Mine: Monongahela Mine, Crystal Falls, MI

Began → Monongahela Mine → Columbia Mine

Operated for 55+ years.

From: 1901

Location: NE-NW, NE ½-NE and SE-NE Sec. 36 of T43N-R33W

Owned by: Hanna Furnace Co. (Hollister Mining Co.; later by Hanna Iron Ore Co. Shipment from trespass by Columbia mine in 1943. Acquired by Republic Steel Corp. in 1951. 

Produced: Iron Ore, hard and soft, red, high phosphorus.

Method: Underground.

Railroad connection: C&NW/MILW to Port of Escanaba.

Until: 

Lifetime Production: 1,352,591 tons between 1901 and 1943.

Source: [LSIO-1950]

Notes

Being developed in 1951 by Republic Steel Corp for operation with the Columbia Mine.

The Monongahela Mine was located in Crystal Falls in Iron County, and operated from 1892 to 1956. The mine included the "old" mine and the "new" mine. The old mine produced until 1903 and the new section from 1916 until 1934. From 1952 to 1956, the adjacent Columbia mine grew onto the Monongahela property removing ore through its own shafts.

The mine was located southwest of the Tobin Mine, about one mile southwest of downtown Crystal Falls.

The Monongahela was worked by the Oglebay, Norton and Company, the Pittsburgh and Lake Angeline Company (1901), Jones and Laughlin Limited (1902), Hanna Furnace Company, Hannah Iron Ore, and Republic Steel (1951). [MINDAT]

Property description: NE-NW, north ½-NE, and SE-NE Section 36, T43N-R33W. This L-shaped 160 acres lies between N46-4-59, N46-5-12, W88-22-1 and W88-22-58 and between N46-4-46, N46-4-59, W88-22-1 and W88-22-20.

Time Line

1900. This property, located just west of the Columbia, is under option to Oglebay, Norton & Co. The little water that was in the old working was pumped out, the shaft repaired, and an inspection of the underground workings showed there are two levels to the mine, one at a depth of 75 feet and the other at 125 feet. The upper level is about 75 feet long and crosscuts show that the ore varies in width from six to 20 feet giving an average of about 14 feet. The second level has about the same length but carries an average width of 24 feet. The hanging seems to be dipping away from the foot at a promising pitch and a new life of 70 feet is being sunk to test the deposit at a greater depth. Ore is of a fair grade. [DD-1900-0407]

1901. June There was a merry scrap on between the C&NW and the CM&StP last week over who should build into the Monongahela mine. The Northwestern started a crew and when the St. Paul got wind of it they too started work. The St. Paul fellows were stopped at first but later a compromise was made by which both companies built into the property so Jones & Laughlin will have a chance to ship over either or both roads. [DD-1901-0606]

1901. August. The Monongahela mine, the property of Jones & Laughlin, is another of the new shippers. Like the Tobin, this mine is shipping product over the CM&StP railroad although the C&NW extends to the property. The Monongahela deposit is a part of the west continuation of the Columbia vein and its product resembles the ore found in the west end of the Columbias, low in iron contents. The ore being shipped is from stockpile but the operators hope to get the skips going next week and then there will be a steady hoist for the balance of the season. [DD-1901-0817]

1911. The Monongahela Mine is purchased by Jones & Laughlin. [DD-1911-0427]

1913. The M.A. Hanna people will sink a shaft and open up the ore deposit which it proved to exist upon the E ½ of NE ¼ of Section 36, T43N-R33W. This ore is really a continuation of the ore in the Carpenter but the lands are owned by other parties  the same as those owning the Ravenna mine. [DD-1913-0426]