Crystal Falls Township Voting Precinct No. 1:Crystal Falls Township Hall1384 US 141; Crystal Falls, MI(906) 875-3062
Number of Registered Voters (2015): 1260
Qualifications to become a registered voter in Michigan:1.A Citizen of the United States2.18 years of age or older by election day.3.A resident of Michigan for 30 days prior to election day4.A resident of the city, township or village on or before the 30th day before the election.About Iron County Iron County was set off in 1885 from Marquette and Menominee counties. Iron ore deposits, which gave the new county its name, were the first on the Menominee Range to be discovered. Shipping of ores began in 1882 when the railroad came in. In 1885, Iron River was designated as a temporary county seat. The permanent county seat was to be chosen later by an election that the Legislature specified. Iron River and Crystal Falls, both infant mining towns, as well as lumber camps, were about the same size and each wanted the courthouse. When the honor fell to Iron River, the citizens were greatly elated and those of Crystal Falls correspondingly depressed. However, soon a delegation from Crystal Falls plotted to "steal" the County records. The Iron River contingent were equally determined to keep the county seat. Frank Scadden, who was Supervisor of Mastodon Township at the time, recounts what happened: After a County Board of Supervisors' meeting in Iron River, the commissioners adjourned to the Boyington Hotel for high stakes gambling promoted by the contingent from Crystal Falls. The Iron River gamblers quickly accepted the challenge. As word spread of the high stakes game, more townspeople came to watch. Scadden and Hughitt, the County Treasurer, pretended to be exhausted and went upstairs to sleep. After midnight, with the game still going on, they lowered themselves from the window to a shed. Though it was twelve below zero, and snow was up to their waists, Hughitt had left the back door of the shack that served as the courthouse open, so entry was not a problem. They headed for the railroad yards, bribed the conductor (who was also from Crystal Falls) and stowed the records in a freight car. All along they waited for a mob of Iron Riverites to pounce upon them. They got into Crystal Falls where the sheriff placed a guard over the records. Then a big celebration was held in honor of Crystal Falls' elevation to the County Seat. Although mass meetings were held in Iron River once the theft was discovered, and an "army of citizens" considered taking the records back by force, cooler heads prevailed and the campaign at arms was abandoned. The sheriff kept a close watch on the records and was ready to barricade the main street. Iron River boosters though they could quickly regain the county seat once the election was held. The election was held in 1888 - before the ballot had achieved its present sanctity. Iron River imported 500 lumberjacks from Gogebic County and Crystal Falls an equal number from other sections. The dead in both communities received a miraculous resurrection for the names of many were found on the registration rolls. There were countless irregularities, and when the election was over, it was found the Crystal Falls had won by a majority of five votes. Crystal Falls remains the County seat yet today. The Courthouse, built in 1890, is called the "Jewel of Iron County". Although in years past, there was some friction between the "East Side" and the "West Side", the current feeling among county citizens is one of striving towards a unified populace, with pride in having such a colorful historic beginning.Climate of Crystal Falls Township:Growing season: 84 daysJanuary Average Minimum: 1 FJuly Average Minimum: 52 FAverage Annual Rainfall: 32 inchesDays below 0 F: 41Days above 90 F: 4Average Annual Snowfall: 78 inchesDistances (road miles) from Crystal Falls Township:Chicago, IL: 370Green Bay, WI: 152Lansing, MI: 475Milwaukee, WI: 285
Crystal Falls Township Board
SupervisorCurtis Stebic 875-3062 ext 4Appointed - term expires Nov. 2028ClerkNancy Niemi 875-3062 ext 34 year term expires Nov. 2024TreasurerJen Ketola 875-3062 ext 64 year term expires Nov. 2024TrusteesDiane Kut 875-3062 4 year term expires Nov. 2024Joanne Seppala, 875-3062 4 year term expires Nov. 2024
Crystal Falls Township Voting Precinct No. 1:Crystal Falls Township Hall1384 US 141; Crystal Falls, MI(906) 875-3062
Number of Registered Voters (2015): 1260
Qualifications to become a registered voter in Michigan:1.A Citizen of the United States2.18 years of age or older by election day.3.A resident of Michigan for 30 days prior to election day4.A resident of the city, township or village on or before the 30th day before the election.About Iron County Iron County was set off in 1885 from Marquette and Menominee counties. Iron ore deposits, which gave the new county its name, were the first on the Menominee Range to be discovered. Shipping of ores began in 1882 when the railroad came in. In 1885, Iron River was designated as a temporary county seat. The permanent county seat was to be chosen later by an election that the Legislature specified. Iron River and Crystal Falls, both infant mining towns, as well as lumber camps, were about the same size and each wanted the courthouse. When the honor fell to Iron River, the citizens were greatly elated and those of Crystal Falls correspondingly depressed. However, soon a delegation from Crystal Falls plotted to "steal" the County records. The Iron River contingent were equally determined to keep the county seat. Frank Scadden, who was Supervisor of Mastodon Township at the time, recounts what happened: After a County Board of Supervisors' meeting in Iron River, the commissioners adjourned to the Boyington Hotel for high stakes gambling promoted by the contingent from Crystal Falls. The Iron River gamblers quickly accepted the challenge. As word spread of the high stakes game, more townspeople came to watch. Scadden and Hughitt, the County Treasurer, pretended to be exhausted and went upstairs to sleep. After midnight, with the game still going on, they lowered themselves from the window to a shed. Though it was twelve below zero, and snow was up to their waists, Hughitt had left the back door of the shack that served as the courthouse open, so entry was not a problem. They headed for the railroad yards, bribed the conductor (who was also from Crystal Falls) and stowed the records in a freight car. All along they waited for a mob of Iron Riverites to pounce upon them. They got into Crystal Falls where the sheriff placed a guard over the records. Then a big celebration was held in honor of Crystal Falls' elevation to the County Seat. Although mass meetings were held in Iron River once the theft was discovered, and an "army of citizens" considered taking the records back by force, cooler heads prevailed and the campaign at arms was abandoned. The sheriff kept a close watch on the records and was ready to barricade the main street. Iron River boosters though they could quickly regain the county seat once the election was held. The election was held in 1888 - before the ballot had achieved its present sanctity. Iron River imported 500 lumberjacks from Gogebic County and Crystal Falls an equal number from other sections. The dead in both communities received a miraculous resurrection for the names of many were found on the registration rolls. There were countless irregularities, and when the election was over, it was found the Crystal Falls had won by a majority of five votes. Crystal Falls remains the County seat yet today. The Courthouse, built in 1890, is called the "Jewel of Iron County". Although in years past, there was some friction between the "East Side" and the "West Side", the current feeling among county citizens is one of striving towards a unified populace, with pride in having such a colorful historic beginning.Climate of Crystal Falls Township:Growing season: 84 daysJanuary Average Minimum: 1 FJuly Average Minimum: 52 FAverage Annual Rainfall: 32 inchesDays below 0 F: 41Days above 90 F: 4Average Annual Snowfall: 78 inchesDistances (road miles) from Crystal Falls Township:Chicago, IL: 370Green Bay, WI: 152Lansing, MI: 475Milwaukee, WI: 285
Crystal Falls Township Board
SupervisorCurtis Stebic 875-3062 ext 4Appointed - term expires Nov. 2028ClerkNancy Niemi 875-3062 ext 34 year term expires Nov. 2024TreasurerJen Ketola 875-3062 ext 64 year term expires Nov. 2024TrusteesDiane Kut 875-3062 4 year term expires Nov. 2024Joanne Seppala, 875-3062 4 year term expires Nov. 2024