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Station: Mansfield, MI |
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Michigan's Internet Railroad History Museum |
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Mansfield Mine was opened in 1889 and was the only mine to have a Bessemer ore-type deposit. A railroad was built to the mine in1890. The mine was operated by the Mansfield Mining Company until the fall of 1893 when the river broke into the workings, resulting inthe loss of 27 lives. The property was then abandoned and everything of value was removed. In 1894, a great forest fire hit the village and completely destroyed all the buildings except the mine timber headframe.
Later, the river was diverted by digging a canal and a dam was constructed across the old river channel to prevent water from backing up. The ore body revealed as much more extensive than originally believed and ore was reclaimed by the open pit method. To continue operations, the old shaft house was moved and a new shaft was sunk. [Iron County Historical Society information] |
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