If you have never heard of the town of Red Jacket in Michigan you are not alone. I was doing some research and I came across the town of Red Jacket and immediately I thought of the Red Jacket fire station in Calumet. ( you can see my post about it HERE ) I just assumed it was called the Red Jacket fire station because the firefighters wore red jackets.
I later found out my assumption was completely wrong. The city of Calumet in the Keweenaw Peninsula was settled in 1864, originally under the name of “Red Jacket”, named for a Native American Chief of the Seneca tribe. The nearby town of Laurium was originally called Calumet, a Native American name for a clay bowl used on a peace pipe. Present-day Laurium was started by the Laurium Mining Company and changed its name to Laurium in 1895. The Calumet and Hecla Mine was in or next to the town of Red Jacket. I assume because of the influence and dominant presence of the mind Red Jacket became known as Calumet. Present-day Calumet was not legally named so until 1929. I hope what I wrote makes sense, but it is still a little confusing to me and it must have been really confusing for the post office. Next time you are in Calumet and you see references to the name of Red Jacket, now you know why.
P.S. I wish the Keweenaw was not so far away from my home in Saginaw. It is one of my favorite places in Michigan to visit with its incredible history and natural beauty.
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