[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 13]
[Senate]
[Page 19339]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




               ITALIAN HALL TRAGEDY IN CALUMET, MICHIGAN

  Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, a century ago on December 24, 1913, 
hundreds of miners and their families had gathered for a Christmas Eve 
celebration in the small Upper Peninsula town of Calumet, MI. Their 
community was under tremendous stress; the miners of what is known to 
this day as ``Copper Country'' had been on strike for 5 months. But 
they had come for a brief holiday respite from the trials and struggles 
of those difficult days.
  What began as a joyful day ended in tears and wails and inconsolable 
grief. While no one will know for certain what sparked the families' 
rush to the doors at the bottom of the stairs leading from the hall, 
most believe that someone yelled ``Fire!'' even though there was none. 
What resulted in the rush to the exit is almost unimaginable: 59 
children and 14 adults were dead, having been trampled or suffocated.
  This dreadful disaster has forever brought back painful memories on 
December 24, Christmas Eve, for the community of Calumet, MI. On the 
centennial anniversary of this event, the anguish is still real. The 
sadness is only overshadowed by the senselessness of the event.
  The families celebrating in the Italian Hall were hard-working 
immigrants, struggling through the labor strike to fight for better 
wages, hours and working conditions. They came to Copper country for 
the promise of work, even though mining was difficult and dangerous. 
This area was home to the largest known deposits of pure elemental 
copper in the world, drawing hundreds of thousands of people from 
around the world. It was here that the lives of immigrants shaped our 
nation, with their successes and their struggles.
  So many reminders of the copper mining heyday remain in the quaint 
town. From the historic architecture to the Yooper accents; from the 
variety of ethnic foods to the hard living work ethic that exists 
today, the Copper Country communities are reminded every day of their 
heritage. The historic buildings, landscapes and museum collections of 
the area are protected and preserved by the Keweenaw National 
Historical Park, working collaboratively with local and State 
governments, historic organizations and private property owners. The 
park brings to life the multi-faceted story of copper mining history 
including its social, ethnic, commercial and technological dimensions. 
However, no artifact can compete with the feeling that Christmas Eve 
presents to the Village of Calumet every year when it is reminded of 
the Italian Hall tragedy.
  On this centennial, we remember those who perished, and celebrate 
their lives and the heritage they have left for us.

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