“Only in Houghton.”  That’s a phrase you hear a lot around here, often in a good way, or in a quirky way, and thankfully rarely in a bad way.  One of the town’s biggest selling points is its safety (Take a look at the front page of the Daily Mining Gazette in Houghton on any given day and you’ll see that the crime blotter here is limited to some pretty minor stuff.).

Here’s a quick story that illustrates what “only in Houghton” can mean.  As Dave Barry would say, I swear I did not make this up.  Really, I didn’t:

A Michigan Tech professor parked his car at the Houghton County Airport and flew out on a trip.  Apparently the gentleman was a little overconfident even for this community, and left the car not only unlocked but with the keys in it.  Not surprisingly he returned from his trip to find the car was gone, and reported the theft to the local police.

Some days later he got a call from the police that his car had been found.  Not only had it not been stripped or damaged in any way, but the thief had returned it to the airport parking lot from which it was taken, and with a full tank of gas!

Only in Houghton…

What only in Houghton (or Hancock) stories do you have?  We’d love to hear!

To the great relief of many, the snow has finally arrived in the Keweenaw.  This is a community that proudly runs on the white stuff half the year, so going all the way through November this year without any snow was at first welcome, but by the end of the month a little worrisome to those who look forward to months of snow sports:  pristine downhill and cross-country skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, snowmobiling and more.

Houghton snowfall

The concern was short-lived, however: Houghton residents woke up to 6 inches or so of new snow on Friday morning, and it just kept coming from there, as it often does in December, and so far we have as much as a couple of feet from this storm.

Upper Peninsula and specifically Houghton snowfall is the stuff of legend.  The community’s residents tell with great pride tales of annual snowfalls of as much as 400 inches, although 200-250 inches is more typical.  For those who find that thought daunting, keep in mind that that’s happening over a period of six months or so (yes, really) and most of it is lake effect snow, which is so powdery you can almost blow it off your windshield.

If you’re new to the area there are a couple of things you should understand about the snow here.  First off, in general the towns know how to handle it (main roads are usually kept well plowed, for example).  That means that you can expect to go about your daily business for the most part and won’t need to worry about rushing to the supermarket to grab the last loaf of bread or gallon of milk.  At the same time, that also means that events go on as scheduled, so plan accordingly.

The most trouble you’re likely to run into with the snow is getting out of your own driveway.  Having a snow plan is essential here, whether it’s a standing arrangement with a snowplower or your own snow blower, you’re going to need to know in advance how you’re going to get rid of your snow, and where you’re going to put it all.   The locals also know to watch out for “plow poop,” the chunky, more compact snow that city plows can push into your driveway as they go along the street.  Keep a shovel in your car, it’s easier than you think to get stuck going over those berms.

By the way, all life-as-normal bets are off when there’s a blizzard warning.  Those people do take seriously, and cancel school, performances, and even hockey games if it’s really bad.  If there’s a blizzard warning your best bet is to put on some fuzzy socks, build a fire (or turn it on, as many do here with gas fireplaces) and just enjoy watching the snow pile up.  Unless of course you work at or attend Michigan Tech, in which case you’d better get a move on or you’ll be late for class…

Did I miss anything?  What’s your favorite Houghton winter horror or glory story? Share it here.