Ely Township Clerk Glenn Wing visited the studio to share an update on efforts to establish a memorial park at the Barnes-Hecker mine site, ahead of the disaster’s 100th anniversary. The mine, where 51 miners were killed in 1926, has long sat on private land, overgrown and largely inaccessible. Wing explained that township leaders and community members felt the site deserved more appropriate stewardship, especially as interest in commemorating the centennial grew.
That goal began to take shape when the township approached the property owners to discuss possible access or purchase options. An anonymous donor ultimately stepped in, making it possible for the township to acquire all 20 acres rather than a limited one-acre parcel. With full ownership secured, planning expanded toward a long-term public park that guarantees ongoing maintenance without relying on taxpayer funding. Fundraising efforts will support development, as well as a future endowment to uphold the site for generations.
The project is being developed in collaboration with several regional organizations, including the Ishpeming Historical Society, the Michigan Iron Industry Museum, the Marquette Regional History Center, the Barnes-Hecker 100th Anniversary Committee, and the United Steelworkers. These partners are coordinating exhibits, grant writing, and nonprofit support for corporate fundraising, helping to elevate the project beyond what the small township could achieve alone.
Public Radio 90's Kurt Hauswirth spoke with Wing about the park plans:
Plans for the memorial park include walking and snowshoe trails, a paved accessible path between the shaft and cave-in site, and interpretive elements to honor each miner. The committee also envisions sculptures that recognize both the men who were lost and the families whose lives were shaped by the tragedy. Wing emphasized that the site will be treated as a place of respect, with the long-term goal of designating it as a burial ground.
For families with deep ties to the disaster and for the wider public, Wing hopes the park will offer a dedicated place to reflect, learn, and acknowledge the human cost of mining in the region. With continued community involvement and growing interest from descendants, the township is optimistic about the project’s momentum and its importance to Michigan’s history.
Visit elytownship.com for more information.
