Situated along the Sturgeon River in northeastern Baraga Township in Baraga County, Pelkie is in the northwest portion of Michigan's Upper Peninsula.
The unincorporated community is on the west banks of the Sturgeon River, in the area of Pelkie Road's intersections with Eilola Road, Papin Road, and Parkila Road.
Cities and villages within twenty-five miles of Pelkie include Baraga, L'Anse, South Range, Houghton, and Hancock, while the unincorporated communities of Alston and Bear Towns are within ten miles.
While Pelkie is visited by vacationers and outdoor enthusiasts, the chief contributor to its economy is dairy farming. Milk produced in area farms is shipped to processors in Wisconsin. Pelkie also hosts the annual Baraga County Fair, held on the second weekend in August each year.
European-American settlement of the region began when French-Canadian loggers came to the area in 1885. Originally known as King's Landing, the community was called Kyrö by Finnish immigrants, although another nearby community became known as Kyro Location. The community was also known as Pelkinen at one time, which is also attributed to its early Finnish settlers.
When the Mineral Range Railroad established a station there, it was known as Kuro. Other railroads serving the area included the Michigan Central Railroad and the Duluth, South Shore, and Atlantic Railway.
When a post office was established on April 30, 1903, the community was renamed Pelkie, which was derived from a former French-Canadian settler. Theodore Duquette was the first postmaster in Pelkie. Today, the post office serves areas in the north and northwest of Baraga Township in Baraga County, as well as portions of Laird, Elm River, and Portage townships in Houghton County.
The Pelkie Grade School Museum is housed in the former Pelkie grade school building, which replaced a building that was constructed in 1905. Used as a one-room school until 1932, the building later served as a community hall. Restored by the Sturgeon Valley Historical Society, the building has been a museum since 1979. It is the only remaining one-room schoolhouse in Baraga County. The building was listed on the Michigan Register of Historic Places in 1980.
The focus of this part of our guide is on the unincorporated locality known as Pelkie, Michigan. Appropriate topics include local businesses, industries, schools, churches, organizations, attractions, and events.
Recommended Resources
Built in 1909, the former grade school building is located at the corner of Pelkie Road and Mantila Road in Pelkie, Michigan. Serving as a one-room schoolhouse until 1932, and later as a community hall, the building was renovated and turned into a museum in 1979. Open each Sunday and on holidays during the summer, the museum is operated by the Sturgeon Valley Historical Society. Interior and exterior photographs of the only remaining one-room schoolhouse in Baraga County are displayed.
http://www.baragacountyhistoricalmuseum.com/schoolhouse.html
Mission United Lutheran Church
Affiliated with the Northern Great Lakes Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the MULC congregation meets at its facilities on Pelkie Road in Pelkie, Michigan. Established in 1989 after the merger of the Pelkie Evangelical Lutheran Parish, St. Henry Lutheran Church in Nisula, Faith Lutheran Church, and Our Saviour's Lutheran Church in Elo, its current sanctuary was constructed in 1992. Schedules, a calendar of events, a newsletter, and an overview of its ministries are posted.
https://www.mulc-mi.org/
Based in Pelkie, Michigan, the landscaping company offers landscape design, installation, and maintenance services to the Copper Country of Michigan's Upper Peninsula. A list of services posted on the site includes landscaping, hardscaping, landscape design, and irrigation, as well as paver patios, walkways and driveways, and outdoor kitchens. Examples of its work may be seen in photos, and client testimonials are offered. The address, telephone number, and email address are provided.
https://northernlandscapesllc.com/
The family-owned business is located in the Upper Peninsula town of Pelkie, Michigan. In business since 2012, the company produces a variety of hand-made wood saunas, which are pictured here, along with descriptions, options, and prices, as well as a gallery of photographs highlighting its products. The benefits to owning a sauna are outlined on the site, questions relating to the care and maintenance of a sauna are included, and comparisons between electric or wood stoves for use in a sauna.
https://thesaunaguys.com/
Located on Askel Road in Pelkie, Michigan, the motorcycle repair shop specializes in servicing Harley-Davidson motorcycles, although it is also a Royal Enfield service center. The shop provides routine maintenance and repair services, accessory installations, and performance upgrades, Dyno testing, and other services. Its address, directions, and a map showing its location are displayed, along with its telephone number, hours of operation, and appointment policies.
https://www.upperformancecycles.com/
