MILFORD MINE        FEBRUARY 5, 1924 
WORST MINE DISASTER IN MINNESOTA HISTORY

Steel was in great demand world wide in the 1920's, so it was a boom time for the iron mines. The ore from the Milford was especially valuable because of its high manganese content. This ore made better, stronger steel.

February 5, 1924, began like any other day for the 48 miners working underground at the Milford Mine north of Crosby. The tired miners were looking forward to the end of their day at 4:00. But at 3:45 PM the unthinkable happened - nearby Foley Lake broke into the mine.

The "drift", where the mining took place, was 175 feet below ground and ran horizontally for 2,000 feet. All of a sudden there was "a terrific wind" and the miner's carbide lamps blew out. They lit them, again they blew out. The miners near the shaft to the surface saw water and mud rushing toward them. There were six miners at the 175-foot level who scrambled up 40 feet to the 135 foot vertical shaft and it's ladder. They climbed the ladder as fast as they could. When they got to the surface, their lags gave out due to fatigue and they collapsed. 

Of the 48 miners working that day, only seven made it to safety. It took about 15 minutes for the mine to fill with mud and water. 

People from all over the Cuyuna Range recall the sirens that day. Each mine had a siren, the towns had sirens and all the trains sounded their whistles. They blew continuously for over an hour and sent chills through the community.

The mining companies worked together to pump out the mud and water, but still it took until November for the last body to be recovered.

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Milford Mine Main Street taken around 1924.

Memorial to all miners who lost their lives in mines on the Cuyuna Iron Range, located in Ironton, Minnesota.

LIST OF MINERS LOST IN THE MILFORD DISASTER

Earl Bedard                                      John Maurich
Mike Bizal                                        Ronald McDonald
Oliver Burns                                      Arthur Myhres
George Butkovich                              John Minerich
Emil Carlson                                     Nick Radich
Valentine Cole                                   Clyde Revord
Evan Crellin                                       Gaspar H. Revord
Roy Cunningham                               Nels Ritari
Minor Graves                                     Jerome Ryan
Clinton A. Harris                                Tony Slack
Fred Harte                                         Joseph Snyder
Elmer Haug                                       Marko Toljan
John Hendrickson                              Mike Tomac
John Hlacher                                     Martin Valencich
George Hochevar                               Arthur Wolford
Herman Holm                                   John Yaklich
Frank Hrvatin, Sr.                              Fred Zeitz                    
William Johnson
Alex Jyhla
Victor Ketola
Leo J. LaBrash
Arvid Lehti
Peter Magdich
Henri Maki

Crow Wing County has opened the Milford site as an historic memorial to the 41 miners who lost their lives here on February 5, 1924. This unique site is a "must see" on the Cuyuna Range. There are multiple walkways and beautiful signs. The boardwalk over the water leads you to the shaft where the survivors made their escape.