Milford Mine Memorial Park near Wolford in Crow Wing County, Minnesota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
Milford Miners Memorial
RitariSnyder
Photographed by McGhiever, June 27, 2025
1. Milford Miners Memorial Marker
Inscription.
Milford Miners Memorial. RitariSnyder.
Nels R. Ritari 1886 - 1924. Nels Ritari was born in Finland and came to the United States with his parents when he was 15 years old. He worked at the Northern Pacific Railroad shops in Brainerd, then was employed at the Milford Mine for a short time before he lost his life in the mine flood. Nels married Hilda Fremling and the couple made their home in Brainerd with their three sons and daughter. Nels was 37 years old at the time of the Milford Mine disaster. Hilda was 34. Their children were 8, 4, 2 and 5 months old. Nels Ritari was laid to rest next to his parents at Evergreen Cemetery in Brainerd, Minnesota.,
Tony Slack 1890? - 1924. Tony Slack was born in Austria and came to the Cuyuna Range to work as a miner. Tony was single and lived in the Cuyuna Iron Range town of Trommald. He was reported to be 33 years old at the time of the Milford Mine disaster, although available records to [sic] not indicate an exact birth date. Tony Slack was laid to rest in Aurora, Minnesota.,
Jerome Ryan 1902 - 1924. Jerome Ryan was born in Ironwood, Michigan and came to the Cuyuna Iron Range to work at the Milford Mine. Jerome was single and lived in the town of Trommald. He was 23 years old at the time of the Milford Mine disaster. Jerome Ryan was laid to rest in Ironwood, Michigan, where his parents lived.,
Joseph Snyder 1884 - 1924. Joseph Snyder was born in Austria, and came to the Cuyuna Range to work as a miner. He married Lucy Spolar and the couple had 5 children, 4 sons and a daughter. The Snyders lived on a small farm 2 miles south of Crosby. Joseph was 40 years old at the time of his tragic death in the Milford Mine. Lucy was 38 and their children were 14, 11, 9, 6 and 3 years old. Joseph Snyder was laid to rest at Lakewood Cemetery in Crosby, Minnesota.
Nels R. Ritari
1886 - 1924
Nels Ritari was born in Finland and came to the United States with his parents when he was 15 years old. He worked at the Northern Pacific Railroad shops in Brainerd, then was employed at the Milford Mine for a short time before he lost his life in the mine flood. Nels married Hilda Fremling and the couple made their home in Brainerd with their three sons and daughter. Nels was 37 years old at the time of the Milford Mine disaster. Hilda was 34. Their children were 8, 4, 2 and 5 months old. Nels Ritari was laid to rest next to his parents at Evergreen Cemetery in Brainerd, Minnesota.
Tony Slack
1890? - 1924
Tony Slack was born in Austria and came to the Cuyuna Range to work as a miner. Tony was single and lived in the Cuyuna Iron Range town of Trommald. He was reported to be 33 years old at the time of the Milford Mine disaster, although available records to [sic] not indicate an exact birth date. Tony Slack was laid to rest in Aurora, Minnesota.
Jerome Ryan
1902 - 1924
Jerome Ryan was born in Ironwood, Michigan and came to the Cuyuna Iron Range to work at the Milford Mine. Jerome
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was single and lived in the town of Trommald. He was 23 years old at the time of the Milford Mine disaster. Jerome Ryan was laid to rest in Ironwood, Michigan, where his parents lived.
Joseph Snyder
1884 - 1924
Joseph Snyder was born in Austria, and came to the Cuyuna Range to work as a miner. He married Lucy Spolar and the couple had 5 children, 4 sons and a daughter. The Snyders lived on a small farm 2 miles south of Crosby. Joseph was 40 years old at the time of his tragic death in the Milford Mine. Lucy was 38 and their children were 14, 11, 9, 6 and 3 years old. Joseph Snyder was laid to rest at Lakewood Cemetery in Crosby, Minnesota.
Erected by Crow Wing County.
Topics. This historical marker and memorial is listed in this topic list: Disasters. A significant historical date for this entry is February 5, 1924.
Location. 46° 32.094′ N, 93° 58.216′ W. Marker is near Wolford, Minnesota, in Crow Wing County. It is in Milford Mine Memorial Park. It can be reached from Milford Lake Drive. The marker is near trail intersection #4. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Crosby MN 56441, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally,
Photographed by McGhiever, June 27, 2025
2. RitariSnyder Marker (closest) in Milford Mine Memorial Park
this marker and memorial 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 Ruperts 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: A different marker also named Milford Miners Memorial (here, next to this marker); a different marker also named Milford Miners Memorial (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named Milford Miners Memorial (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named Milford Miners Memorial (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named Milford Miners Memorial (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named Milford Miners Memorial (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named Milford Miners Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Milford Miners Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Wolford.
Credits. This page was last revised on March 29, 2026. It was originally submitted on March 29, 2026, by McGhiever of Minneapolis, Minnesota. This page has been viewed 6 times since then. Photos:1, 2. submitted on March 29, 2026, by McGhiever of Minneapolis, Minnesota.
