Mohawk Remains

Most of the copper mined on the Keweenaw came from a narrow strip of land only 25 miles in length. At the northern end of this strip you will find the relatively successful Mohawk Mine. This sprawling mine (all six shafts of her) along with the Ahmeek Mine to the south employed over 1600 people at their peak. These people needed places to live, and shop, and eat, and play. Thus the village of Mohawk was born.

Mohawk was a border town – the last stop before entering the wild, rugged and sparsely populated lands to the north (at least by 1920). Most rail lines stopped here, including the interurban line that brought people here as far south as Houghton. Only the Keweenaw Central pushed further north – but there wasn’t much need to do so. Mohawk was the end of the line – the last stop in civilization.

Driving through Mohawk now, very little would indicate the role it once played. But look closer, a quick glimpse through the houses reveal mountains of rock scattered on its borders. Drive the side street and you’ll find them – the remains of the Mohawk that was. These are the poor rock piles – the Mohawk Mine’s leftovers and waste collected into piles. Piles we quickly climbed to find what we could find. After driving up No. 5 road, we found ourselves at Mohawks doorstop. We also found ourselves starring at these same rock piles. The more modern mine ruins we discovered previously were from the mines later years (shafts 5 and 6). These piles were a bit older – they dated to the mine’s beginning and belonged to the earlier shafts (1 through 4). As with any rock pile we find, the first order of business is to climb them.

These piles were massive, not in height but in area. After climbing atop the #1 pile, we found ourselves atop a rock plateau stretching far off to the horizon. Most piles we find our peaked like a mountain, but these seemed shaved off at the top and pushed outward. Walking along the wasteland we could look out over the Allouez gap. We had seen this before, but from the other side at North Kearsarge. In fact we could see that pile from here way in the distance. More interestingly, we could even see Calumet, the silhouette of Centennial #6 and the twin spires of St. Pauls as well. It was an awesome view.

Moving back down the pile we could make out a large structure in the trees nearby. It was made from Jacobsville sandstone and appeared to possibly be the rock house. We tore our eyes off of the view before us and went down to investigate.

Tomorrow: Mohawk #1…

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