Early view of Iron Mountain facing west toward Pine Mountain

Chapin Mine with Chapin Location, ca. spring or summer, 1880: This early view of Iron Mountain was probably taken in the spring or summer of 1880. The camera is facing west toward Pine Mountain. The photograph may have been taken near the Ludington Mine looking down to what is now the east side of the Chapin Pit, where the settlement known as the Chapin Location – also Section 30 – began to grow into Iron Mountain. Notice the large pine logs in the foreground where the men are sitting. The large two-story white building at the right was the Menominee Mining Company Store for the Chapin Mine. The company also operated stores in Vulcan, Norway, Quinnesec and Florence, Wisconsin. Most of the larger mining companies operated stores at which their employees could trade on credit. At the end of the month their bills were subtracted from their monthly wages and they received the balance in cash – if there was one. [Menominee Range Historical Museum]