Location: Laird, MI

Laird was a town reportedly in Houghton County on the Mineral Range Keweenaw Bay branch of the Duluth, South Shore & Atlantic. The exact location has not been determined but it likely was in Laird Township, somewhere near Alston or Nisula.

Notes

The location of the town may have been on L-130 1/4 mile north of M-38 highway.

46.767953, -88.75264

Time Line

1900. May 19. Turmoil at Laird. The town is fast rising into prominence and will, if business keeps up, soon outstrip anything that Sidnaw, Kitchi or any of the other towns in the southern part of Houghton county experienced in their paliest days. At present there are five saloons in Laird. A branch of the Mineral Range railroad is being built near the town and 500 men are working on it and in the lumber camps in the vicinity. The whiskey sold there must be of the Kentucky brand, as reports from there state that hardly an hour passes during the evening without several scraps. It is a common sight to see a man being thrown out of one of the saloons and an empty keg or a few bottles after him.

The latest excitement at the place occurred Monday when the railroad building force struck, demanding $2 per day, which they were refused. There was a hot time in town that day. Many men were discharged and as many as could be paid off got their wages. One of the ringleaders was heard making threats to burn up the tools and houses of the contractors. About 10 o'clock Monday night one of the strikers threw a rock through the window of a company house striking a lamp on a table, breaking it to smithereens and scattered kerosene oil over the place. One man was burned when oil went all over him and his hair caught fire.

The rock thrower was identified and Deputy Sheriff Thomas Nichols, formerly night watchman at Houghton but who is now living at Laird, was notified and found the man about 4 o'clock the following morning. He was arrested and brought his man to Houghton on the noon train. The man was arraigned before Justice Brand, who, after hearing the testimony, sentenced him to pay a fine of $20 and costs or 60 days in the county jail. The man took the latter.

Officer Nichols and J.F. McCormack were given great credit for quelling disturbances during the strike. Officer Nichols recently had all the slot machines - about 25 in number - removed from the town. At present he has his hands full but it is expected that he soon will have as quiet and orderly a town to look after as can be found in Houghton county. [LAS-1900-0519]