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

Engine House

— Milford Mine Memorial Park —

Photographed by McGhiever, June 27, 2025

1. Engine House Marker

Inscription.

In the Engine House, which was also called the Hoist House, were the mine's air compressors, hoisting engines and other equipment. The hoisting engine powered cables that ran around the sheave wheels on top of the headframe, lowering and raising the cage that carried the miners and the skip that carried ore and waste rock out of the mine shaft. The Milford Mine originally had a steam powered hoist. In 1922 the mine converted to an electric hoist engine. Air compressors located in the Engine House supplied compressed air for the drills and other equipment used in the mine. Pipes ran the compressed air from the Engine House down into the mine.

Plan of the Engine House, from Milford Mine Cultural Landscape Report, Two Pines Resource Group LLC & 10,000 Lakes Archaeology.

The red arrow in the photo points to the Engine House. Power to run the engines and compressors was generated at the Power House, located a short distance to the west. The green arrow points to the Power House.

Photo courtesy of the Cuyuna Iron Range Heritage Network

Erected by Crow Wing County.

Topics. This historical marker is listed

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in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1922.

Location. 46° 32.068′ N, 93° 58.334′ 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. 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 Miners (within shouting distance of this marker); Example of Timberwork Along the Main Shaft (within shouting distance of this marker); The Mine Shaft (within shouting distance of this marker); Mine Shaft Entrance (within shouting distance of this marker);

Engine House Marker just south of the Engine House ruins in Milford Mine Memorial Park image. Click for full size.

Photographed by McGhiever, June 27, 2025

2. Engine House Marker just south of the Engine House ruins in Milford Mine Memorial Park

Repair Shop (within shouting distance of this marker); The Milford Mine Disaster (within shouting distance of this marker); Milford Mine (within shouting distance of this marker); The Cuyuna Iron Range (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Wolford.

Engine House ruins image. Click for full size.

Photographed by McGhiever, June 27, 2025

3. Engine House ruins

Credits. This page was last revised on August 11, 2026. It was originally submitted on August 11, 2026, by McGhiever of Minneapolis, Minnesota. This page has been viewed 10 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 11, 2026, by McGhiever of Minneapolis, Minnesota.