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Iron Mike Hillman
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Iron Mike Hillman was born on July 29, 1952, and has been telling stories ever since. But storytelling hasn’t been his only job. No, his stories reflect not only the history of the Minnesota northland (Mike was born and raised in Ely, Minnesota) But his varied jobs over the years. Mike has been an iron miner, resort manager, historical interpreter, fire fighter, radio personality, teacher, and writer. Over the years he earned a reputation as being a first rate historian and storyteller at places such as the Soudan Underground Mine, Iron World, Burntside Lodge, and the International Wolf Center. Mike has acted as master of ceremonies for numerous festival productions, and in September 2004 he was a featured storyteller at the Lacrosse (Wisconsin) Storytelling Festival.
In 1993, Mike Hillman had the good fortune to meet Charles Kuralt, who had tuned into Mike's Sunday morning radio program on WELY. Charles was so impressed with how much Mike knew about the country around Ely, so he asked Mike if he wouldn't mind sitting down for a couple of visits. Later that year, when Charles heard that the radio station was bankrupt, he bought the station with the provision that Mike agree to become his manager. It was a good partnership for both parties that sadly ended when Charles Kuralt died on July 4th, 1997.
Since that time Mike has continued to play an important part in his community. He has starred in a number of local theater productions, and has become a director for Northern Lakes Arts Association. A number of Hillman's short stories have been featured in the Ely Winter Times and Ely Summer Times. Mike has published one previous book, written a play, and has been only one of two storytellers invited back twice as a headliner for the Minnesota Story Telling Festival. In 2002 he won a seat on the Ely City Council.
Mike Hillman finished a collection of short stories about the Ely, Minnesota area that will be published in the spring of 2005 by Singing River Press called Living at the End of the Road - Stories of Ely and the Lake Country. During his fifty plus years, Mike has seen Ely evolve from a rough and tumble Mining town and he hopes that his efforts of writing down some of the things he remembers, and has learned about Ely will help preserve its history. Iron Mike's stories look at things through the eyes of four generations, and hopes his words will help people remember these wonderful stories.
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Ely Lives: Her People, Her Stories Iron Mike Hillman is back in print with a fresh collection of essays that capture the spirit of Ely, the rest of the North Country and its people. In Ely Lives: Her People, Her Stories, published by Timberjay Publishing, Hillman has captured the essence and history of the northern experience with the wit and grace you've come to expect of him. Softcover, 150-pages. Book Price: $15.97  |
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Stories of Old Ely and the Lake Country Iron Mike Hillman, storyteller extraordinaire, friend of Charles Kuralt and member of the Ely City Council reaches deep into his literary pockets for historical/story gems, which revive and provoke the memories of many an Ely, Minnesota native and catch readers' interest from all over the world. Based on family memories and history drawn from local newspapers since the founding Ely and oral tradition flavored with droll humor and love of his home town, Mike baits (or entices) his listening audience as well as readers of his newspaper column. His flair for storytelling and love of the pioneers that set Ely apart then... and now as "a real place to live" are two factors which make Stories of Old Ely and the Lake Country captivating, sometimes surprising, often funny and even bittersweet in his telling. Book Price: $14.97 |
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Livin' At The End Of The Road The first recording by Iron Mike Hillman featuring reminisces of his family, friends, and northern Minnesota. CD Price: $14.97 |