Toivola, Michigan facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Toivola, Michigan
|
|
|---|---|
Toivola along M-26
|
|
 Toivola, Michigan
Location in Michigan
|
|
| Country | United States |
| State | Michigan |
| Counties | Houghton and Ontonagon |
| Townships | Adams, Bohemia, and Stanton |
| Elevation | 1,273 ft (388 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
49965
|
| Area code(s) | 906 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1614923 |
Toivola is a spread-out community in Michigan, United States. It is not officially a city or town, but an unincorporated community. Toivola is mostly in Houghton County, but parts are also in Ontonagon County.
You can find Toivola along M-26, a state highway. It is about 8 miles (13 km) southwest of South Range. Toivola has its own post office with the ZIP code 49965. In the past, people in Toivola mostly worked in farming and cutting down trees for wood.
Contents
Toivola's Past: A Look at Its History
Early Days and Native American Settlers
Some stories say that a group of Native Americans settled near Lake Superior in 1845. These people were part of the Ojibwe or Chippewa nation. They were sometimes called the Misery Native Americans.
From Logging Camp to Finnish Settlement
Toivola started as a place where people cut down trees, called a lumbering camp. It became a village in 1894. At first, life was hard for the people living there. Many were poor and earned less money than people in other areas. They relied heavily on the logging industry to make a living.
Later, people from Finland began to move to Toivola and make it their home. Over time, this community grew to have more than 60 different farms.
How Toivola Got Its Name
For many years, the community did not have an official name. An early pastor, A.L. Heideman, thought it should be called Urhola. This Finnish word means "Place of Heroes." The pastor believed only heroes could live there because it was surrounded by wilderness. Some children born then even had "Urhola" on their baptism certificates.
However, a local herbalist named Mrs. Maria Kallioinen preferred the name Toivola. Her choice was more popular. The community finally got its name in 1901 when a train station was built there for the Copper Range Railroad.
The meaning of "Toivola" has a few ideas. One idea is that the Finns named it after a Finnish term meaning "Vale of Hope," "Place of Hope," or "Hopeful." A sign put up by the Michigan Department of Highways in 1992 says it means "Community of Hope." Another idea is that it means "the Place of Toivo," which is a Finnish name.
Growth and Community Life
When Toivola was at its busiest, it had enough people to support 13 small schools. These included the Heikkinen Elementary School and the Misery Bay School.
The Toivola Post Office first opened on January 19, 1905. Earl N. Drake was the first postmaster. In 1908, the community started its first Temperance society. This group was called the Toivola Soihtu, or "Toivola Torch." A temperance society was a group of people who wanted to stop or limit the use of alcohol. This society stopped its activities in 1920 because of Prohibition laws. These laws made it illegal to make, sell, or transport alcohol in the United States.
In 1909, only 25 people lived in Toivola. On September 25, 1938, the Toivola Apostolic Lutheran Church was officially opened. By the 1940s, Toivola's population grew to almost 500 people. The small Heikkinen Elementary School closed in 1999.
Fun Things to See and Do in Toivola
Celebrating Finnish Traditions
- Juhannus is a traditional Finnish celebration of the Summer Solstice. This is the longest day of the year. People often celebrate Juhannus in Toivola. A large bonfire, called a kokko, is burned on the sands of the local Agate Beach. The celebrations usually include music, dancing, and food. Agate Beach is a beautiful place with a scenic shoreline. You can get to Agate Beach by taking Misery Bay Road.
Historic Buildings and Music
- The historic Toivola Post Office opened in 1905 and is still used today. The Toivola Apostolic Lutheran Church also still holds services. These two buildings show how much of Toivola's past is still present.
- Since 1994, local musicians have held the Agate Beach Acoustic Jamboree. This event has happened every year except 2008. It is free to attend.
Natural Wonders
- You can find an Artesian well in Toivola. This well provides cold, fresh water from a pipe near the old Misery Bay School on Misery Bay Road. Anyone passing by can try the water.
See also
In Spanish: Toivola (Míchigan) para niños
