Quincy&Torch Lake Enginehouse and Loco Story

DMG Article
Text of Story:
HANCOCK - In July, the Quincy Mine Hoist Association brought back from New Jersey a locomotive which used to haul copper ore trains at the mine. The locomotive was donated back to the association by a company which changed its plans to use it to haul a tourist train at a state park.

Because of a loan recently received by the association, the locomotive will have a new home. Actually, its old home will be rehabilitated.

Glenda Berman, manager of the Quincy Mine Hoist Association, said the organization received a $215,000 loan from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development program to install a new roof and do other work on the engine house located just off U.S. 41 on the south end of the property.

Berman said the loan will be used to match a $336,490 Michigan Department of Transportation Enhancement Grant, which was applied for by the Houghton County Road Commission for the purpose of historic preservation and renovation of railroad and transportation related facilities.

The Rural Development loan will also be used to help pay off a previous loan used to do work on the mine's cogwheel tram, which runs down the hill to Hancock, Berman said.

The enginehouse project began early this year when industrial archaeology graduate students from Michigan Technological University did some work there, Berman said.

"First there was an archaeological investigation done," she said.

Next year, Berman said work will begin on the roof, the multi-pane wooden windows in the building, and doors for the building.

It's hoped much of the material used for the project will be original, including the system which directed smoke from the locomotive out of the building, Berman said.

"They will try to salvage and reuse the chimney hoods," she said.

The enginehouse was constructed of rock left over from the mining process, and Berman said much of that will be rehabilitated, also, by repointing the mortar joints. Other planned work includes reinforcing the locomotive maintenance pits.

Berman said the process to get the enginehouse rehabilitation project going will start early next year.

"Bids will taken at the beginning of the year, and then they will start construction," she said.

Association members hope to do a cosmetic restoration of the locomotive, according to association volunteer Chuck Pomazal.

Kurt Hauglie can be reached at khauglie @mininggazette.com.