Comments on: The Southern Range (p1)

By: explorer

explorer — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 00:27:26 +0000

After 387 posts I start running out of file names for my images, and began repeating some. And since I FTP my images into the blog, those old file names are simply overwritten with the new ones. This seems to happen from time to time, but this time I can’t seem to find the originals. So I’ll have to go back in the archives and look them up which will take time. So for now I just removed the images from these posts.

THanks for bringing it to my attention though. Glad you guys are reading my old stuff! I sure don’t.

By: dcclark

dcclark — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 23:55:12 +0000

Mike, I think that some newer and older articles have started conflicting here. I’m seeing photos from your new South Range series here, but the text and captions are from your older Southern Range series. For example, “Inside an Atlantic Mine shafthouse” is, in fact, Mission Orange! I didn’t know the mines approved of such product placement…

By: dcclark

dcclark — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 21:41:31 +0000

Holy cow, would I ever love that map. Partly because of locations of things I haven’t seen (I suppose there are some issues with private property), but also because it is very hard to find reasonably detailed maps of the Keweenaw (without buying every single USGS quad map for like $100!).

As far as the bib goes, I am sure you could get a little community involvement — even just posting a request to have your regular readers post useful links in the comments of the related articles.

By: Jay Balliet

Jay Balliet — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 19:34:13 +0000

Mike,

Thanks for the link to the Copper Handbook. More info for me to read.

I love the biblio idea also. It would be nice to have more resources easily accesible (via links) from one place.

As far as the master map goes, I’d bet people would be willing to purchase it.

By: explorer

explorer — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 16:25:44 +0000

Dang it, I hate it when my readers come up with really great ideas that result in a lot of extra work for me

Thats a really good idea. I’ve happened to come across quite a bit of stuff out there about this area (surprisingly really) and readers have supplied a lot more interesting stuff. I’ll have to work on that.

Right now my time has been spend putting together more of these Industrial Footprints maps in the hopes to put together a master map detailing every ruin along the Keweenaw. I’ll put the Biblio on the short list…

Thanks for the good suggestion! (I really don’t mind the work that much..)

By: dcclark

dcclark — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 16:06:41 +0000

Mike –

Yes, I think Whealkate Bluff was thought to be the highest point in the state for quite a while, too. I hear that there used to be snowmobile races up it — anyone who made it at all was a winner!

Also, I have a site suggestion — a bibliography page, listing the various (publicly available) resources you use. I don’t mean that I want you to cite things within the articles, but a list of pages and books for those who are interested in finding out even more would be awesome. For example, the Copper Handbook link, the MTU Digiarch link, Kevin’s copperrange.org page, etc. It would be an awesome addition for those of us who love exploring the Keweenaw!

By: explorer

explorer — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 15:41:28 +0000

The Copper Handbook is a great source - one I used extensively to compile this article. I almost put that quote in but I didn't have enough archive images to illustrate that much about the Whealkate, so I shortened everything quite a bit. Google books has generously scanned it and created a PDF file of it, which is how I got my hands on it. For anyone who's interested in reading it, heres a link. The view from Whealkate is incredible. If someone cleared off the top from trees (or built an observation tower) you could see both sides of the Keweenaw for sure. I believe it is the second highest point along the Keweenaw, only behind Mt. Horace Greeley (at 1,512 ft). We've been to a lot of high points along the Keweenaw, and this one was by far the hardest to scale, I almost didn't think I would make it! But worth it in the end.

By: dcclark

dcclark — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 18:09:43 +0000

Here’s a fun tidbit which I found about the Whealkate Mine (from the Copper Handbook, quoted in “Michigan’s Copper Country” by Ellis W. Courter):

“The mine should be dug up bodily and preserved for engraving upon the intellect of those who would be admonished. It is probably the finest example extant of how not to do it!”

Courter goes on to describe the mine itself. The first shaft was sunk in “quicksand” and abandoned. The second shaft was sunk vertically for 40 feet, then drifted. From this drift there was an incline shaft for 50 more feet, and then a cross-cut from the bottom of the shaft for 100 feet. Then, another drift. From that, a winzie went 540 feet down. The miners never found an ounce of copper.

I don’t think that any remains of the mine can be seen. I’ve climbed the bluff and wandered around — it’s an amazing view and an exhausting hike, straight up!

By: explorer

explorer — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 14:31:22 +0000

The collapse of the Atlantic’s hanging wall made headlines country wide, including this piece from the New York Times:

“Earthquake Near Houghton – More Than 50 Shocks at Atlantic Mine – Houses Rock, Earth Cracks

The most severe earth disturbances ever experienced in this region occurred at the Atlantic Mine to-day. There were more than fifty shocks. Buildings rocked violently, and in several places there are cracks in the earth from two to six inches in width. The shocks were distinct in Houghton and Hancock, but did no damage.

Great alarm prevails, and miners and their families are preparing to leave for other points in the copper country.

The Atlantic shut down two weeks ago as the result of similar disturbances. It is believed that it will never be reopened, as it would take a year to clear the shaft and drifts of fallen rock. ”

The New York Times – May 7, 1906