ISHPEMING — On New Year’s Day of 1889, the Iron Ore published a special edition. It was the only time the newspaper ever did this.

No photographs, but instead the newspaper was filled with wonderful illustrations by Will Bradley. He wasn’t working for the Iron Ore but travelled back to Ishpeming to help. For us, this special edition provides a unique look back at life in Ishpeming in 1889.

The special edition was much larger than the normal edition. There were 8 pages devoted to history and institutions in Ishpeming, including an overview of the mines in Ishpeming, while the second section, entitled “Our Town” featured businesses in Ishpeming, probably those businesses who were willing to pay a fee to be included in the special section.

The first two and a half pages of the history section are devoted to the history of the Upper Peninsula and Ishpeming isn’t really mentioned until the third page.

“It was not the beauty of the placed, however, that attracted those who first came here to carve out a home and fortune. Of the objects and trials of those hardy pioneers we have previously spoken.

The village of Ishpeming was incorporated in 1869 by the purchase and laying out of the Iron Cliffs addition by Mr. Robert Nelson, founder of the town. Capt. G.D. Jonson was president. In 1873 the village threw off its swaddling clothes, being incorporated as a city, with Capt. F.P. Mills mayor, W.F. Swift recorder. From that time the city has grown and flourished — slowly, true, but it has increased in a substantial way.” (Iron Ore, January 1, 1889)

“In the presentation of the subject under the heading at the beginning of this column – Ishpeming — we will first turn our attention to the natural resources — the mines — commencing with the Lake Superior for the reason that it stands first in number of tons produced, not only of the mines in this city, but of those of the United States as well.” (Iron Ore, January 1, 1889)

“During the present season, it (Lake Superior Mine) sent out 240,317 tons, making a grand total of shipments since work first began, of 3,940,473 (tons). Few people can realize what this amount of ore means. To illustrate, the reader can imagine a train of cars over one thousand miles in length, this train being loaded with Lake Superior mine ore. From this they can get some idea also of the extent of the underground workings of the property.” (Iron Ore, January 1, 1889)

Next on the list was the Cleveland mine. “The Clevland mine, operated by the Cleveland Iron Mining Company, is situated in the easter portion of the two, and is the pioneer mine of Ishpeming. It was away back in the ’40’s’ that the big bluff to the southeast of the present mine workings was reported upon by explorers who were looking over this region. It was pronounced to be a mountain of solid ore, and to gain possession of it, several parties started out. The first to reach the spot was Mr. John Outhwaite, father of our townsman who bears the same name. He also began the first agricultural work in place by planting several hills of potatoes, this being evidence of his intention to faithfully perform the duties of a homesteader.” (Iron Ore, January 1, 1889)

“On the second level there is the same excellent condition of things observable in those below, and an additional deposit, that was lately found by the diamond drill to the south of the main body of ore, 100 feet, is now being drifted for. This shows a thickness of 40 feet by the drill cuttings. This ore is similar in structure and quality to that mined on this level. In addition to the stopes being wrought there are several that are idle for the reason that they are too low in iron in iron, running about 59 per cent. This would be a fine ore in some parts of the country, in the southern states, for instance, where the ores will not average better than 40 per cent, and require a large quantity of flux to smelt. Here in this Lake Superior region, however, where the finest ores in the world are mined, 59 per cent is considered too low to touch, especially at times when the market is slow and prices low.” (Iron Ore, January 1, 1889)

It should be noted that each of the sections on the mines included technical details, such as types of machinery used, tonnage and type of ore and more. The Iron Ore was devoted to mining so they probably already had that information on hand. Besides, iron mining was at the foundation of Ishpeming.

“The Lake Angeline commenced operations in 1864, at a point that is now beyond its most easterly working. It was operated in a very modest way, as an open pit, securing a yearly product of anywhere from 15,000 to 30,000 tons. People generally didn’t pay much attention to it. The ore was good, furnacemen asked for it, but the product was so small that it amounted to but little. About 40 men were given employment, and the property was but a small help to the city. In 1882 the yearly product was but 14,578 tons and the prospects for the future looked exceedingly gloomy.

It was about this time that a well was sunk on the company’s land and in this well ore was found. It led to further exploration that gave great encouragement, and subsequent developments have proved that for twenty years the real value of the property was unknown. ” (Iron Ore, January 1, 1889)

About three years later the waters of Lake Angeline would be drained in order for the Lake Angeline mine, and two others, to mine the ore underneath the lake.

“Under the above name (Cliffs Shafts) the Iron Cliffs company is operating an extensive property in this city, having taken the place of the Barnum mine. The latter adjoins the Lake Superior immediately upon the west and have been wrought since 1868. It derives its title from one of the principal owners, Hon. W.H. Barnum of Connecticut.” (Iron Ore, January 1, 1889)

“In the stead of the ‘old Barnum,’ as it is familiarly known to the people here, the company has a comparatively new mine lying to the northeast of the old one several hundred feet, possessing a more extensive ore body and one that bids fair to continue in force for a great many years.” (Iron Ore, January 1, 1889)

The other mines talked about would include the Salisbury, the East New York and the York mines. Several gold mines were in a separate section, the Ropes, the Michigan, and the Lake Superior.