Sutton-Alpine in Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska — Northwest (North America)
Circulating Fan
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., August 13, 2024
1. Circulating Fan Marker
The machinery in front of you is the circulating fan used for tunnel and shaft mining at the Evan Jones Mine. The mine was located at Wishbone Hill and accessed by Jonesville Road in Sutton. This giant fan was necessary for underground mining safety. Located at the entrance to the mine, it blew fresh air down into the mine shafts to protect the miners from pockets of poisonous gases such as methane. Stale air from inside the mine was simultaneously vented out.
Gases in the mine were also highly flammable and created a danger of explosion. There were three explosions in the Evan Jones Mine. In 1922, an explosion caused a fire that could only be squelched by flooding the mine. The second explosion occurred in 1937 when a miner lit a cigarette in the mine shafts and fourteen men were killed. The third explosion occurred in 1957 in which five miners were killed.
Erected by Alpine Historical Park.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Disasters • Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1937.
Location. 61° 42.601′ N, 148° 52.612′ W. Marker is in Sutton-Alpine,
this page online
Regionally, this marker is in the Alaska Railroad Corridor, in the Athabascan Region, in the Mat-Su Valley, and in Southcentral Alaska. It is also on the American Pacific Coast. Globally, it is in North America, the Pacific Rim, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Russian Empire.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Large Hoist (a few steps from this marker); Buckeye Shovel (a few steps from this marker); Dee Woods (a few steps from this marker); Eska Coal Washery (a few steps from this marker); 1942 Motor Blower (a few steps from this marker); Hoist and Steam Engines (a few steps from this marker); Eska Dryer (a few steps from this marker); Gasoline Engine (a few steps from this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Sutton-Alpine.
Also see . . .
1. Not a single lesson learned: The Jonesville Mine disaster of 1937 (Reamer, 2024). (Submitted on August 22, 2024, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)
2. Evan William Jones (1880-1950), Coal Mine Owner and Operator. (Submitted on August 22, 2024, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)
3. Alpine Historical Park. (Submitted on August 22, 2024, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)
Credits. This page was last revised on August 22, 2024. It was originally submitted on August 22, 2024, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. This page has been viewed 342 times since then and 20 times this year. Photo 1. submitted on August 22, 2024, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.
