It’s now been nearly 60 years since Ely’s Pioneer Mine closed.
At least a couple of generations now have no recollection that Ely indeed was a mining town, and they might not even know that there was ever even mining in this neck of the Northwoods.
That made what happened Sunday at the old Pioneer Mine site all the more important.
More than 250 people, many who still had those mining memories or even family ties to those who worked or may have lost their lives at the Pioneer Mine, turned out for the dedication of the Ely Mining Memorial.
On a crisp and windy June day, they turned out to celebrate our past and remember the sacrifices of the 218 men who died while working at one of Ely’s underground iron ore mines.
Speakers talked about the “Stains of Toil” wording etched in the granite and Ely’s roll in helping to win World War II by providing the iron ore for the steel that went into battleships and more.
The memorial was not only fitting and needed and a great addition to the mine site, but the result of decades of work and painstaking research.
Records and newspaper articles were scoured to make sure that all 218 souls were recognized and memorialized. While space was left to add more names, this project has been in the Ely Echo for many years. We have dedicated many pages to seeing this memorial become a reality. Last week there were pages of newspaper articles covering many of the deaths that occurred at Pioneer, Sibley, Zenith, Chandler, Section 30, Savoy, Mud Creek and other mines that have come and gone over time.
Descendants of those who passed away were among the throng who gathered last weekend, as were others who had family members who worked underground at the Pioneer, as well as those who may have simply remembered the days when the Pioneer was up and running in Ely.
One family took up a whole row of chairs near the memorial. They arrived early and stayed until the end.
Yet the memorial has other purposes as well.
With each passing year, the number of those who were part of or even remember Ely’s mining days continue to dwindle.
The memorial, and the mine site itself, serve to remind and educate and make sure we remember our past.
Whether you’re a many-generation Elyite or have recently moved to town, an Elyite born after the days of the Pioneer or one of many visitors to our community, we urge you and invite you to check out the memorial and the mine complex as a whole.
Ely was founded on mining and that history should be savored and preserved, and never forgotten.
Those who put together the new memorial made a huge step to make sure that will be the case. Thanks to Ely Arts and Heritage board members Bill Erzar, Jim Beaty, Christine Bleyhl, Mary Ann Lekatz, Seraphine Rolando, Barb Schultz, Doug Poppler, Mike Tarvin, Cindy Tarvin and Nick Wognum.
Hats off to them for a job well done.
