Milford Mine facts for kids
Entrance to the Milford Mine site
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| Date | February 5, 1924 |
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| Location | Milford Mine, Wolford Township, Minnesota |
| Casualties | |
| 41 killed | |
| 7 survivors | |
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Milford Mine Historic District
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 Location in Minnesota
Location in the United States
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| Area | 180 acres (73 ha) |
| Built | 1912–1932 |
| NRHP reference No. | 11000525 |
| Designated HD | August 10, 2011 |
The Milford Mine was a place where workers dug for iron ore in Wolford Township, Minnesota. This ore contained a lot of manganese, which is used to make steel. On February 5, 1924, a terrible event happened there. It was called the Milford Mine Disaster. This was the worst mining accident in Minnesota's history.
During the disaster, water from a nearby lake flooded the mine. This sad event killed 41 miners. Only seven men were lucky enough to escape to safety. Today, the mine site is a special place. Since 2010, Crow Wing County has been developing it as the Milford Mine Memorial Park. In 2011, the area was listed as the Milford Mine Historic District on the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's an important historical site.
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About the Milford Mine
Miners first started digging for iron ore at Milford Mine in 1917. By 1924, the mine was very deep, about 200 feet (61 meters) down. George H. Crosby owned the mine at that time. In 1924 alone, workers dug up 70,000 tons of ore.
The ore from Milford Mine had a lot of manganese. Manganese is a key ingredient used to make steel. This special ore was sent from the mine to Duluth. From there, it traveled to steel factories in big cities like Detroit and Cleveland.
The Milford Mine Disaster
The disaster happened when a part of the ground above the mine collapsed. This cave-in was at the eastern end of the mine. It opened a path directly to Foley Lake, which was nearby. In less than 20 minutes, the mine shaft filled with water. The water rose to within 15 to 20 feet (4.6 to 6.1 meters) of the surface.
Seven men managed to get out of the mine and reach the ground safely. Sadly, 41 miners were trapped by the rising water or mud. Their bodies were recovered over many months. The last victim's remains were found nine months after the accident.
A Story of Survival
Frank Hrvatin, Jr. was one of the seven survivors. He was only 15 years old at the time. Frank worked in the mine with his father, Frank Hrvatin, Sr. On the day of the disaster, Frank Jr. was working with another miner named Harry Hosford.
When they saw the floodwater, they quickly ran for the ladder. This ladder went all the way up 200 feet (61 meters) to the surface. Miner Matt Kangas was ahead of them on the ladder. As the water rose, Kangas began to slow down because climbing was so hard. Frank Jr. bravely climbed between Kangas's legs and helped push him up the ladder. When Frank Jr. reached the surface, Hosford was waist-deep in the water. Frank Jr. reached down and pulled Hosford out of the mine. They were the last three miners to escape alive. Sadly, Frank Hrvatin, Sr., who was deeper in the mine, did not survive.
Miners Lost in the Disaster
Here are the names of the miners who lost their lives in the Milford Mine Disaster:
- Earl Bedard
- Mike Bizal
- Oliver Burns
- George Butkovich
- Emil Carlson
- Valentine Cole
- Evan Crellin
- Roy Cunningham
- Minor Graves
- Clinton A. Harris
- Fred Harte
- Elmer Haug
- John Hendrickson
- John Hlacher
- George Hochevar
- Herman Holm
- Frank Hrvatin, Sr.
- William Johnson
- Alex Jyhla
- Victor Ketola
- Leo J. LaBrash
- Arvid Lehti
- Peter Magdich
- Henri Palomaki
- John Maurich
- Ronald McDonald
- Arthur Myhres
- John Minerich
- Nick Radich
- Clyde Revord
- Gaspar H. Revord
- Nels Ritari
- Jerome Ryan
- Tony Slack
- Joseph Snyder
- Marko Toljan
- Mike Tomac
- Martin Valencich
- Arthur Wolford
- John Yaklich
- Fred Zeitz
After the Disaster
The Milford Mine Disaster had a huge impact on many families. Thirty-eight of the 41 miners who died were married. This meant that more than 80 children lost their fathers.
Finding the miners' bodies was very difficult and dangerous. The mine was full of mud and debris. Workers also worried about more cave-ins. It took many months to recover all the men's bodies. The last body was found on November 9, 1924. The mine started working again soon after that.
Minnesota's governor, J. A. O. Preus, set up a committee to investigate the disaster. The committee held meetings in May and June. Their final report said that no one was to blame for the accident. They concluded that no one knew how dangerous the mud rush from the lake would be.
The mine eventually closed in 1932. This was during the Great Depression, when there was less demand for steel.
