With summer sun shining down and temperatures reaching into the high 80s, the Elaine Bacon Literacy Program took a much-anticipated trip to the historic Delaware Mine in Mohawk. It turned out to be a perfect day to go 100 steps underground—into the cool, shadowy past of Michigan’s mining history.
The Delaware Mine, first opened in 1847, is one of the oldest copper mines in the Keweenaw Peninsula. Though mining stopped in 1887, the site has been preserved for curious visitors who want to learn more about this once-booming industry. We explored the mine at our own pace, enjoying a self-guided tour that made learning personal and exciting.
Along the way, we picked up new terms that brought the mining world to life. Some of them are:
- An Adit is a horizontal entrance to a mine, dug into the side of a hill or mountain—like a doorway to the underground.
- A Stope is an excavated area where miners removed valuable ore. These hollowed-out spaces gave us a glimpse of the scale of the work done deep inside the Earth.
It was both eerie and fascinating to imagine the lives of the miners who once walked those same paths. And with the heat outside, the chill of the mine felt like nature’s own air conditioning!
From Copper Veins to Conversation Circles
After emerging from the mine, we gathered at The Hut in Kearsarge for a hearty lunch and even heartier conversation.
Archiford Shumbamhini spoke about his home country, Zimbabwe, and the meaning of his full name—his last name means “a short-tailed lion.” He recommended The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald and mentioned his love for the legal drama Suits, which features Meghan Markle.
Aline, originally from Brazil, shared how The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry remains her favorite book—a story full of wonder, reflection, and timeless life lessons.
Beth gave us a glimpse of her wildlife-filled life on a 185-acre countryside property, where snakes, bats, turtles (in the pond), and even 70 mice (caught in traps!) are all part of the daily adventure.
Denise told us her favorite animal is the tiger—especially the kind found in Detroit! She and her late husband, Dave, shared a passion for the Detroit Tigers baseball team, and their memories of the sport still bring her joy.
Puti joined the trip with two young companions she regularly cares for: Reuben, who is passionate about mining history, and Delbert, who’s fascinated by fish and lizards.
Yi brought some exciting news—she has just been accepted into Michigan Tech’s Social Sciences program and will begin this fall. The group cheered her on as she begins her new academic journey.
Sabrina, with a background in Atmospheric Science, mentioned her love for the British drama Downton Abbey, sparking some nostalgic conversation.
And Judy Long surprised us all with her enthusiasm for softball. Judy said, “The mine tour was the most special local tour I have ever taken! It was also great to have the opportunity to meet everyone during! Thank you!”.
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All in all, the trip was lovely, it was a day to remember! Thank you EBLP!
Elaine Bacon Literacy Program 