Mine: Volunteer Mine (New), Palmer, MI

Maitland Mine → Volunteer Mine (new) → Became

Operated for 24+ years, continuing in 1950.

From: 1926

Location: NE Sec. 25 of T47N-R27W; Maitland, W 1/2-NW Sec. 30 of T47N-R26W

Owned by: Palmer Mining Co. (Pickands Mather & Co. agents)

Produced: Iron Ore, hard, gray-red, siliceous. Crushed.

Method: Shaft and open pit.

Railroad connection: DSS&A to Marquette dock. C&NW to Escanaba dock.

Stamp Mill/Pellet Plant:

Until: 

Lifetime Production: 4,574,470 tons between 1926 and 1950.

Source: [LSIO-1950]

Image info: A 1926 view of the new Volunteer Mine in Palmer. This would later become the Empire Mine, 40 years later. [Marquette History Center]

Notes

Shaft A and B were noted on the [CNWV] valuation maps.

The Maitland Mine became part of this operation. The new Volunteer shipped through 1960 and was sold to the Cleveland Cliffs for development of the Empire mine. [GS]

The Volunteer crushing plant and pocket loader land is buried under one of the Empire tailings piles.

The Volunteer got its name from its old days in the 1870's when the mining company operated in the summer and recruited teachers to work while school was out - they "volunteered" for the work.

A steam locomotive and mine cars were used to bring the ore from the open pit to the crusher. Ore was transported by the DSS&A to the Ann Street yard (and later the Hogan Ore yard) in preparation for transport to the dock. [GS]

Time Line

Pre-1916. The old underground Volunteer Mine south of this mine operated until 1916. [GS]

1917. A branch leaving the C&NW Cascade Branch at Palmer, going north. The Cascade Branch going west from this mine was taken up. [CNWV]

1918. Main tracks to the Volunteer mine were taken up by the C&NW. [CNWV]

1923. May. The spur to the Volunteer Mine coal trestle was taken up. [CNWV]