Vulcan, Michigan is an unincorporated community along US Highway 2, about three miles east of Norway, in the Upper Peninsula.
As unincorporated communities in Michigan do not have legally verified boundaries, it can be difficult to determine specifically which properties are within the community, but the areas generally considered to be in Vulcan are concentrated along US-2. The western portion of the community is north of the eastern shores of Hanbury Lake, where Main Street runs south from the highway, and it continues east along US-2 to the point where East Main Street runs north from the highway, and maybe further east to the Sturgeon River.
The more rural area south of US-2 along River Road, to the Menominee River and the Michigan-Wisconsin border may also be considered part of Vulcan since it is served by the Vulcan post office.
Michigan cities and villages within fifty miles of Vulcan include Norway, Kingsford, Iron Mountain, Powers, Carney, Daggett, Stephenson, Alpha, Crystal Falls, Escanaba, and Gladstone, while the unincorporated communities of Loretto and Waucedah are within ten miles. Wisconsin localities within fifty miles of Vulcan include Niagara, Pembine, Aurora, Beecher, Homestead, Dunbar, Amberg, Wausaukee, Goodman, Athelstane, and Silver Cliff.
Vulcan was settled in 1872 by the Milwaukee Iron Company, and named for the Vulcan Mine.
Originally known as the Breitung Mine when it was opened in 1877, the Vulcan Mine was an iron ore mining operation at Vulcan, in Dickinson County. After 1892, the mine was operated by the Menominee Mining Company, and then the Penn Iron Mining Company. Today, public underground mine tours are available.
The Verona Iron Mine, near Vulcan, operated from 1849 to 1904. Operated by the Verona Mining Company, the Verona Mine was a small operation with only one shaft.
The village that developed from the mine was founded by Lewis Whitehead in 1877. On October 31 of that year, a post office was established, with Milton C. Belknap as postmaster.
Originally, the area of Vulcan was in Menominee County, but became part of Dickinson County when it was organized in 1891.
The Wisconsin & Michigan Railway was organized in 1894 to operate lines north and south from the Soo Line to points in Michigan and Wisconsin, and reached Vulcan and the Menominee Iron Range. The W&M operated until 1938, when it was abandoned, and later acquired by the Chicago & North Western Railroad, which operated a depot with a telegraph window, store, and office in Vulcan.
The village was platted by Raymond and Esther J. Turner on July 25, 1925, although it was never incorporated.
Today, underground iron mine guided tours are offered by the Iron Mountain Iron Mine, founded in 1956 by three Iron Mountain businessmen, Eugene Carollo, Albert Carollo, and James Goulette, who created the operation as an attraction that would give people a view of iron mining operations on the site of the East Vulcan mine.
At the site of an exploratory tunnel that had not been used since the late 1800s, the mine workings were renovated and old mining machinery was installed at several locations to show the early methods that were used by the iron mining industry. Two buildings were constructed, one housing the admissions building and gift shop, the other housing a mining museum, and guided tours take visitors 2,600 feet into the Iron Mountain Iron Mine's drifts and stopes, although the only portion open to the public is the exploratory tunnel.
Although many of these entities do not currently exist within the Vulcan community, any governmental entities, businesses, industries, schools, churches, organizations, attractions, events, or recreational opportunities within the Vulcan, Michigan community are appropriate for this category.
Recommended Resources
The East Vulcan iron mine ceased operations in the late 1800s, but has been brought back to life in 1956 as a seasonal attraction, offering mining tours, a mining museum, and a gift shop. The history of the original mine and the current operations are told, along with photographs depicting its facilities and tour, tour operations, prices, and special accommodations for large groups, as well as a discount coupon. Its rock and gift shop is highlighted. Its location and mailing address is posted.
https://ironmountainironmine.wixsite.com/
Lost & Abandoned Mine Tunnels of Vulcan, Michigan, The
WFMK 99.1 offers a report on abandoned mines in the Vulcan, Michigan community, as they are today, including photographs of the entrances of several of the mines, apart from the Iron Mountain mine tunnels. One of the tunnels lies behind a baseball field, while others are in the woods surrounding the community. Photos of stone structures associated with mining operations, and mine openings themselves are included. Some photos taken during an Iron Mountain Mine tour are also shown.
https://99wfmk.com/vulcantunnels2018/
The civil township is in south-central Dickinson County, in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The township offices are in the community of Vulcan. The mailing and physical addresses of the town hall are posted, along with the names and contacts of township board members, the planning commission, the board of appeals, the board of review, and the township assessor. Meeting agendas and minutes, ordinances, policies, and resolutions are included, along with GIS mapping and downloadable forms.
https://norwaytwpmi.com/
Originating in Italy, the farm began being worked in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan by Louis Pellegrini in 1921, originally as a dairy farm with cabbage and beans. Still in the Pellegrini family, the farm was expanded to a pick-your-own strawberry farm in 1965, while also offering cabbage, pumpkins, corn, rye, oats, barley, sorghum, and sugar beets. Opening in mid-September, the exact date will be posted on the site each season, along with its address and telephone numbers.
https://www.pellegrinifarm.com/
St. Mary & St. Barbara Catholic Churches
Serving the communities of Norway and Vulcan for more than a hundred and thirty-five years, the Catholic Community includes St. Mary in Norway and St. Barbara in Vulcan, Michigan. Addresses and maps showing the locations of the churches are set forth, along with office telephone and fax numbers, an email address, Mass schedules, a schedule of upcoming events, and church bulletins. Its history, staff contacts, photo gallery, an overview of its ministries, and homilies are featured.
https://www.stmarybarbara.org/
