It wasn’t long after the new stamp mill at Torch Lake was constructed what Quincy underwent a dramatic increase in production – due mostly to the rich ground being opened along the No. 2 shaft. At first Quincy simply added new stamp heads to its mill at Torch Lake – adding an additional 40 feet to the building in 1892 to make room for 2 additional stamps. But this only bought Quincy time, as by the end of the century it was apparent that the existing mill – even with 5 stamp heads – could not keep up. A new mill was needed.

Mill No. 2 was built built in 1899 with operations commencing less then a year later. The new mill was almost identical to the first in terms of layout and machinery, but with one notable exception: this new mill would be made of steel instead of wood. Steel construction was becoming more economical by the turn of the century in the Copper Country, and was favored by mine companies (and their insurance companies) due to its greatly reduced fire risk. The mill operated for 20 years but due to decreased production at the mine was forced to close in 1921 never to open again.

Due to its early closure as compared to its twin – the ruins of the No. 2 Mill are far more overgrown and hard to find. Sitting in the woods just north of the Turbine building, the remains of the mill take the form of a step-stair foundation rising three stories up the side of the hill. We came across the ruins by following the old tram-line used to bring copper from this mill back to the Mineral House at the No. 1 Mill. The tram line entered the No. 2 mlll at its wash floor, where dozens of slime tables would have been found. Today this level is highly overgrown, and only a few scattered foundations could be found in the brush.

What we did find that was rather interesting was the old utility tunnel used to run the steam and water pipes from the boiler and pump houses down on the lake up to the mill. Most of the tunnel had collapsed, but looking down its length we could make out a few pipes rising up to the mill floor above.

We also found the remains of what might have been the large doors sitting at the mineral-tram’s entrance to the mill. The angled slates match similar doors seen in old photographs of mine buildings. But that’s what I wrote at the time – I’m thinking now that it also looks very similar to a Wifley Table tops found at the No. 1 mill. (there even appears to be hardware still attached to its top)

Along the perimiter of the wash floor were a series of metal beams – most likely the remains of the buildings exo-skeleton. These have been cut off a few feet up from the floor and are hiding rather well in the deep weeds surrounding the mill.

Rising up along the wash floor was a rather tall concrete wall – which forms the forward foundation to the second level. At the first mill this feature was hidden along the brick addition’s back wall. Here it stands tall all by itself.

Set in constant intervals along the walls length was a series of concrete stairways (as seen from above in this photo). Some of these staircases were destroyed, while others were too littered by debris to scale. This one was relatively clear, so we used to to get up to the next level.

The mill’s second level would have held rows upon rows of roughing and finishing jigs. The jigs are long gone, but the foundations on which they sat still remain laid out in nice parallel lines. Also scattered about these concrete pillars are a series of other odds and ends of interest:

Like this old light fixture…

Or this thing which I have no idea what it is…

And this large steel pipe sticking up from the foundation. Because of its large size and the type of coupling on its end I assume this is a water pipe.

Also sitting on this level is this trench, which probably once transported slime and water along the jigs and down to the next level.

Making our way to the end of this level we climb a very short wall (maybe half a foot tops) to what most likely was the third level of the building. This level would have housed the large steam stamps, but we couldn’t find any obvious foundations for them. What we did find was this odd line of metal brackets which sit atop a concrete slab smack dab in the middle of the mill floor. No idea what this is for either, though I don’t think its related to the stamps.

Backing this third level was a towering wall of poor rock – sitting a good 10 feet above out heads. We find these walls on almost every mill we explore, so we knew exactly what it was. This wall supported the rock bins used to store copper rock before being fed into the waiting stamps. A row of steel bins would sits atop the wall, and over them would run a trestle over which the rock cars would be pulled. They would then dump their cargo down into the bins.

And interesting detail to this wall was these rectangular holes set along its surface. Due to the fact there were three of them and they were equally spaced across the face of the wall – I think they had something to do with the stamps (this mill had 3 stamps). No idea what the purpose would be however.