Osceola Mine

The Osceola Mine was a copper mine consisting of 11 shafts^[1] located in Osceola Township, Houghton County, Michigan.^[2] It was the site of the deadliest mine disaster in the Copper Country.^[2]

History

In 1873, the Osceola Mining Company formed working the Calumet Conglomerate.^[1] In 1877, the mine discovered the Osceola Amygdaloid.^[1] Osceola Mining Company merged with Opechee Mining Company in 1879 to form Osceola Consolidated Mining Company.^[1]

The company was taken over by the Calumet and Hecla Mining Company in 1909 and merged in 1923.^[1] Calumet and Hecla operated the mine until 1931. The mine was reopened in the 1950s and permanently closed in 1968 due to the labor strike that shuttered Calumet and Hecla.^[1]

Osceola Mine fire

On 7 September, 1895, a fire broke out in the No. 3 shaft of the Osceola Mine.^[2] The cause is unknown,^[2] but the large quantity of timber in the mine contributed to the fire's ferocity. Smoke eventually reached the No. 4 shaft, where most of the bodies were found.^[2] 30 people died, including four boys, mostly from smoke inhalation.^[2] When the fire was discovered, over 200 miners were underground.^[3]

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d e f} "Osceola Mine, Osceola, Houghton Co., Michigan, USA". mindat.org. http://www.mindat.org/loc-17462.html. Retrieved 5 September 2011. 
2. ^ ^{a b c d e f} Hauglie, Kurt (5 September 2011). "Remembering a disastrous day". Daily Mining Gazette. http://www.mininggazette.com/page/content.detail/id/521820/Remembering-a-disastrous-day.html?nav=5006. Retrieved 5 September 2011. 
3. ^ "Calumet, MI Osceola Mine Fire, Sept 1895". GenDisasters. http://www3.gendisasters.com/michigan/483/calumet,-mi-osceola-mine-fire,-sept-1895. Retrieved 5 September 2011.