Champion No. 4 Shaft receives preservation grant

Apr 14, 2023

Graham Jaehnig/Daily Mining GazettePainesdale Mine and Shaft, Inc. received funding last fall to provide a new stairway to the second and third stories of its Champion Copper

Painesdale Mine & Shaft, Inc. (PM&S) was awarded a grant from the Houghton County Historical Preservation Fund in Fall 2022 to stabilize and improve the stairs and walkways of the upper levels of the Champion Copper Company No. 4 ("D" Shaft) shaft-rockhouse, according to a release from the Keweenaw Area Community Foundation (KCF).

At the time of its operation, copper-bearing rock and mass copper were hoisted from the depths of the mine and dumped in the upper levels of th structure, which contained mechanical rock crushers that reduced the rock in size. The reduced rock then fell into a large storage bin below, to be transported by rail to a stamp mill.

Matching funds from PM&S contributed to the reconstruction of the stairs from level 2-3, the PM&S said on its social media web page. This is an important step in the organization's working its way into the upper stories of the Shaft house in order to open it up for tours. The web page post states that the original stairs were corroded beyond repair.

Using copies of the original blueprints of the turn-of-the-20th century building, REJ Contracting reconstructed the stairs to the original design and build.

"All was replaced except one railing from the original was able to be saved," PM&S said, "keeping at least one original stair piece for visitors to put their hands on."

An engineering study was conducted to properly outline the recommended repairs, which informed the updates and maintenance to be supported by the grant.

The upper-level walkways provide access to different areas of the building where, when improved, visitors have a unique mining education experience, the KCF release stated.

Rebuilding the stairway allowed access to the third floor steam engine and view of the rock bin, and the fourth floor rock crushers. These stairs were previously outdated and had little to no safety features. Now, the stairs have been rebuilt, stabilized, and railings have been added, the web page states.

The group successfully made the necessary repairs to the staircase, which now provide safer access to the upper levels and are compliant with modern requirements. Painesdale Mine & Shaft, Inc. continues to update and improve the upper levels of the shaft house to provide future educational opportunities for visitors.

According to the Summer 2016 PM&S Newsletter, The No. 4 shaft-rockhouse is the second structure to stand over the shaft. The original shaft/rockhouse, built in 1901-1902, was removed and replaced in 1908-1909, doubling the size and capacity of the shaft/rockhouse.

"The Houghton County Historical Preservation Fund was created by a donor just to preserve any historical elements in Houghton County," said Sara Fletcher, of the KCF. "The grant money can only be used in Houghton County, but any sort of historical preservation applies, which can also include educational projects, not just buildings, per se."

Painesdale Mine and Shaft, Inc. is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization. The of purpose of the PM&S is to preserve and restore the shaft-rockhouse as a mining museum.

By preserving and restoring the Champion #4 Shaft-Rockhouse, states the PM&S website, Painesdale Mine & Shaft, Inc. hopes to continue using it as a museum so that future generations can experience the sights, sounds, smells, and the feel of mining as it once was. Along with the #4 Shaft House, there remains numerous industrial buildings, railway equipment, and private homes related to the mining area.

PM&S Inc. hopes to someday identify these structures so that the full story of what life was like in Painesdale can be told.

Expanding the guided tours to the upper levels will be truly unique, states the website.

"Providing local residents and visitors with a hands-on experience to further tell the story of what happens once the rock is pulled out of the ground," the site states. "We have been making great progress towards this goal, working our way from the ground up, stabilizing structural steel members and wood decking. These stairs being complete allows us to keep moving up."

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