Timber Shaft

Timber Shaft. . , At the time of the 1924 disaster, the Milford Mine only had a single shaft, and this timber shaft was in the planning stages. We have no photographs of a headframe and records are few. This shaft was likely not sunk until 1925, since all mining operations ceased during the nine months of the recovery project. Once mining resumed, the timber shaft was sunk, and timber used to support mining rooms was lowered here, rather than at the main shaft., Before this timber shaft was sunk, the timber used to support underground mining rooms was lowered down the Milford's only shaft. Timber was stored near the shaft and can be seen in the foreground of this photograph., Photo Courtesy of the Minnesota Historical Society, This timber shaft is shown on the 1925 base map of the Milford Mine. Also shown on the map is the timber storage area, labeled Timber Yard. A look at the 1930 aerial photograph shows a small structure covering the shaft. Another timber shaft was added after mining began on the adjacent Foley Mine property. The second timber shaft was reported to be in operation in 1928. The location of the second timber shaft is in present-day Milford Lake, near the north shore. The Milford Mine closed its operations in 1932.