Although claims were filed on the property in southeastern
Iron County along the Paint River, where Crystal Falls is now located, as early
as 1876, no attempts were made toward the establishment of a settlement until
early in the year 1880, when Chicago and Northwestern Railroad reached the
village of Florence, just south of Iron County in Wisconsin. After receiving
assurances from the railroad that any ores mined would have a rail outlet
from Florence, Dr. D.M. Bond and Donald C. MacKinnon of Iron River began
explorations and, in the late summer of 1880, opened the Paint River Mine.
Two residents of Florence, S.D. Hollister, Sr. and George Runkel, reached
the location in September of 1880. Runkel began operation of Crystal Falls
Mine, which was located on the western bank of the Paint River at the foot
of the falls. Together with Hollister and several other early explorers,
he formed the Crystal Falls Iron Company, to enlist capital, explore for
ore, and obtain leases.
Although claims were filed on the property in southeastern
Iron County along the Paint River, where Crystal Falls is now located, as early
as 1876, no attempts were made toward the establishment of a settlement until
early in the year 1880, when Chicago and Northwestern Railroad reached the
village of Florence, just south of Iron County in Wisconsin. After receiving
assurances from the railroad that any ores mined would have a rail outlet
from Florence, Dr. D.M. Bond and Donald C. MacKinnon of Iron River began
explorations and, in the late summer of 1880, opened the Paint River Mine.
Two residents of Florence, S.D. Hollister, Sr. and George Runkel, reached
the location in September of 1880. Runkel began operation of Crystal Falls
Mine, which was located on the western bank of the Paint River at the foot
of the falls. Together with Hollister and several other early explorers,
he formed the Crystal Falls Iron Company, to enlist capital, explore for
ore, and obtain leases.