A Re-Alignment
The Osceola Mine and the community that served it continued to grow up through the turn of the century. The mine expanded southward, opening two new shafts along the old Opechee Mine property. The town itself was expanded out as far as it could, stretching out until it sat right up against C&H property that surrounded it. But success in the Copper Country, no matter how constant, is fleeting. By 1890 C&H had discovered the Osceola Lode for themselves and had erected one of their shafthouses along the lode right up against Osceola - its shadow draping over the the worker housing of Osceola. Joining it was the shadow of another encroaching mine - the South Hecla No. 12 right to Osceola’s northwest. C&H was closing in around them and in 1909 took control of the mine and town.
Railroads of the Copper Country (DSS&A)
The Copper Country was a wild and rugged land as the 19th century approached its close. Transportation to and from the peninsula was done primarily by means of Lake Superior. While this water route allowed the area to grow during its initial copper rush, it had some limitations. Primarily of concern was the brutally long winter, in which the lake would become frozen and impassible. For those living on the peninsula this was a six month prison term, imprisoned behind 300 miles of snow and ice. During this time nothing got in or out of the area. Only the late thaws of spring would bring release - only six months away.
Arcadia Junction
The Arcadian Copper Company thought they were on to something big when they attempted to open the northern extension of the Isle Royale lode. At the southern end of the lode the Isle Royale Consolidated Mining company was finding some success, and the backers of the Arcadian were sure they would follow suit. So sure of what they had the company built an expansive surface plant atop Arcadian Hill consisting of 7 shafts as well as a large mill out at Point Mills.
Pt. Mills Junction
Most of you have passed by this large concrete abutment along M26 multiple time, as have I for over a decade before I finally decided to get a closer look. While its most recent use was as a large advertisement for the Arcadian Mine Tour (now Quincy Mine Tour), it had once been the centerpiece of a bustling transportation hub - the Pt. Mills Junction. There was a time when trains could pass through here towards all points of the compass: north towards the mills along Torch Lake, east to the Atlas Powder Plant at Senter, south towards the mills on Portage Lake (Pt. Mills), or west towards the Arcadian Mine and Junction. But with all things in the Copper Country its glory was short lived. Over the decades line by line was abandoned and ripped up and by 1960 the junction ceased to exist.
Back to the Junction
Our journey along the Mineral Range from Pt. Mills Junction ends not at the Arcadian Mine itself, but at Arcadia Junction a mile or so beyond. Here is where this Arcadian line joins back up with the Mineral Range mainline, at a large Wye half submerged by the waters of Boston Pond. We have been here before, but today we take a fresh new look thanks to the contribution of one of our readers (Thanks Gordy!). We start with the building above, which I thought was a station building of some type. Turns out to be a potato warehouse which, rumor has it, was built from the wood salvaged from the Electric Park pavilion.