ESCANABA – The history of the iron ore docks in Escanaba during World War II will be the topic of a presentation Wednesday at Escanaba’s city hall.

It’s the second in a series of winter outreach programs with the Delta County Historical Society.

Charles Lindquist says a the federal government built a dock during the war when a dock worker at the time asked what would happen if the Soo Locks were taken out and the steel mills could not get any iron ore.

“What that meant for Escanaba is that we had up to 2,000 fellows working out there putting up a dock and half in 1942, 1943. It acted as a safety value. If the Soo Locks had been closed for any reason that dock would be there and keep the ore running down to the steel mills in the lower Great Lakes,” Lindquist said.

Lindquist will focus on ore docks during the war years and what it meant for Escanaba. The free presentation will be Wednesday night at 7 p.m.