Mine: Hemlock Mine, Amasa, MI

Began → Hemlock Mine → Amasa Mine

Operated for 26 years.

From: 1891

Location: W 1/2-SW Sec. 4 of T44N-R33W

Owned by: Hemlock River Mining Col. Lease surrendered.

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

Method: Underground, by stoping method. Depth: 500 feet.

Railroad connection: C&NW to Escanaba ore dock.

Until: 1919

Lifetime Production: 2,125,756 tons between 1891 and 1938.

[LSIO-1950]

Notes

Mine stopped production in 1919, but then shipped 75 tons in 1938. Possibly from stockpile.

Time Line

1890. August. Spur tracks are being built to the Alpha, Hemlock, Crystal Falls and Hollister mines, giving employment to a large force of men. [DD-1890-0809]

1904. June 27. John Hantala and Andrew Lahti were killed and Henry Thompson seriously hurt by the premature explosion of a blast in the Hemlock mine, Iron COunty. Hantala's head was blown from his body. [SJH-1904-0702]

1911. The Hemlock mine is located on the W. ½ of the S. W. ¼ of Section 4, Town 44, Range 33, near Amasa. The ore is a red hematite, extremely hard, and the back-stoping system is here applied. The property is thoroughly equipped with machinery and mine buildings, among the latter being a modern fire-proof dry house, with steel lockers, baths and emergency hospital. The Company has twenty-seven dwellings for the use of employees. The product is secured from one shaft, the mine being opened to the 14th level, at an angle of 65 degrees, depth, 1,200 feet. The first shipments were made in 1891. C. W. Hughes is superintendent. [LSMI-1911]