Hi all. The following pics were taken during yesterday afternoon’s trip to Birmingham’s Red Mountain. The objective, find the Sloss #1 ore mine.
A little background is due concerning the history of James W. Sloss and his impact on the industrial developement of the Birmingham District. Sloss was born in Limestone County Alabama in 1818 and died in May of 1890. He was part of a group of industrialists who are responsible for the area’s iron/mining/railroad history. He negotiated the entry of the L&N into Birmingham (by purchase/completion of the South & North RR). Sloss Furnaces are still an important part of the city’s personality to this day. In 1886, he sold his holdings to an investor group and the name Sloss,Sheffield Steel and Iron Co was adopted in 1899. Interestingly, both Sloss ore mines are marked SSS&I and date from 1882 and 1890. They must have had the current company name added after 1899… As an interesting side note, this link shows James’ Sloss’ final resting place. http://www.samford.edu/~dgjeane/oakhill/oh_tour25.html
I originally went to Red Mountain several years ago to find the Woodward Iron Co’s three mines. I found Sloss 2 on that first trip as well. Since then, I’ve thought off and on about locating the Sloss 1 mine while visting the #2 mine and the Sloss workers cemetary several times, but had been unable to locate it. Well, today was the day. It was a rugged hike in, overgrown with brush and briers, but worth the effort.
On the way in, at the crest of Red Mountain, I found two vertical vent shafts. The land company (the same ones that ruined the #2 drift) has wisely burned off the underbrush, located and temporarily sealed them. There’s no telling how deep they are. Some of the area drifts are reported to go as far as 2500 feet! They really were a safety hazard. Cool air was flowing steadily out of them…
Nice work, Grande Man! It must have been quite a thrill to find it. I always find it interesting to find places like this and wonder about the people who went to work there every day.
You’re right, Tom. I was happy to find the site. It somehow gives me a since of connection with our past to visit these places. When there, it doesn’t take much in the way of imagination to picture the people who worked the shaft and hear the sounds of L&N steam echo thru your mind. The ore that came from the Sloss mines made rich men richer, fed miners kids, contributed to our infrastructure, and help America wage World Wars. It’s part of who we are. Cool stuff, cool place.
Grande man, I could not agree more that history is a vital part of my enjoyment of the hobby. I think that any of us that are modelling an earlier era, are in our own way documenting social hostory. The railroads have been an integral part of industrial and social development in this country. Gaining a deeper understanding of this thru research and reading can provide a satisfying backdrop for our modelling. Thanks for sharing your findings, I for one find it facinating.
Thanks for the pics! The Q has some fine looking equipment.
To illustrate how this can increase enjoyment. I just finished reading a fantastic book about a mine masacre from 1922, a book i would have never read if it were not for MRR. I’m modelling a mine, which led me to be interested in the life of the mine worker earlier in the century, that eventually led me to this facinating book. Now I find myself wanting to take a field trip to southern Illinois to see what is left of the places mentioned in the book.
That’s awesome. I’d encourage you to take the trip. Some sites are intact, some are not, but you’ll never know until you have a look. There’s nothing like actually being there to shape your perspective.
