Savion Glover taps his way to the Rozsa
The
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Study Abroad: Autumn overseas
Volleyball coaches resign
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Michigan Tech Lode
November 10, 2011
Serving the Michigan Tech Community Since 1921
History behind the No. 2 Dredge SAWYER NEWMAN Lode Writer
The Quincy Number Two Dredge is perhaps just as iconic an image as is the HoughtonHancock lift bridge, though in a quieter and more forlorn way. It is after all, simply mining equipment that has been left to rust and sink on a bank in Torch Lake. Hiding behind only a stamp sand flat land and a chain link fence, this mass of equipment is clearly visible from the highway. It is a potential liability, but not a secret as it can be seen by the worn path running past a small “No Trespassing” sign and straight towards the machine’s large steel snorkel, the same feature which enabled the ship to reclaim mine tailings up to 120 feet below the surface of the lake. Most industrial explorers know little to nothing about this rusting goliath other than it is a dredge that helped in the copper salvaging process that went on in Torch Lake. The switch from traditional underground mining to reclaiming copper from tailings happened first with the Calumet and Hecla (C&H) Mining Company around 1915. In the 1940’s, Quincy’s underground mining processes were also resulting in continuously declining profit margins. Because of this, and due to the major improvements of milling equipment, Quincy too began reclaiming copper from tailings. The first dredge owned by Quincy Mining Company was The Quincy Reclamation Dredge Number One. The next dredge put into use was the C&H Dredge Number One, would later be sold to the Quincy Mining Company and renamed the Quincy Number Two Dredge in 1953. From 1915 to 1967, this dredge salvaged 500 million pounds of copper from the 29 square miles of Torch
The dredge as it can be seen currently, half submerged in Torch Lake. Photo by Alex Mager
Lake’s floor. Unlike Quincy’s second dredge, Quincy Reclamation Dredge Number One sank during operation. The ship went down early in the January of 1956. It is not known for certain how or why this dredge sank, though the most likely cause is structural deterioration. Some think that one of the hull timbers broke, causing the weight of the motor and pump to push an upright beam through the bottom of the structure and caused a massive hole to be formed. Quincy had known that the state of their first dredge had been degrading to the point of unreliability for some time, which is why they had purchased their second dredge in 1953 three years before the first dredge sank. The Quincy Reclamation Dredge Number One had been a concern for some time now, mostly as a potential boating hazard. Despite this, in 1980 when the Houghton County Commissioners asked the US Army Corps. of Engineers to address the issue,
no assistance was given. The reasoning for this, according to the engineers, was that the dredge was not considered hazardous in a 1978 report. The Quincy Number Two Dredge ceased its operation in May 1967 when copper prices continued to fall and the supplies of stamp sand dropped below the point where they were viable. At this time, it was more or less “parked” on the bank of Torch Lake, where it has become a somewhat controversial feature of our “pristine” northern landscape. Some want the area cleaned up, the dredges removed and the water purified; others want the area and the Number Two Dredge to be turned into a historical industrial learning center where the dredge would be restored to a point where it would be safe enough for people to walk on and see how the ship would have functioned. However, the most prevailing opinion of what should be done with the dredge is: nothing. The lack of money to manage this
post industrial area shapes this landscape with the stone and steel ghosts of the Keweenaw’s past, which are left staring at us from behind trees and partially emerged burial grounds on the sides of lakes. Not that college students are complaining, having these fea-
tures adds greatly to the amount of extracurricular activities offered to us. Students watch as nature reclaims the crumbling building and structures of this area’s past, while finding something comforting in watching former industry giants become local features of today.
CDI creates more opportunities for women at Tech JESSICA KENNEDY Lode Writer The Center for Diversity and Inclusion (CDI) on Michigan Tech’s campus is currently working to create new opportunities for women on campus through a new Tech Women list-serve. One of the most recent additions is called Women’s Programming, directed by Assistant director for CDI, Renee Wells. “The list-serve started as a way to connect with graduate and undergraduate female students, giving them information about new initiatives that
are in the process of being created on Tech’s campus,” said Wells. One of the newest additions to Women’s Programming is the Women’s Leadership Council. Wells said that it is not yet a registered Student Organization but is currently in the process of becoming one. The idea behind the Leadership Council is to bring women together on campus and discuss the changes students would like to see in terms of opportunities, programs, and whatever else students are interested in. “We want to empower the students to help make this happen, and we’ve already started doing
some of these things,” said Wells, “It’s about connecting and making sure that everyone knows what resources are available.” The Women’s Leadership Council’s main goal is to reach out to students and see what they’re interested in and help them by connecting them with resources, people, clubs and organizations who may be working on similar things. “Additionally, Women’s Programming is currently creating ‘women only’ spaces throughout campus. These spaces will allow female students to come together and have a private place to
hang out, study or relax,” Wells said. There is also talk about spa nights, taking classes at the SDC and other possible events students might be interested in trying. Women’s Programming is also in the process of creating the Young Women’s Leadership Program. Wells said this will enable middle school girls attending Houghton Middle School to reach out to female mentors attending Michigan Tech. Tech students will provide help with both oneon-one and large group activities. The hope for this program is that it will help young girls learn inde-
pendence, self-respect, strength and collaboration. The focus for next semester is to build the curriculum so the program can start in the fall of 2012. The Tech Women’s list-serve is largely a way to connect the Tech female student population and engage them in different opportunities and letting them know what is available and how they can become involved. CDI’s primary goal for Women’s Programming is to bring students together so there is as little isolation between members the female student body as possible.
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