It was Wednesday, December 24, 1913, in Calumet, Michigan, United States and things in Calumet had been pretty tense leading up to that day as the Copper Mine workers had been striking for 5 months. Seventy-three people were crushed to death in a stampede when someone falsely shouted fire at a Christmas Party. Most of the people killed were striking union members and their families.
The hall was demolished in October of 1984 leaving just an archway. It has been over hundred years since this horrific event took place yet standing in the remaining archway you can almost hear the cries.
The person responsible was never known although several speculations were made.
Several books have been written about this disaster. Ella Reeve Bloor who was present wrote an autobiography. Another book written by a historian Arthur Thurners Rebels on the Range: The Michigan Copper Miners Strike of 1913-1914. Another called Death's Door: The Truth Behind Michigan's Largest Mass Murder by Steve Lehto. A song has also been written called 1913 Massacre by Woody Guthrie.
