Friends of the Miners Memorial Heritage Park Hold Candlelight Vigil

IRONWOOD, MI - Friday, September 25, 2009 - Thirty-three people attended the Miners Memorial Heritage Park candlelight vigil yesterday evening at the former Pabst Mine Shaft "H," in Ironwood. Yesterday was the eighty-third anniversary of the Pabst Mine Shaft disaster that claimed the lives three men and entombed forty-three others for 129 hours back in 1926. Five days later, 7,000 people gathered at the vigil site to watch their rescue. Many have called the Pabst Mine Disaster the "'worst mining disaster of the century."

The vigil was organized and held by the Friends of the Miners Memorial Heritage Park to honor area miners who gave their lives in the mines. A plaque was placed at the site that reads, "Vigil site honoring the many 'who died in the darkness, so future generations could live in the light.' 1st Annual vigil held September 24, 2009."

The two-hour hike toured portions of the Norrie, Aurora, Pabst and Penokee mines, and previewed portions of the SISU Ski Marathon Trail (a nordic ski event planned for January 8-9, 2010 in Ironwood). http://www.sisuskifest.com/ 

Tom DeCarlo, an 83 year old former miner of Ironwood, walked the entire 2+ miles in his mining garb, complete with helmet & lantern. Mr. DeCarlo was born in 1926, seven months before the Pabst Mine Disaster, is a war veteran, and worked for 13 years underground in the Geneva Mine. He shared photos of past parade celebrations honoring the miners who survived the Pabst Disaster. DeCarlo knew and spoke of many of the men involved.

One of the three men who died in the Pabst was an Englishman named Thomas Rowell, who worked as an electrician. Rowell's great-granddaughter, Linda (Olson) Niemi and her son, David (age 13), hiked and attended the vigil. They reside in Neenah, WI, but are frequent visitors to our area. They enjoyed learning more about the heritage and history of the area through the hike and through the guest commentaries of other hikers, especially area historians, Larry Peterson and Leroy Johnson. The family was especially touched to learn of the sites of the disaster and the rescue.

The Friends of the Miners Memorial Heritage Park plan to make this an annual event on September 24th, honoring not only those involved in the Pabst Mine Disaster, but all miners who worked and died in the mines of the Gogebic Range.