Local HistoryWednesday, November 4
Barnes-Hecker Memorial Park honors the 51 miners lost 100 years ago
The Daily Marquette team
Tuesday marked 100 years since the deadliest mining disaster in Michigan history. The Barnes Hecker Mining collapse killed 51 men. TV6 says it happened at 11:20 a.m.
More than 300 people gathered to dedicate the park honoring Barnes-Hecker's 51 miners
- 51
- men who lost their lives in the mine collapse
- More than 300
- people at the memorial park's dedication
- 11:20 a.m.
- when the mine collapsed 100 years ago
Sources: Upper Michigan's Source, The Mining Journal
The new memorial park sits on County Road CL in Ely Township. More than 300 people gathered on Saturday for its dedication. Glenn Wing, the park's project manager and great-nephew of miner John Arvi Wepsala, cut the ribbon. Annie Tippett, granddaughter of miner Walter Tippett, spoke for the miners' descendants.
“These were fathers and grandfathers and uncles and sons.”
The committee also planned cemetery tours in Marquette this year, led by people from families touched by the tragedy.
- Where: Barnes-Hecker Mine site, County Road CL, Ely Township
- Owner: Ely Township
- Watch: “Blood, Sweat, and Iron Ore” on TV6+ or YouTube
41miners whose bodies were never recovered
They remain entombed in the mine, and the park gives them a final resting place.
Source: The Mining Journal
Sources: Upper Michigan's Source, The Mining Journal