by visiting the Bring Back Calumet Initiative donation page, https://bit.ly/bbc-donate-KCF. Every donation, large or small, will bring the community closer to preserving this iconic piece of Calumet’s history.