ELY TWP., Mich. (WZMQ) – A groundbreaking took place today at the future home of the Barnes-Hecker Memorial Park. Marking the site of Michigan’s deadliest industrial accident.
100 years ago, this unassuming path led to a bustling iron ore mine, where hundreds of men worked each day. On November 3, 1926, 51 men died here in the Barnes Hecker mine when a deluge of mud and water flooded the shaft. Only one man was able to make it out of the mine and tell the story of the disaster. It was the worst mining accident in Michigan history.
“The surface went down into the mine. There were tree stumps, there were logs, there were rocks flying all over, coming down the shaft, and it filled up in little over 15 minutes,” said Ely Township Clerk Glenn Wing.
100 years later, ground is being broken on this site, soon to be a place of quiet contemplation, of remembrance, and a monument to the families that made their living digging iron from the ground.
“Understand how much miners have given in this country, and what the cost of mining can be at times,” reminded Wing.
This site will soon be the Barnes Hecker Memorial Park, an Ely Township project that was years in the making.
“We’ve put so much effort into this, and there are so many people who’ve been wanting this to happen for so long, and to make this progress, and now we’re right on the brink of creating something great here,” said Wing.
Annie Tippitt lost her grandfather in the tragic mine disaster.
“His older brother, William, his body was recovered. My grandpa is still down there,” said the granddaughter of one of the victims.
It was her grandfather’s first day on the job. “He reported to work on November 3, 1926, at 7:30 in the morning. In four hours, he was killed,” said Tippett.
Work on the park is expected to begin soon, with the target opening date of the 100th anniversary of the disaster in November.
