Mine: Osceola Mine, MI 

Old Osceola Mine → Osceola Mine → Became

Operated for:

From: 1877

Owned by: 

Produced: Copper Ore

Method: Underground shafts (12).

Railroad connection: Mineral Range railroad 

Stamp Mill/Smelter: Hubbell.and Dollar Bay.

Until: 

Lifetime Production: 

Notes

The Osceola Mine was located just southwest of Calumet on the Calumet Conglomerate in Houghton County. It was first worked in 1877. In total, there were 12 shafts for this mine and the nearby Old Osceola Mine. It was a profitable operation over the years. The mill for this mine was located in Hubbell.

The company, along with the Tamarack Mining company announced plans to build a new coal and merchandise dock at Dollar Bay. The new dock will entail a longer rail haul to the mines, but will save charges of 10 to 50 cents a ton now made by the Calumet & Hecla Co. through the Torch Lake Canal on all cargoes going to Lake Linden. [RG-1895]

Time Line

1874. March. The managers of the property have already stamped some of their rock at the Albany & Boston stamp mill, which they have leased for a term. The Mineral Range railroad runs through the center of the property. The company has already sunk 3 shafts on the so-called Calumet vein. No. 1 shaft is only about 600 feet from the end of the Hecla property. The shafts are about 430 feet apart. Drifting has commenced at No. 1 and 2 shafts, and as soon as No. 3 is down low enough drifting will commence there also. Attached to each shaft house is a rock breaker and as soon as landed the rock is put through it, breaking it small enough for the mill, and the cars are loaded direct from the shaft houses, from which a branch runs to the Mineral Range Railroad by which company the rock is carried a distance of seven miles to the Albany & Boston, at which place another branch has been made direct to the stamp mill. [DFP-1874-0305]

1895. September 7. Osceola Mine, Calumet, Houghton County - Fire on 27th level - 30 fatalities.

1923. The Ahmeek, Allouez, Centenial, Osceola an C&H mining companies were merged into the Calumet & Hecla Consoldated Copper Company. The first four properties had been served by the Mineral Range railroad which was considered expensive. A right-of-way along the Trap Rock River valley was secured and construction begun in June 1924. [CRR]

1924. At the time of merger, the Osceola Mining Company owned $145,800 worth of Mineral Range railroad stock (possibly as the result of sponsoring the Hancock & Calumet railroad which was merged into the MR). [CRR]

1925. September. The new Trap Rock Valley Railroad was completed. [CRR]