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The Douglass Mining Company, an underground copper mine consisting of four shafts located near Ripley,
Michigan, was organized in 1863. They were sunk the same year on the Isle Royal Lode. Known lodes crossing the property included the Isle Royal, Portage, and a conglomerate that was rich in copper as well. Work went on for five years until 1868 when the mine was abandoned for unknown reasons.
In its five years, the Douglass recovered approximately 170,000 pounds of copper. The mine would stay dormant until 1898 when the Arcadian Copper Company absorbed the mine lands. Arcadian opened two of the shafts and conducted extensive drifting and stoping. The shafts were renamed the A and B shafts, but were always known as the “Douglass Shafts”. It is said that good copper, datolite, and copper wires can be found on the one remaining pile that is accessible.
Notes:
• The original Arcadian Mining Company was organized in 1864, then reorganized as the Arcadian Copper Company in 1898 after the consolidation of the Edwards, Douglas, Concord, Highland, St. Mary's, and Arcadian mines. After it was determined that mineralization was too erratic to make a profit, as well as falling copper prices, the mine closed permanently in 1903. Two more attempts were made at mining in the location in 1909 and 1920, but both were
unsuccessful
• Concord and Douglas Copper Mine - Houghton County
See also:
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Map of Houghton copper mines
•
Douglass House,
Houghton
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