Penokee Iron Range Trail – A Company Town
Iron County Heritage Area
In 1921 the Oglebay-Norton Mining Company designed a community that would provide an environment to “accommodate the nationality and temperament” of the 700 miners needed to work at the new Montreal Mine #5 shaft and their families.
Recognizing that content workers were productive employees, the company took care of almost every detail of daily life from housing to recreation for miners moving to the new community they first called “Hamilton.”
For as little as $1.50 per room, per year, miners could rent one of 140 company owned homes. Six different models were available from the smaller one family “bungalow” to the larger two family “D-2 duplex.” Each home was painted white and maintained at company expense.
Playgrounds and gardens dotted the community. After work families enjoyed movies, billiards, and the soda fountain at the company run “Hamilton Club” social center. Miners and their families living here did not need to look any further than their backyard for livelihood and leisure.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce
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Location. 46° 25.709′ N, 90° 14.228′ W. Marker is in Montreal, Wisconsin, in Iron County. Marker is at the intersection of Montreal Street and Wisconsin Avenue (Wisconsin Highway 77), on the left when traveling south on Montreal Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Montreal WI 54550, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Penokee Iron Range Trail – Montreal Location (here, next to this marker); George W. Sullivan (approx. 0.3 miles away); The City of Montreal (approx. 0.3 miles away); Penokee Iron Range Trail – Gile Falls (approx. 0.6 miles away); Flambeau Trail – Flambeau Trail Crossing (approx. 0.9 miles away); This 5 ˝ Foot Diameter Drill Core (approx. 2.9 miles away); Penokee Iron Range Trail – Historic Iron County Courthouse (approx. 2.9 miles away); Penokee Iron Range Trail - Plummer Mine (approx. 3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Montreal.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on August 1, 2011, by Paul Fehrenbach of Germantown, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 1,072 times since then and 12 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 1, 2011, by Paul Fehrenbach of Germantown, Wisconsin. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
