{{Short description|Iron-ore mine in Minnesota, US}} {{Use American English|date=June 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}} {{Infobox News event | name = Milford Mine Disaster | image = Milford Mine Memorial Park.JPG | caption = Entrance to the Milford Mine site | date = {{start date|1924|02|05}} | time = | place = Milford Mine, Wolford Township, Minnesota | casualties1 = 41 killed | casualties2 = 7 survivors | notes = {{Infobox NRHP | embed = yes | name = Milford Mine Historic District | nrhp_type = hd | nocat=yes | coordinates = {{coord|46|32|5|N|93|58|15|W|display=inline,title}} | locmapin = Minnesota#USA | area = {{convert|180|acre|ha}} | built = 1912–1932 | architecture = | refnum = 11000525<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|2010a}}</ref> | designated_nrhp_type = August 10, 2011 }} }}
The '''Milford Mine''' produced high manganese-content iron ore<ref>A link from the "Milford-Mine-Memorial-Park" is [https://www.crowwing.us/DocumentCenter/View/117/Miningpart1?bidId= a newspaper article from "NewsHopper"] The Cuyuna Range is an iron mining range. The Milford ore was high manganese-content iron ore.</ref> in Wolford Township, Minnesota, United States. On February 5, 1924, it was the site of the '''Milford Mine Disaster''', the worst mining accident in Minnesota history, when it was flooded by water from a nearby lake, killing 41 miners. Only seven men were able to climb to safety.<ref name=Fitzgerald>{{cite web |last=Fitzgerald |first=John |title=Milford Mine Disaster, 1924 |url=http://www.mnopedia.org/event/milford-mine-disaster-1924 |work=MNopedia |publisher=Minnesota Historical Society |date=2016-03-11 |accessdate=2016-07-17}}</ref> Starting in 2010, the site has been under development by Crow Wing County as '''Milford Mine Memorial Park'''. The property was listed as the '''Milford Mine Historic District''' on the National Register of Historic Places in 2011 for its state-level significance in the themes of industry and historical archaeology.<ref>{{cite web |title=Milford Mine Historic District |url=http://nrhp.mnhs.org/NRDetails.cfm?NPSNum=11000525 |work=Minnesota National Register Properties Database |publisher=Minnesota Historical Society |year=2009 |accessdate=2015-06-19}}</ref> It was nominated for its association with a significant event in Minnesota history, and for potential archaeological resources that could illuminate mining technology, the rise and fall of iron-ore mining on the Cuyuna Range, and the daily lives of its workers.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Terrell |first=Michelle M. |title=National Register of Historic Places Registration Form: Milford Mine Historic District |url=http://www.mnhs.org/shpo/nrhp/docs_pdfs/0006_milfordmine.pdf |publisher=National Park Service |date=2010-08-06 |accessdate=2012-11-24}}</ref>
==Background== First mined for iron ore in 1917, the Milford Mine reached depths of {{convert|200|ft|m}} by 1924 under its owner George H. Crosby; 70,000 tons of ore were mined and shipped this same year. Manganese ore, an ingredient used to make steel, was shipped from the Milford site to Duluth then to steel factories in cities including Detroit and Cleveland.<ref name=Fitzgerald />
==Milford Disaster== The disaster occurred when a surface cave-in at the mine's easternmost end tapped into mud that was a direct connection to Foley Lake. In less than 20 minutes the mineshaft flooded to within {{convert|15|to|20|ft|m}} of the surface. Seven men made it to ground level, while 41 were overcome by the water or trapped in mud. The last victim's remains were recovered nine months later.<ref name=Fitzgerald />
15-year-old Frank Hrvatin Jr., one of the survivors, worked alongside his father Frank Hrvatin Sr. On February 5, Hrvatin Jr. was working with his senior partner Harry Hosford. When they saw the floodwater, they ran for the ladder that ascended {{convert|200|ft|m}} to the surface. Miner Matt Kangas was ahead of them on the ladder. As the water rose and Kangas slowed from the effort of climbing such a distance, Hrvatin climbed between Kangas' legs and propelled the man up the ladder. Hosford was waist-deep in water when Hrvatin reached down and pulled him out of the mine. They were the last three to make it out alive. Frank Hrvatin Sr. was deeper in the mine and did not survive.<ref name=Fitzgerald />
===List of miners lost in the Milford Disaster=== {{colbegin}} *Earl Bedard *Mike Bizal *Oliver Burns *George Butkovich *Emil Carlson *Valentine Cole *Evan Crellin *Roy Cunningham *Minor Graves *Clinton A. Harris *Fred Harte *John Hendrickson *John Hlacher *George Hochever *Herman Holm *Elmer Haug *Frank Hrvatin *William Johnson *Alex Jyhla *Victor Ketola *Leo J. LaBrash *Arvid Lehti *Peter Magdich *Henry Maki *John Maurich *Ronald McDonald *Arthur Myhres *John Minerich *Nick Radich *Clyde Revord *Gaspar H. Revord *Nels Ritari *Jerome Ryan *Tony Slack *Joseph Snyder *Marko Toljan *Mike Tomac *Martin Valencich *Arthur Wolford *John Yaklich *Fred Zeitz<ref>{{cite web |title=Milford Mine: Feb. 5, 1924 |url=http://www.cuyunahistory.org/milford-mine-disaster.html |publisher=Cuyuna Iron Range Heritage Network and Soo Line Depot Museum |accessdate=2019-08-03}}</ref> {{colend}}
==Aftermath== Thirty-eight of the 41 miners who drowned were married, leaving behind more than 80 children.<ref name=Fitzgerald />
Recovery efforts were both delicate and dangerous, as the mine was filled with mud and debris. Further, workers worried about potential cave-ins. It took months to recover the men's bodies. The last body was removed on November 9. The mine resumed operations soon after that.<ref name=Fitzgerald />
Minnesota governor J. A. O. Preus appointed a five-man committee to investigate the disaster, which held hearings in May and June. Its final report said: "No blame can be attached to the mining company for this unfortunate accident. The real cause of the disaster was the fact that imminence and danger from such a rush of mud was not recognized by anyone."<ref name=Fitzgerald />
The mine closed in 1932 due to the decline in demand for steel during the Great Depression.<ref name=Fitzgerald />
==See also== * National Register of Historic Places listings in Crow Wing County, Minnesota
==References== {{MNopedia|wstitle=Milford Mine Disaster, 1924}} {{reflist}}
==External links== * [http://crowwing.us/294/Milford-Mine-Memorial-Park Milford Mine Memorial Park]
{{National Register of Historic Places in Minnesota}}
Category:1924 disasters in the United States Category:1924 mining disasters Category:Archaeological sites on the National Register of Historic Places in Minnesota Category:Disasters in Minnesota Category:Former mines in the United States Category:Industrial buildings and structures on the National Register of Historic Places in Minnesota Category:Manganese mines in the United States Category:Mines in Minnesota Category:Mining disasters in the United States Category:National Register of Historic Places in Crow Wing County, Minnesota Category:Protected areas of Crow Wing County, Minnesota Category:Iron mines in Minnesota Category:February 1924 in the United States