• Sunday-What'sUP January 3 - 04:47 pm

One of the things I like most about doing Pasty Central's Day in History, is discovering the "leading edge" developments that have come out of this region over the years. This was an important day back in 1893 down at the Chapin Mine in Iron Mountain, as the world's largest steam pump had its finishing touches and final testing. The new Cornish Pump could remove almost 5 million gallons of water a day, allowing millions of tons of iron ore to be extracted over the next 39 years. But in 1932 the mining operation ceased, and later, in the early 80's, the Menominee Range Historical Foundation constructed a building around the pump to preserve it. See more of its unique history at Hunt's UPGuide, and thanks to Mary Hunt for the present-day picture.

Hope your New Year has gotten off to good start. It is certainly a cold one here in the Keweenaw, where publishing the Pasty Cam has started my morning for almost 12 years now. And a special thank you to all of the sponsors who help make these visits possible. Among the new sponsors this month: Lodestar Jewelry handcrafted designs from the Copper Country... Rabbit Bay Creations with some interesting uses for flour sacks... and Lonely Woods Estates, a nice retreat for some of our snowmobiling visitors.

Have a good week :o)

Thanks 4 sharing this piece of U.P. history.

Growing up in that area was unique: seeing the pump on the western crest of the Chapin Pit was an icon as we went to Lac Antoine to go swimming. It never looked like the ink drawing in my day since much of the metal was stripped away for the War Effort in WWII. Many of the surrounding mine buildings have long since been razed for housing lots. Too bad they didn't preserve the area like Quincy Mine, et al.

A number of years ago, I took the tour of this pump and was told the man in charge of the start-up of the pump and manager of the mine was James MacNaughton later the general manager of Calumet and Hecla Imc.

Having worked in and around mining most of my life I love these pics of the old days in the U.P. mining districts. Thanks for rekindling lots of memories.


Ray
ABQ

Thank you for photos about my hometown. Everyone knows about the mining in the Copper Country, but not very many people are aware about the mining in the Iron Mountain area. My great grandfather was a Cornish miner in the area. It was a hard life. Thanks for the photo!