March 2011

Bat Gate At Cranberry Iron Mine

Jerry and I check out the bat gate protecting one of the "Hill Slope" openings up the hill from the main mine entrance. The Hill Slopes were 3 inclines down into the main mine shaft from the hillside above, about 250' higher than the main entrance. These inlines served this part of the mine workings from about 1910-1920 and provided access into good ore from the hill above and at the same time allowed tailings to be discarded on the hillside rather than taking them out through the main entrance. There were 3 holes up there large enough to pull out mine cars with winches of some sort. The holes are now much smaller because of debris washing in for over 90 years but are still large enough for people to access the mine. They were subsequently gated a few years back when the main entrance was also blocked to human traffic. From these Hill Slope holes the main mine shaft is about 500' down a 30 degree slope.