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Iron Mountain, Michigan, setting just north of the Wisconsin-Michigan border of beautiful Upper Michigan, is home to many past and present natural and man made wonders. Forests, waterfalls, lakes, and abundant wildlife surrounding the area have been a draw for people for hundreds of years. In 1866, the first deposit of iron ore was found in a neighboring community. In 1879, the Chapin Mine in Iron Mountain was started. While the abundant supply of water in the area was a plus for many of the areas new and expanding ventures, it was not a plus for the mines. It caused extremely wet and unfavorable working conditions. Ground pumps were used at the surface to keep ground water from seeping through the ground, thus decreasing some of the problems close to the surface. As the mines developed though, and the miners dug deeper and deeper, the abundant water supplies deep underground again caused problems.
In Cornwall, England, they had run into similar problems in their Tin mines, and in the process had developed giant pumps to help alleviate the water problems. A pump very similar in design to those used in Cornwall was designed in 1890 by the chief engineer, Edwin Reynolds, of the E.P. Allis Company, out of neighboring Wisconsin’s great city of Milwaukee. This was put into operation just west of ‘D’ shaft of the Chapin Mine on January 4, 1893. It was the largest steam powered engine ever to be built in North America.
This huge pump worked until August of 1898, when due to conditions underground, the pump shifted and stopped operations. The huge pump was then dismantled and put into storage, until 1908, when it was both moved and put back to work. This time it was assembled to help keep water levels under control at the ‘C’ shaft, of the still Chapin mine combined with the Ludington and Hamilton mines. The three mines had developed in such a close range to each other, that the pump benefited all three mines. In 1914, due to the advent of an electrically driven pump by the Oliver Mining Company, the Cornish pump was put shut down, only stored in the advent it would be available for an emergency.
Today, this magnificent wonder has been restored and stands in what is now the ‘Cornish Pumping Engine & Mining Museum. Located just two blocks off of US 2, on Kent Street, the museum opened in 1983, after the community rallied support that the wondrous steam engine not be dismantled and scrapped for good. Along with saving the pump, a museum of artifacts celebrating all aspects of the areas rich heritage of mining sprung up with it. Everything from photographs to mining equipment, geological specimens, and other artifacts from the mining days is on display. Also on display in the museum is a replica of a WW11 glider. The Iron Mountain area is also home to the famous ‘Pine Mountain Ski Jump’, the world’s largest wooden man made ski jump, also home to one of the world’s largest populations of brown bats, compliments of an abandoned mine shaft. Iron Mountain and the surrounding area of Dickinson County and neighboring northern Wisconsin is a perfect outdoor vacationers dream, offering fishing, hunting, snowmobiling, white water rafting, golf, hiking, swimming, and numerous other outdoor activities. For those interested in our nations rich heritage of mines, those fascinated by steam engines, or someone who would like to glimpse a part of our nations past, the ‘Cornish Pumping Engine & Mining Museum’ and surrounding area, is a must see stop.
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