• Sunday-What'sUP July 13 - 09:59 pm

Would you believe there was a time when some folks believed the earth was a concave sphere, and we were living on the inside? A series of experiments performed at the Tamarack mines actually seemed to support such a theory. Hear about some observations that baffled Professor McNair in this week's Pasty Cameo about Tamarack Number Four. It's also a reminder of a sad occurrence at the same location 42 years ago this week.

Thanks to all who have contributed photos and ideas for Pasty Cameos, an extension of our long-time Sunday Shoebox Memory series. We hope to have a whole collection of these available sometime soon on DVD, to watch on a bigger screen.

Have a good week :o)

Very interesting Cameo today Charlie. I remember very well when that little girl fell into that shaft. As kids back in the early 60's, we would play around the old mining areas all the time, climbing the rock piles and exploring the old abandoned buildings. Back then all they had was barbed wire and Danger signs posted around the old shafts.

I can't wait for the DVD! Been asking for a while now. Thanks, Charlie. Love today's pictures.

I remember that story about the little girl falling into the shaft. So sad. Does anyone know where the Tamarack #4 is actually located?

David S - Take sixth street north, out of Calumet. As it meanders out of town there's a marker on the left.

Tamarack 3 & 4 shafts are located to the Northeast of Tamarack #5 which is at the intersection of M-203 and the Tamarack Waterworks Road. They are on the east side of Tamarack pond on one of the gravel roads branching off the Waterworks Road. There is a very good soft cover book: TAMARACK TOWN MINES-PEOPLE-PLACES by Paul T. Steele. This is still available. Tamarack 4 was the companion shaft for number 3 which was the production shaft in that area. 4 had a small shafthouse and was used for ventilation and hoisting men, timbers, and other materials. Neither Tamarack 4 or 3 was shown in today's Cameo. If you do visit the site, please be respectful as it is a grave and folks are still living close by.

My computer is messed up today. I keep getting cam notes pages with no comments.

Finally got the comments back.

Somebody from pasty sent me the directions a couple of years ago. I still have them somewhere. They were very good directions as I had no trouble finding it. It's a very sad, solemn place to visit. It brought back the memories from that time. I will look for the directions unless somebody sends them to you first.

My grandfather, Thomas Stiglich Sr. worked in Tamarack No. 4 and 5 and also helped to install the plug that was I believe 1100 feet below the surface in No. 4.

Wow, Mr. Harri got some altitude for that shot!

Wow! That cameo required a tissue....

Can anyone explain the purpose of the plug at the 1100 feet lever?? also, where the Tamarack shaft angled or vertical?? I heard that one of the shaft at Redjacket was a vertical shaft. Used for service and ore removal at the lower levels.

All five Tamarack shafts were vertical. They were sunk to reach the Calumet Conglomerate Lode at depth. I have no definitive answer about the plug at 1100 feet. There are several possibilities, but they are only speculation on my part. Tamarack 5 was kept open for the duration of C&H operations in and around Calumet. From 1923 to 1968 it served as a pump shaft to keep the Calumet Conglomerate Lode and Osceola Lode mines dewatered. There may have been some underground connections to the Kearsarge Lode. Maybe one of the guys that worked for C&H can tell us. They may also know the reason for the plug.

If anyone cares for more: Technical details of McNair's experiments in Tamarack shafts 2, 4, and 5 can be found starting at http://www.phy.mtu.edu/alumni/history/narr_3.html .