In my library I have lots of photographs and drawings of Michigan copper mine rock/shaft houses and associated buildings. However, I have few images of Michigan Iron mine shaft houses and hoist houses.
I have found a few photographs online of Michigan iron mines and buildings, but nothing very detailed.
Do any of you know of any good books or articles covering Michigan iron mines? I am especially in search of detailed drawings of shaft houses and associated buildings.
I have already acquired two of Patrick Dorin's books on Michigan--Ontario Iron Ore Railroads and Great Lakes Ore Docks and Ore Cars.
Any suggestions would be appreciated.
My guess is that the paucity of such photos is due to the fact that most iron mining is an open pit process - perhaps early operations were in shafts, but the quantities required and the nature of the deposits makes open pit operations more feasible. Nowadays, I'd guess that most copper mines are of the open pit type, too.
Wayne
I have worked in the mining industry in sand and gravel producing most of my life. My observations of the industry is that the mine owners are the cheapest people ever to breathe air. They would reluctantly spend millions on crushers and conveyors but hardly a dime on supporting structures and other non essential gear. Bare minimum would be put into structures that do not produce a salable product.
For early mining pictures (mostly coal) look to Shorpy. http://www.shorpy.com/
Also some info on the MSHA web site. http://www.msha.gov/
Pete
I pray every day I break even, Cause I can really use the money!
I started with nothing and still have most of it left!
Michigan copper mining in 1905. http://www.shorpy.com/node/11432
Calumet and Hecla smelters. http://www.shorpy.com/node/15485
You get the idea. Look around shorpy for more of Michigan mining.
I'm in the business. My historical expertise is more in Minnesota than Michigan, though the two are closely related,. Underground iron mining in Michigan started in the mid 1800's and lasted until 1977 or so. The industry centered in three areas, Ishpeming (Marquette Range), Iron Mountain/Crystal Falls (Menominee Range, the last to operate underground), and Ironwood (Gogebic Range).
If you can get to the area there are videos of the Gogebic Range, a new iron mining museum near Ishpeming and a mine that gives underground tours near Iron Mountain. Google may give you more on these.
Michigan Tech's library in Houghton probably has a lot of stuff on this scattered in their archives.
Skillings Mining Review is a trade magazine that covers the Lake Superior mining industry in detail since the 1800's. They are said to be digitizing their archives at the Minnesota Discovery Center for eventual public use. Michigan Tech library has a full set of back issues. I spent a lot of time going through them as a student.
There's a book out that I have never seen called the Saga of Iron Mining in Michigan's Upper Penninsula by Bert Boyum. If you google search book Michigan Iron Mine, several others come up.
Finally, though I have never seen them there are supposed to be annual state mining reports and county mine inspector reports.
It's a fascinating history. What era are you looking for?
Try searching the HABS-HAER site. It will take a bit of sorting through a lot of hits but in less than 5 minutes I found the Soudan Iron Mine. Try searching for that.
Dave H. Painted side goes up. My website : wnbranch.com
The Soudan Mine is in Minnesota and is a state park open for tours in the summer and fall. It is a great tour, including a 1/2 mile or so train ride 2800 feet underground and a self guided surface tour of the hoist house, crusher, and train loading pocket.
http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/soudan_underground_mine/index.html
Similar private operation near Iron Mountain, Michigan.
http://www.ironmountainironmine.com/ironmine.htm
Cliffs Shaft Museum Ishpeming/Negaunee
http://www.me.mtu.edu/~jdschust/cliffs/
Museums in the Ironwood area, including Hurley WI
http://www.ironwoodchamber.org/museums&heritage.html
These were hardly fly by night operations.
dehusmanTry searching the HABS-HAER site. It will take a bit of sorting through a lot of hits but in less than 5 minutes I found the Soudan Iron Mine.
The HABS-HAER site is part of Library of Congress.
Library of Congress online.
www.loc.gov
then click "American Memory"
Then select Architecture/Landscape... opens 9 collections.
Then select "Built in America: Historic American Buildings Survey/Historic American Engineering Record/Historic American Landscapes Survey, 1933-Present"
1933 refers to when they started measuring, drawing scale drawings and photographing buildings and works of engineering. The collection includes building BUILT before that date, maybe centuries before, and data collected SINCE that date.
Once in collection, enter your search.
I tried "coke oven" and got 109 items. The ones labelled "Built in America" usually include scale drawings, multiple photographs from different angles and explanatory text for each identified building or complex.
Thanks for all the tips. I will be running them all down. In two weeks I will be visiting Michigan's Copper Country and on the way back I think I will tour the Iron Mining Museum in Negaunee. I will also check out what is in the MTU archives.
I know this is an old thread. By chance I ran across this site that has pictures of most of the surface facilities for the Michigan iron mines. This should point you in the right direction.
http://www.miningartifacts.org/Michigan-Iron-Mines.html
Hi, Redore,
What a fascinating collection of photos and information! Thanks for posting that link!
I especially love that photo of the Cliffs Mine Hoist Engine about midway down. Look at that gauge panel with the clock on the far wall, it looks like it would be just as suitable for a Royal Palace as much as a power house!
Ed
gmpullman...What a fascinating collection of photos and information! Thanks for posting that link!....
I agree. I would never have thought shaft-type mining of iron ore to be so extensive or that it would continue in use for so long.
Maybe I am just too much attached to the Copper Country, but these Iron Country mine shaft houses sure look bare boned in comparison to the elegant shaft/rock houses on the Copper Country. There is also more exposed gear. It just surprises me that adjacent contemporary mining areas would take such different approaches. I wonder if there is a technical reason or if iron mine owners were just cheaper. (Of course, I am being unfair and ignoring the odd looking Eygption revival shafts in Ishpeming.)
The old joke about "men were men" back in those days must certainly be true. I'm amazed at the size of the timbers in some of those underground photos. Hard to believe they were installed strictly with "manpower". Part of my job involves designing the civil infrastructure for open pit, gold, silver and copper mines. Now-a-days women drive the haul trucks!