• Veteran's Day-What'sUP November 11 - 09:37 pm

The A.E. Seaman Mineral Museum is in the process of building at a new site on the Michigan Tech campus and during the ground breaking, a flooded mine shaft, believed to be on the Maab's Brothers lode, was unearthed. The last production of this mine shaft was in 1892 and at that time only produced a few tons of copper. This first shaft discovery was covered in the Daily Mining Gazette, but since then the builders have discovered an additional drift and shaft, along with a copper splash about a foot deep, where some copper specimens were collected from the rock that was pulled out of the pit. Bill Haller supplied us with the information and the photos here today and quite aptly described this as "history in the making" right here before our eyes, in Houghton. Bill noted what irony it is, that the new Mineral Museum is going to be located right over one of the mines that gave this area it's name... the Copper Country. His final comment points out how special this find really is: "How many "World Class Mineral Museums" can claim to [almost] house a one hundred year old mine?" Quite an exciting discovery indeed!

Don't forget that today is Veteran's Day, a day set aside to honor America's veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good of our country. Fly your flag proudly in their honor today and be sure to say thank you to the Veterans you know.

If you can read this, Thank a Teacher. If you're reading it in English, Thank a Vet!

Thank you, Bill Haller & Charlie. I had read the article in the Mining Gazette, and I was wondering how it is proceeding. Do we know if they are going to have to move the building, or something, in light of the mine shaft? The mine shaft is significantly deeper than they first thought, so I'm wondering how they are going to get a foundation for the building in over that shaft, or what they are going to do, or whether they have even decided that yet. I suppose Tech's Civil Engineering Dept could be a big help in the structural issues that might come up with it.

Thank you for your service to our country, to all of our veterans and our current service men and women!

A grateful "Thank you!" to all the vets who can read this and to those who have passed on, I will thank you when we meet.

God Bless America~~~Semper Fi!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I just don't get how Tech and OHM did not know that these structures were there before siting the building there. Tech has an great Archives collection. Tech educates engineers, geologists and archaeologists. They and OHM should realize that these hillsides are riddled with mine structures. No test borings??? I'm pretty sure I've seen maps that show those shafts in that general area so why didn't the "pros" look it up first? At any rate, I hope they don't just destroy/bury these artifacts and let this great opportunity go by the wayside.

And, thanks to our son, Josh Curtis, Iraq War Veteran, who just got out of the Army. We need to honor him and his comrades by remembering that we still have people fighting, getting wounded and dying in Afghanistan. Support Our Troops! Support Our Veterans!

Amen, Bobbysgirl! A simple sentence that says it all.
Blessed wishes to all those who've served and to those who are still serving!

Years ago the plan was to renovate the old machine shop and blacksmith shop at the Quincy to house the Seaman museum? What happened?

Richard, I remember that plan too!

Best wishes to all the veterans out there today, on this Veterans Day. Thanks for serving! And thank you as well to all of the active duty personnel currently serving and protecting our freedom. God bless America.

Richard. I asked the same on the Copper Country Forum. The answer was they are waiting for funding to do this at the Quincy Location. Some one donated funds to build this over the Mabb's Mine. Not sure why the monies were not just used at the Blacksmith Shop???? As I stated on their forum: Someone probably said "holy-Wa" when the ground opened up or some plain english four letter word.

It certainly would be appropriate if they could somehow incorporate the MAAB's mine into the musuem. Maybe like a 'glass bottom boat'.......ok, maybe not, but to preserve the mine would be outstanding. Looks to be in pretty decent shape for 100+ years old.

Thank you to all our troops ~ past and present ~ on this Veteran's Day and may we always be mindful that Freedom is NOT Free

A special thought for my brother who spent way too long in Viet Nam. I thank God he made it back and my thoughts and prayers go out to all of those and the families of those who didn't. God Bless our brave military!

Proud to say my nephew James Johnson is arriving in Afghanistan this Veterans Day. This is his 2nd tour. James you make myself and our country, America Proud!!! May God be with you!

On this day, I miss you, Terry and Larry.

'Thank You' to all the military people, past, present and future, for protecting us.

Kosk, thinking of you today. Your family is in our prayers.

As far as I know, the plan is to still move the Museum to the Quincy Hill site. What this new building does is give the Museum a temporary home (and much additional needed space) that is more accessible to people to visit. The building is being designed as both a Museum and a research facility so that when the day comes the Museum can be moved to Quincy Hill, the building will not sit empty. There are many more details behind this; I've only given the Cliff Notes version.

Concerning the unknown shafts: Even though there was a study done in the late 90's to map every mine opening on the Keweenaw, I'm sure there are still many that were never found. Realistically, you can't bore holes willy-nilly all over the hillsides looking for needles in the haystack; however, there was enough documentation for that area that I'm suprised no one caught it. I guess this goes to show that even the best engineers in the world aren't perfect!! J

Happy Veterans Day to all that served. I'm proud to be the son of one such Veteran whom I just visited and treated to dinner last weekend because I knew I wouldn't be there today......

Thank you, Dunerat. It's Remembrance Day here in Canada, though
for our family, every day is Remembrance Day. God Bless our Vets!

The Quincy Mine location is certainly a much better place for the Mineral Museum.

that is really cool.. and ... ironic haha hope they can preserve it as an exhibit in some way