“The Isle Royale Mine originally opened in 1852, on a section of the Isle Royale lode squeezed between the Grand Portage to the north and the Huron on the south. By 1854 the mine was joined by a small stamp mill, joined to the mine by a 2-mile long tramway. Unfortunately the mine found little success, and was leased on tribute to the Mabbs brothers. They too were ultimately unsuccessful, and the mine closed down by 1882. In the end over a million dollars was sunk into the property – with very little results to show for it.

In 1899 the mine was given a new lease on life, having been bought up along with the neighboring Grand Portage and Huron Mines in the formation of a new mining company – known as the Isle Royale Copper Company. Fueled by a large investment by none other then C&H itself, the new company got to work sinking a new series of shafts in the old Isle Royale Lode – this time with a little more success for their efforts.”