Following the Civil War in 1867, the post was re-occupied by US soldiers to serve out their enlistments until it was permanently abandoned by the government in 1870. war with Mexico required the garrison be replaced and shipped to the warfront. The military outpost was a typical stockade frontier fort that only operated until 1846 until the U.S. government established Fort Wilkins in 1844 to oversee Copper Harbor’s Mineral Land Agency (the “Government House” that issued exploration permits and land leases) and to maintain law and order. In an effort to protect its interests of the new found copper boom, the U.S. Brockway (Brockway Mountain’s namesake) would build Copper Harbor’s first hotel – which served a dual purpose as his family home – and the Land Commissioners also built a “Government House” on Porter’s Island. #COPPER HARBOR MI FULL#Though it produced little copper, it was the first serious mining attempt in the United States.Ĭopper Harbor history shows that by 1846 the copper boom was in full swing, with explorers, speculators and miners living in a tent-city. Among these was John Hayes of the Pittsburgh and Boston Mining Company who began excavating pits in 1844 on what today is known as Hayes Point, adjacent to the present day lighthouse. Houghton’s 1840 published report describes the Keweenaw’s copper deposits, and despite his appeal for caution, a land rush soon started by opportunists attempting to acquire the copper-rich real estate. He was most impressed by its blue-green streaks of oxidized copper that would ultimately sell him on the Keweenaw’s mining potential. the “Green Rock”, which had captured the imaginations of early voyagers), located near the present day site of the Copper Harbor Lighthouse. With the known presence of copper in the region, Houghton made his way to the legendary “La Roche Verte” (e.g. Shortly after Michigan was admitted into Statehood in 1837, Douglass Houghton was appointed as the first State Geologist and was assigned to conduct a state geological survey.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |