Over decades of steady mining, the Quincy Mine in Hancock earned the nickname “Old Reliable.” Today, the site no longer extracts copper from the earth, but it reliably unearths history.
The Quincy Mine Hoist Association was established 65 years ago to preserve the Copper Country’s historic impact on the local region and nation. The Quincy Mine operated as one of the country’s most reliable copper producers from 1846 to 1945.
“Quincy Mine Hoist Association filed their articles of incorporation on August 21st, 1961, 65 years ago this Friday, which is when we’re having our gala,” said Clayton Gomez, Chief of Interpretation at the Quincy Mine Hoist Association. “This year has really been a time to take that anniversary year and celebrate all the progress that’s been made. We have moved from a real mom and pop non-profit to one that is catering to guests, 22,000 annual guests worldwide. It’s often surprising how many guests we have that are international visitors.”
After the mine ceased operations, a group of residents came together to excavate the site’s history and heritage. Since its inception, the association has engaged visitors through tours, interpretive signs and educational programs.
“We are wrapping up this year a $1.4 million restoration project for the hoist house here,” Gomez said. “That’s not necessarily to return it to its original splendor, but to make sure that it stays structurally sound. We’ve got preservation projects that are aesthetic, we’ve got preservation projects that are structural, and then we have a lot of interpretive projects that are trying to make sure that, yes, we keep all of this standing and preserved, but also in a way that visitors in the community can understand what was going on with these structures.”
Preserving the history of such a large site presents significant challenges, requiring the association to seek community support. Gomez notes the organization has enjoyed strong backing from local residents interested in saving a piece of their family’s past.
“Locals get to learn some new information that they may not have heard yet,” Gomez said. “The other thing that locals point out that we’re fairly proud of is that no matter how often they visit, they always see something new or they always learn something new or there’s something that’s different from last time. It’s a testament to the progress that’s being made every single year into making this place grow into something more and more.”
Tickets to the 65th anniversary gala cost $65. The dinner and presentations will take place inside the Hoist House beneath the Nordberg winch that helped pull nearly one billion pounds of copper from the earth. The gala opens at 6 p.m. Friday, August 21st.
Contact the Quincy Mine Hoist Association online through its website or by calling the site’s phone number for more details. Find more information on the 65th anniversary gala with the Quincy Mine Hoist Association here.
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