Bring Back Calumet Initiative Update

The following updates were submitted by the Bring Back Calumet Initiative on September 10, 2025.

We are excited to share some wonderful momentum for the Ruppe Building project!

Recently, science communicator and YouTube creator Alexis Dahl visited Calumet and featured the Ruppe. Her thoughtful storytelling about the history of our community and the importance of preserving the Ruppe has reached thousands of viewers. Thanks to the attention her video has brought, the Bring Back Calumet Fund has received over $17,000 in contributions! This is a huge step forward in saving this historic building! We are deeply grateful to Alexis for amplifying our story, and to all of you who have responded with such generosity.

On-the-Ground Progress

In addition to the incredible community support, physical work at the Ruppe Building is moving forward:

  • Superior Polymer covered approximately 4,400 s.f. of the roof with silicone. While not a perfect fix, the third floor is noticeably drier—especially on the front half of the building.

  • Screened ventilation was installed on the second and third floors, helping reduce the building’s moisture load and improve airflow.

  • One more dump trailer load of debris was removed, with another load staged on the first floor for removal.

  • This ventilation and additional cleanout work required 56 hours of donated time—a testament to the dedication of our volunteers and partners.

  • On June 3rd, the Ruppe Block was featured during the Calumet Media Familiarization Tour, giving visiting journalists and media professionals a first-hand look at the project and the building’s history. This visit is helping generate more awareness and media coverage for the Ruppe and the Bring Back Calumet Initiative.

These steps are crucial in stabilizing the Ruppe as we continue to plan for long-term preservation and reuse.

What Still Needs to Be Done

While we’ve made great progress, much work lies ahead to ensure the Ruppe Building’s survival and future use. Upcoming priorities include:

  • Comprehensive roof replacement to permanently stop water damage.

  • Structural stabilization of the upper floors and masonry to secure the building.

  • Environmental cleanup and interior repairs to make the space safe and usable.

  • Planning for future redevelopment, ensuring the Ruppe can once again serve the Calumet community.

Each of these steps requires resources and support—and with your continued help, we will get there.

Donor Recognition

Your generosity is making a difference! We are honored to recognize those who have stepped up in support of the Ruppe Building through the Bring Back Calumet Fund.

Thank you for helping us Bring Back Calumet! Your generosity is preserving our history, protecting our heritage, and inspiring hope for the future.

  • KEYSTONE SUPPORTER DONORS:

    • The Maas Family

  • CORNERSTONE PARTNER DONORS:

    • Keweenaw National Historical Park Advisory Commission

    • Village of Calumet Downtown Development Authority

    • Rebecca Hovis

    • Anonymous

  • COMMUNITY BUILDER DONORS:

    • Jeff Ratcliffe

    • Karen H. Rotherberger

    • Philip G. Sells

    • Anonymous

  • FRIENDS OF THE RUPPEE DONORS:

    • Tom Tikkanen

    • Ronald Okuda

    • Kin Ship - Andrew Ranville and Anna Sysling-Ranville

  • PRESERVATION ADVOCATE DONORS:

    • Colin Hanson

    • Brendan Fisher

    • Joseph Alfred Merrill III

    • Paul F. Steinbach

    • Daniel Anema

    • Amanda D. Baker

    • Ryan Fleischmann

    • Carol A. Roose

    • Andrew Petik

    • Curt Stauffer

    • Michael Warot

    • James Stock

    • Kathryn Mace

    • Jeffrey Buda

    • Yale Evans

    • Doug Harris

    • Gregg Rausher Mr.

    • Duane Reyhl

    • Steven Reynolds

    • Nick Scheiblauer

    • James R. Scheuerle

    • Steve Thomas Schowiak

    • Charles G. Stuart

    • The Ganems

    • Jeremy Churchman

    • Benjamin Kaufman

    • David Ruff Jr.

    • Ronald P. White

    • Kathleen Zimmerman

    • Vega and Mark Ellis

    • Brandy

    • Garin Heil

    • Maurer Family

    • Kole Wernert

    • Gretchen M. Pineo

    • Jon Ralinovsky

    • John Wenskovitch Jr.

    • Matthew Derosier

    • Christine Frazzini

    • Keith Kreag

    • Robert Thiele

    • David Van Fleet

    • Michael Gregory

    • Carl Koerschner

    • Vicki Morgan

    • Kyle Parton

    • Paula Rexer

    • Alan Davis

    • Fredrik Hendeberg

    • John Junge

    • Nathan Pipe

    • Devin Deal

    • Harrison Mehr

    • Christopher Schmidt

    • David Hazen Weaver

    • Susan Sachnik

    • David Moorman

    • Boris L. Glebov

    • Michael Destrampe

    • Demetrios Slocum Kaltsas

    • Marcia Kearney

    • Donna Trudell

    • Glenn R. Wichman

    • Joseph Leland Blaim

    • John Forrette

    • Marty Hayden

    • John G. LaBine

    • Elise Matz

    • Rondi Olson

    • Joe Rapp

    • David Shriver

    • Donna Simons

    • Michael Sprague

    • Wesley Robert Thompson

    • Cathy Willey

    • Christopher Angove

    • Phillip E. Dascola

    • Sarah Schumm

    • Jill Boudreau

    • Andrew Mac Donald

    • Jeremiah Mason

    • James Neff

    • Nick Saenz

    • Gary J. Sipple

    • Pamela Wollert (née Harland)

    • Michael Zimmermann

    • Derek Chapel

    • Sarah Scarlett

    • Nathaniel Bezanson

    • Eric Swiecki

    • Nick Thomas

    • Corinne H. Smith

    • Cheryl Vincent

    • Lorri Oikarinen

    • 49 Anonymous Donors

Help Us Keep Going

Every donation, no matter the size, helps us move closer to securing and restoring the Ruppe Building. With your support, we can continue stabilizing the structure, protecting our history, and preparing for its future role in downtown Calumet. Together, we are bringing back Calumet—one building at a time.

Vienna Leonarduzzi