Remember when?
Jorgen J. Eskil, pioneer Menominee Range photographer, took a number of photographs at the Commonwealth Mine in 1890. This is of the mine. Note the horse or mule being used for tramming on the trestle to the left of the mine shaft. (Menominee Range Historical Museum)
The office building of the Commonwealth Mine, located near the superintendent’s residence, taken by photographer Jorgen J. Eskil in 1890. The house at the far left probably was used by another mining official. (Menominee Range Historical Museum)
The superintendent’s house of the Commonwealth Mine, taken by photographer Jorgen J. Eskil in 1890. Superintendent William E. Dickinson lived here with his family between 1881 and 1891. (Menominee Range Historical Museum)
This view taken by photographer Jorgen J. Eskil in 1890 shows the road leading to the Commonwealth Mine with the superintendent’s house at the left and office building to the right. (Menominee Range Historical Museum)
Jorgen J. Eskil, pioneer Menominee Range photographer, took a number of photographs at the Commonwealth Mine in 1890. This is of the mine. Note the horse or mule being used for tramming on the trestle to the left of the mine shaft. (Menominee Range Historical Museum)
The office building of the Commonwealth Mine, located near the superintendent’s residence, taken by photographer Jorgen J. Eskil in 1890. The house at the far left probably was used by another mining official. (Menominee Range Historical Museum)
The superintendent’s house of the Commonwealth Mine, taken by photographer Jorgen J. Eskil in 1890. Superintendent William E. Dickinson lived here with his family between 1881 and 1891. (Menominee Range Historical Museum)
This view taken by photographer Jorgen J. Eskil in 1890 shows the road leading to the Commonwealth Mine with the superintendent’s house at the left and office building to the right. (Menominee Range Historical Museum)
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This week's "Remember when?" examines the Commonwealth Mine in Florence County, from information provided by the Menominee Range Historical Museum.
The Commonwealth Mine was discovered by Hiram D. Fisher in 1876 and operated between 1880 to 1916. Fisher also founded the Town of Florence.
The Commonwealth Iron Company opened the Commonwealth Mine in 1880 with Oglebay, Norton & Company, serving as sales agent and fee owner. The Commonwealth Mine Group was composed of these individual mines: Commonwealth, Buckeye, Davidson and Badger. The greatest vertical depth was 825 feet, achieved by the Buckeye Mine in 1952.
Between 1880 and 1916, a total of 2,920,990 tons of iron ore was shipped via the Chicago and North Western Railroad to Escanaba and loaded onto Great Lakes ore carriers.
William E. Dickinson served as superintendent and lived with his family at the superintendent's house between 1881 and 1891. His son, Willie, was kidnapped on Nov. 1, 1881, and never found. Later, Otto Conrad Davidson was superintendent of the Commonwealth Mine. He married Dickinson's daughter, Charlotte Sophia. He was later superintendent of the Oliver Iron Mining Company, living in what is now the Chippewa Club in Iron Mountain.
A softening market for low-grade soft hematite ore led to the closure of local mines around Commonwealth.
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"Remember when?" appears every Wednesday in The Daily News. Those with suggestions or historical photographs they would like to submit can email Terri Castelaz at tcastelaz@ironmountaindailynews.com.