Mine: Baltic Mine, Baltic, MI

Began → Baltic Mine → Became

Operated for: 33 years.

From: 1882 exploration work. 1897 by Baltic Mining Company.

Owned by: Baltic Mining Company, after 1917 owned by Copper Range Company

Produced: Copper Ore

Method: Underground shafts (5). #3 shaft was the deepest at 3,839 feet.

Railroad connection: COPR - Copper Range Railroad. Also by Atlantic & Lake Superior railroad early on.

Stamp Mill/Smelter: Atlantic stamp mill on Portage Lake, then new Atlantic mill in Redridge, then Baltic Mill in Redridge.

Until: 1931.

Lifetime Production: Produced 276 million lbs. of refined copper over 34 years. 

Image info: A view of the Baltic Mine #3 headframe looking north.

Notes

The Baltic Mine had a turntable and single locomotive house. [SBM-1907]

5 shafts. The mine had a double-tracked shaft. [HAL]

The Baltic Mine was located on the north end of the Baltic Amygdaloid, north of Trimountain in Houghton County. The mine was first worked in 1897. It ultimately had five shafts and was a profitable operation.

This was the last major new deposit opened in Houghton County. [UPM]

Though the Champion, Trimountain and Baltic mines were under separate ownership, they made temporary arrangements with other companies to mill and smelt their product prior to building their own stamp mills. [HAL]

Time Line

1897. John Stanton was an investor in the Baltic Mining Company. He also owned the nearby Atlantic Mine. The Baltic company purchases 180 acres of mineral land. [HAL]

1898. A new turn-table for the extension of the Atlantic & Lake Superior railway is being placed at the Baltic mine. When in position the Baltic will be in readiness to begin sending rock regularly to the Atlantic mill, where one head will be used exclusively for stamping Baltic rock. The crosscut of the Atlantic company on section is expected to reach the load at any day. [DFP-1898-1203]

1899. The Baltic lode has a shaft down thirty feet. The work has been carried on under some of the most trying circumstances, nevertheless, the men are now making good progress, and Mr. Van Orden says he will miss his guess if he does not hear some very good news from the mine in a very short time. [DFP-1899-0628]

1901. The newly reorganized Copper Range Consolidated Copper Company absorbed the Baltic Mine in a stock swap deal, which had been proposed by William A. Paine. [HAL]

1901. December. The mine begins operation, served by the Atlantic & Lake Superior railroad to bring aggregate to the stamping mill on Lake Superior.

1901. December 2. A new Copper Range Consolidated company was formed to consolidate the Baltic Mining Company and the Copper Range Company. Shares of the new company were to be issued one share for each share of the Baltic and 1.5 shares for shares of the Copper Range company. [CRR]

1905. A number of specially built cars have been received at Trimountain for use in conveying its mineral to the Michigan smelter. This class of cars will also be rendering service in the near future at Champion and Baltic, after which the use of barrels will be entirely dispensed with. [DFP-1905-0402]

1907. The electrical system is being changed from the direct to the alternating current and several months will be consumed in the work. The direct system will be used in the operation of new locomotives underground. [DFP-1907-0224][HAL]

1917. The mine was absorbed by Copper Range Company.

1917. After 1917, the surface plant was modernized and improved. [CCE]

1931. Mining ceases at the Baltic Mine.