Quincy Mine facts for kids
|
Quincy Mining Company
Historic District |
|
The #2 Shafthouse (left) and the Hoist House (right)
|
|
 Location in Michigan
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | Franklin Township, Houghton County, Michigan |
|---|---|
| Nearest city | Hancock, Michigan |
| Area | 779 acres (3.15 km2) |
| Architect | Quincy Mining Co. |
| NRHP reference No. | 89001095 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
|
| Added to NRHP | February 10, 1989 |
| Designated NHLD | February 10, 1989 |
The Quincy Mine is a large group of copper mines located near Hancock, Michigan. The Quincy Mining Company owned and ran these mines from 1846 to 1945. Some work continued into the 1970s. The Quincy Mine was often called "Old Reliable." This is because the company paid money to its investors every year from 1868 to 1920. The Quincy Mining Company Historic District is a special place in the United States. It is recognized as a National Historic Landmark District. Other nearby Quincy Mine sites are also important. These include the Quincy Mining Company Stamp Mills, the Quincy Dredge Number Two, and the Quincy Smelter.
Contents
History of the Quincy Mine
The Quincy Mine started in 1846. Two companies, the Northwest Mining Company and the Portage Mining Company, joined together. They had accidentally bought the same land. This happened because of poor communication between government offices. Both companies had bought land during the mining rush of the 1840s. The leaders decided to merge. A lot of money came from Massachusetts. The town of Quincy, Massachusetts gave the mine its name.
Many other copper mines began at this time. But the Quincy Mine became the most successful. It was the country's top copper producer from 1863 to 1867. It produced more than the Minesota Mine in 1863. Then, the Calumet and Hecla produced more after 1867.
Mining Methods Change
The Quincy Mine was the first copper mine in Michigan to change how it mined. It switched from "fissure mining" to "amygdaloid mining." This happened in 1856. A new copper deposit, called the Pewabic amygdaloid lode, was found on Quincy's land.
Fissure mining found large, pure pieces of copper. But these pieces could take a long time to remove. This made it very expensive. Amygdaloid mining was different. It dug out rock with small pockets of copper. This rock could be blasted out quickly. Then it was sent away to be processed. This method was much cheaper.
Amygdaloid mining was much more productive. The Pewabic lode was very rich and large. This allowed the Quincy Mine to make profits for 53 years in a row. The company grew by buying nearby properties. They bought the Pewabic mine in 1891. They also bought the Mesnard and Pontiac mines in 1897. The Franklin mine was bought in 1908. This helped the Quincy Mine last longer than almost all other copper mines in the Keweenaw Peninsula. Only the Calumet and Hecla Mining Company and the Copper Range Company lasted longer.
Worker Housing
The Quincy Mining Company wanted to attract good workers. So, they built and took care of homes for their employees. In the beginning, workers lived in simple tents. Later, the company built full three-story houses. These were built just before the mine closed.
The company leaders on the east coast wanted to build nicer homes. They wanted homes with things like electricity and running water. But the local managers thought these things were not needed for miners. However, the east coast leaders understood something important. If they offered better homes, miners would be more likely to stay. They would raise families and not leave for other mining companies. This plan worked well. It helped the Quincy Mining Company remain a top mining company in the area.
Mine Closure
The Quincy Mining Company stopped mining in 1931. This was because copper prices were very low. But during World War II, the mines opened again. This was because more copper was needed for the war. After the war, the government stopped supporting copper prices. The mines then closed for good.
Amazing Engineering at the Mine
When the mine closed in 1945, the Quincy Number 2 shaft was the longest mine shaft in the world. It went down 9,260 feet (about 2.8 kilometers or 1.75 miles) at an angle. If measured straight down, it was 6,200 feet deep.
To move ore and workers in this huge shaft, the world's largest steam-powered mine hoist was built. It was finished in 1918. This giant machine was kept in the Quincy Number 2 Hoist House. The Nordberg Steam Hoist and its strong concrete building cost over $370,000 in 1918. The building was made in the Georgian style with brick and Italian-tiled walls.
This huge hoist weighed more than 880 tons. It could lift 10 tons of ore at 36.4 miles per hour. It saved the company $16,080 in fuel costs in its first year. The hoist sat on the largest concrete slab ever poured at that time. This slab used 3200 cubic yards of concrete. It also had over 8 tons of metal to make it strong. The Number 2 Hoist House was one of the first buildings of its kind. It was a very decorative building. It was used to impress investors who came to visit.
The Mine Today
Today, the Quincy Mine is a popular place to visit in the Keweenaw Peninsula. The Quincy Mine Hoist Association takes care of the buildings and grounds. They offer tours of the Number 2 Hoist House. You can also visit the 7th level of the mine during the summer. Visitors ride to the 7th level on the Quincy and Torch Lake Cog Railway. Many buildings have museum exhibits. The mine and the areas around it are part of Keweenaw National Historical Park.
Two old trains from the Quincy & Torch Lake Railroad are still on site. This railroad used to carry the mine's ore to a mill. Locomotive #1, named Thomas F. Mason, is a 32-ton train built in New York. Locomotive #6 was the last train bought for the line in 1913.
The Number 6 Shaft House used to be a very famous building. It is often seen in old photographs. It was known for its beautiful design.
The mine shafts and tunnels have slowly filled with groundwater since the mine closed. The water now reaches up to the seventh level. This means all lower levels cannot be reached. The seventh level is drained by a large tunnel called an adit. This adit is also the entrance for mine tours. It was built in 1892. It was originally five feet high and three feet wide. Michigan Tech made it larger in the 1970s for a mining study.
See also
- Copper mining in Michigan
- Copper Country Strike of 1913-1914
- Underground mining (hard rock)
Images for kids
-
Original No 2 Shaft Rock House
-
No 2 Shaft Rock House
-
Share of the Quincy Mining Company, issued 8. February 1876
-
Quincy Mine native copper specimen, arborescent crystal cluster on matrix. Size: 15.9 x 9.2 x 6.0 cm.
-
No 2 Hoist House (left) and Old No 2 Hoist House (right)
-
Supply Office (background) and Powderhouse
