Mine: Chicagon Mine, Iron River, MI

Began → Chicagon Mine → Became

Operated for:

From: 1909

Location: NW-NE, S 1/2-NE and NE-SE Sec. 26 of T43N-R34W in Bates Township

Owned by: Monroe Iron Mining Co. (Rogers Brown Iron Co. agent); then Hanna Iron Ore Co. as a reserve.

Produced: Iron Ore, hard, red, high phosphorus an manganiferous. Crushed.

Method: Underground, worked by stoping method.

Railroad connection: C&NW to Escanaba dock; MILW to Escanaba dock (via E&LS).

Until: 1922

Lifetime Production: 1,234,339 tons from 1911-1922

Source: [LSIO-1950]

Notes

The Chicagon Mine was located near Chicagon Lake between Crystal Falls and Iron River in Iron County. There were three boarding houses, one for Swedes, ne for the Bulgarians and one for others.

This was about 3 miles northwest of Chicagon Lake. [MINDAT]

The mine was developed to a depth of about 1,400 feet with nine levels. The mine was closed because the ore had some manganese, 3-4% and was not in demand. The ore was trammed by hand and the machinery was steam operated. Old timers say there is a lot of ore left in the Chicagoan property and are confident that some day the mine will be operated again.

Time Line

1911. The Chicagoan Mine is located on the Northeast quarter of Section 26, 43-34 about seven miles east of Iron River and is operated by the Munro Iron Mining Company. Although first explored in 1881, the property was not brought to the shipping stage until this season. The old exploring shaft has been sunk to a total depth of 540 feet and the ore measures explored by three main levels, the 2nd, 3rd and 5th. The sub-level stoping system of mining is used. The mine is equipped with three 150 H. P. boilers; one No. 8 crusher, and temporary air compressors and hoist. Total shipments to August 1st 70,000 tons. [LSIO-1911]

1955. It was noted that the mine site is a tangle of underbrush grown in to reclaim the bustling mine and location which flourished from 1911 to 1921. Trees as big as your arm have grown up through the stockpile and the 20 near dwellings have been moved away. Hardly a semblance of the mine headfame and surface plant can be detcted.