Clifton, Michigan

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Clifton was a community in Keweenaw County, Michigan that was founded in support of Cliff Mine—a mine opened in 1845 by the Pittsburgh and Boston Mining Company after an abundant amount of copper was discovered there. It is located between Calumet and Eagle Harbor, off of Cliff Drive, alongside US 41 in the Keweenaw Peninsula. A historical marker is present at the site.

In 1845 Clifton was a hard working society, as mining was the main source of income within the city. Clifton encouraged many men of different nationalities to work there, as it promised to reward immigrant laborers for their work and also to teach them American values. This brought the Irish, German, French Canadians and also Cornish men out to the mines to work hard and prosper.

Besides mining the Clifton residents did many other things. They played cards, went to church and even partook in organizations that helped the community. The city of Clifton consisted of only a few churches including Catholic and Episcopal. Their masses were spoken in many different languages, including English, French and German. Along with religious groups, there were also organizational groups including: The Independent Order of Good Templars, the Band of Hope, and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. These organizations would sponsor activities and community events to heighten the people's moral and they would also teach good morals on how to live amongst each other. After the Cliff mine had been extinguished, however, the people had no reason to stay and is now fallen to its sad state it is in now.

Cliff Cemetery in Clifton was only used for a short period of time and is the final resting place for only 15 people. Headstones still present at the site consist of stone and wooden markers.


[edit] Further reading

  • Chaput, Donald (1971). The Cliff, American’s First Great Copper Mine. Kalamazoo, Michigan: Sequoia Press/Publishers. 
  • Mason, Phillip P (1991). Copper Country Journal—The Diary of Schoolmaster Henry Hobart, 1863-1864. Detroit, Michigan: Wayne State University Press. 


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