Lowell K. Smail Underground Iron Mining Oral History Interview Part 1 Transcript

This oral history interview transcript is one of several on underground iron mining conducted by researcher Mary Tippett Andes for her book "The Last Generation Underground." Lowell Smail (1923-2012) was born in Negaunee, MI to William Smail and Clara Penhale. He was part of the last generation of underground miners on the Marquette Iron Range and is the interviewer’s uncle. He discusses his employment history, beginning with the Breitung Hotel, working as a truck driver for the Works Project Administration, Abe Wolfe, working at the Ford Bomber Plant in Ypsilanti, and cutting pulp for Joe Erickson. He was hired at the Mather A Mine in 1947 as a common laborer and worked his way up to being a miner. Topics include "the dry," riding in the cage, mucking ditches, lagging, blasting, scraping, company count, footage, his lunch pail, honey box, drilling, blasting, clearing, skip tenders, and hoist operators.
(External source of biographical information: Lowell K. Smail Obituary, https://www.bjorkandzhulkie.com/obituary/1391917)