As mines matured so too did the scope of their endeavors, a development most noticeable when looking upon the mine’s surface plant. In their youth mines were obsessively utilitarian in practice, investing only in the most essential of equipment and infrastructure. At this stage surface plants were often small and humble, built primarily of wood and absent any semblance of grandeur. But as that mine aged and grew, those once mundane surface plants were quickly transformed into something of a much higher calibre. Gone were the wood framed buildings of old and in their place were erected monumental stone structures housing the newest and largest pieces of steam powered machinery.

This trend is most easily recognized as you move from a mines earliest shafts towards their most recent – as the wood framed buildings standing atop the older shafts make way for the more impressive stone behemoths erected atop the newest. Perhaps no where is this as recognizable as it is at Mohawk. Especially when you take a look at what stills stands at the site of the mines newest and last shaft to be sunk – the No.6.

Though we’ve visited this site before it happened to have been one of my earliest explorations and one that I felt was rather lacking in properly conveying the rather awe-inspiring presence emanating from the ruins that remain here. That troublesome oversight of mine was further amplified when I arrived to the old site for a second time, and had forgotten exactly how awe-inspiring it really was to be standing at the base of these impressive towers of stone. Though the route of our approach revealed a less then stellar first impression – shrouded heavily in foliage as it was – that view was quickly transformed when we cut our way through the dense underbrush to the ruin’s base.

Here we were greeted by this massive stone wall, one that towered a good dozen feet above our heads. Cut into its breadth were several large window openings which gave the unique impression of parapets gracing an ancient fortress.

At the base of the fortress walls were several old concrete foundations – similar to the one seen here. Without any visible bolts or other connecting hardware, we were sure that we had discovered a boiler house – a theory that was later proven correct by Sanborn maps.

More evidence of a boiler house – these “U” shaped foundations that we’ve found at other boiler house remains.

At the opposite end of the building we find yet another wall, this one almost as equally impressive as the first. Actually its a tad more impressive, considering it still has (semi) intact windows.

We make our way around the wall to its opposite side, stopping briefly to admire its massive bulk in profile. Thanks to the fact that the rear and front walls of the old boiler house fell down years ago, this particular wall is virtually free standing without any external support of any kind. Amazing.

Around the walls front side we find two window openings complete with cream brick accents.

Before leaving the boiler house behind we take one last look through its windows into an interior that had once housed a pair of large boilers. Today it’s home to a nice collection of trees. Moving on….

To Be Continued…

The Mohawk No.6 surface plant sits on private property and is not open to the public.