The Abandoned Ruins of the Quincy Mine Buildings: Hancock, Michigan
This mine goes as far back as 1846, when it was founded and named after the town of Quincy, Massachusetts (most of the funding came from Massachusetts, therefore a little stroking was in order).
The Quincy Mine eventually became the most successful of all the mid-1800s mines and was the top copper-producing mine from 1863-1867 throughout the entire United States.
From 1891 thru 1908, the company bought the mines Pewabic, Mesnard, Pontiac, and Franklin which helped them survive and exceed, only to be outdone by the Calumet & Hecla Mining Company and the Copper Range Company. The company built houses for their employees, who previously had to live in tents; many of these homes were three-story dwellings.
The company figured, 'nice homes, comfortable conditions – maybe they'll stay longer'. It worked.
Thanks to low copper prices, the Quincy mine shut down in 1931. When WW2 broke out, there was a new demand for copper and the mine re-opened. After the war, the mine was closed permanently.
Below are images of some of the Quincy Mine's outbuildings (thanks to This Van Life of Mine), which anyone can visit up in the Keweenaw Peninsula.
Ruins of the Quincy Mine Buildings
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