Let's be honest here--anyone who has moved to Houghton or Hancock from a larger metropolitan area didn't take long to find out that there isn't much of a night life in the area.
Jonathan Julien and the owners of the
Continental Fire Company in Houghton are hoping to change that. That's exactly why they opened their new night club, built in a former fire hall that was home to the original Continental Fire Company in 1883--one of the first fire companies in the area. The building was also the birthplace of the Michigan School of Mining in 1885--now known as
Michigan Technological University--which held its first classes in the upper level.
"One of the biggest reasons we chose the building we did was its historical significance," says Julien, who opened the club with Adam and Thomas Yeoman. They are currently the only three employees, though they are accepting applications for several open positions.
Those old firemen and mining school students wouldn't recognize the place these days. Julien and the Yeomans basically completely rebuilt the building, though they did try to keep as much of the original architecture as possible--including the 130-year-old flooring on the balcony level.
The trio, all hailing from Houghton, will open the doors full-time come March 1, starting with a Thursday, Friday and Saturday schedule.
"We will be slowly working into more nights, but those will be the days we will be open for the time being," Julien says.
The Continental Fire Company, located at 408 East Montezuma, will offer patrons a cocktail theme with quieter music until around 10 p.m., and then transition to a true night club.
"We are all from Houghton and really saw a need for an entertainment venue like we are doing--we all love living here and only thought this would improve the social life in Houghton," says Julien.
Writer: Sam Eggleston
Source: Jonathan Julien, Continental Fire Company
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