Milford Mine Memorial Park near Wolford in Crow Wing County, Minnesota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Milford Mine Historic District

— Milford Mine Memorial Park —

Photographed by McGhiever, June 27, 2025

1. Milford Mine Historic District Marker

Inscription.

Milford Mine Historic District has been placed on the National Register of Historic Places by the United States Department of the Interior.

What is the National Register, and why is the Milford Mine site listed on it?

The National Park Service administers the National Register of Historic Places. The National Register is the official Federal list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects significant in American history, architecture, archeology, engineering, and culture. National Register properties have significance to the history of their community state, or the nation.

The Milford Mine site meets two of the important criteria for listing. The mine site is associated with an event that made a significant contribution to the broad patterns of history. The Milford Mine Historic District also yields important information for present and future archaeological and historical study.

Milford Mine Milford Mine operated at this location from 1918 to 1932. The mine's ore was a superior grade, because it contained manganese, which was used in the production of hard, durable steel. In 1924, over 100 people

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worked at the Milford Mine, with two shifts working around the clock. One of the challenges of mining on the Cuyuna Range resulted from the many lakes and wetlands of the region. Water seeped into the mines, so pumps ran continuously. The Milford Mine was no exception to these conditions.

On February 5, 1924, forty-eight miners were working below. About fifteen minutes before the end of the day shift, water and mud flooded into the mine at such a rapid rate that all the mining levels and the 200-foot shaft filled to within fifteen feet of the surface in less than twenty minutes. Only seven of the forty-eight miners made it to the surface. It is the worst mining disaster in Minnesota's history.

Milford Mine Memorial Park Transforming this natural and human-made habitat into a recreation area is a humble attempt to preserve the memory of those who gave their lives to pursue the American dream, provide for their families, and built their community.

Walk the historic trail through the Milford Mine site. Signs along the trail explain the subtle remains of buildings and other mine features, highlighting the history of the mine and

Milford Mine Historic District Marker at the trailhead of Milford Mine Memorial Park image. Click for full size.

Photographed by McGhiever, June 27, 2025

2. Milford Mine Historic District Marker at the trailhead of Milford Mine Memorial Park

the Milford Mine disaster of 1924.

This illustration was drawn by the archaeologists who documented the site for listing on the National Register of Historic Places. It shows the extent of the underground mining operation, the point of the cave-in that created the mine disaster, and the resulting change in Foley Lake, which is now called Milford Lake.

"The progress of American workers – the five-day work week, the eight-hour day, safety requirements and fair pay – We owe this to workers like the ones trapped beneath the ground at Milford."
–Aaron J. Brown, Minnesota Iron Range Author

In Memoriam
Miners who lost their lives in the Milford Mine disaster on February 5, 1924: Earl Bedard • Mike Bizal • Oliver Burns • George Butkovich • Emil Carlson • Valentine Cole • Evan Crellin • Roy Cunningham • Minor Graves • Clinton Harris • Fred Harte • Elmer Haug • John Hendrickson • John Hlacher • George Hocevar • Herman Holm • Frank Hrvatin, Sr. • William Johnson • Alex Jylha • Victor Ketola • Leo LaBrash • Arvid Lehti • Peter Magdich • John Maurich • Ronald McDonald • John Minerich • Arthur Myhres • Simmon Palomaki • Nick Radich • Clyde Revord • Gaspar Revord • Nels Ritari • Jerome Ryan • Tony Slack • Joseph Snyder • Marko Toljan • Mike Tomac • Martin Valencich • Arthur Wolford • John Yakelich • Frank Zeitz

Miners who climbed to safety:
Carl Frals, Harry Hosford, Emil Kainu, Matt Kangas, Jacob Ravnik, Mike Zakotnik, Frank Hrvatin, Jr.

Erected by Crow

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Wing County.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Disasters • Industry & Commerce. A significant historical date for this entry is February 5, 1924.

Location. 46° 32.213′ N, 93° 58.262′ W. Marker is near Wolford, Minnesota, in Crow Wing County. It is in Milford Mine Memorial Park. It is on Milford Lake Drive, on the left when traveling west. The marker is at the end of the road, at the trailhead for the hiking paths through the park. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Crosby MN 56441, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Minnesota’s Northland. It is also in the American Midwest,

in the Corn Belt,

and in the Great River Road Region.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Great North Woods,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once Rupert’s Land,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Milford Lake: Then & Now (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Geology (about 600 feet away); Milford Mine Pre-Disaster (about 600 feet away); Milford Mine Collapse (about 600 feet away); a different marker also named Milford Mine Collapse (about 600 feet away); Timber Shaft (about 600 feet away); a different marker also named Milford Mine Collapse (about 600 feet away); a different marker also named Milford Mine Collapse (about 600 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Wolford.

Also see . . . Remembering The Milford Mine Disaster - History. (Submitted on July 16, 2025, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida.)

Credits. This page was last revised on July 18, 2025. It was originally submitted on July 16, 2025, by McGhiever of Minneapolis, Minnesota. This page has been viewed 120 times since then and 14 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 16, 2025, by McGhiever of Minneapolis, Minnesota.