It would be AMAZING to open up the Loudville mine. That air shaft might be the easiest way to do it. I wrote a lengthy comment mentioning that one, since it's local to me, and I'm so impressed that you included it in your video! At it's peak, the shaft was about 800 feet in depth.
Yes it would be amazing to reopen! Probably the best way would be to wait for the hill to dry out really well and the use a mid size excavator to expose the tunnel where it meets the bedrock and then push a long piece of corrugated culvert pipe up to it and the back fill around it.
Thanks for the incredible information Mike, I had a copy of J.W. JR's biography, and couldn't even get through it. You sorted it all out here, this mine history, very well... And you went there got that amazing footage, I'll watch this one many times, this is unbelievably great work! I have mining and quarry information (mostly within Middletown Pegmatite zone), that could be useful, and would be glad to contribute such for future work like this.
Very interesting-New England had all kinds of mines-even coal (Mansfield, MA, Cumberland RI). The deposits seemed to be small and most were not profitable. Keep up the work!
Watching this video for at least the 3rd time. Your cinematography, research, historical photos/drawings/maps, narration and contagious enthusiasm...everything is exceptionally realized. Kudos, Michael!
Really awesome video! Thank you for teaching me some of my amazing New England history. I had no idea there was that many mines around here. Would love to get down in to the one you found that's collapsed at the entrance under that tree stump that you said possibly goes 1500ft! That would be incredible. Love your work and thank you for sharing it. Do you think you might write a book someday with all your explorations and pictures? That would be great!
Great work! I would love you to do the same thing for NY mines. Especially the ones in Upstate NY in the Adirondacks. Graphite, lead, Iron etc. Lots near Ticonderoga and some near Saratoga.
My friend Willy Bartle grew up on Raggie Montain in northwestern Connecticut he is a great guy but definitely a product of lead poisoning from drinking water from the area which is laced with old lead mines there -NOFM
At the beginning of the video I was thinking of a Leadmine Rd near my house. Wondering if it was significant. 2 mins later you mention the mine in Easthampton. Now I want to go see it for myself. I've been driving by it since I was a kid. Good videos. Keep it up.
Loudville leadmine is on the map in fort Ticonderoga literally on the map that’s the real revolutionary war mine it was privately owned. Threw the revolution they came from Boston stop mine then went up to Fort Ticonderoga at the fort, William Henry
They are actually from a really great museum in Prague www.alchemiae.cz/en. I highly recommend a visit! The lab and tunnels were discovered during construction in the city.
Thay flooded the mine when thay hit the underground lake the mine was shut down 3 time Ethan Allen and his partners bought that mind and he only minded for five years and that was the end of it then it got shut down. It couldn’t keep the water out of it. They hit a underground lake.
Farmers burying stone is a tragedy. The company I work for pays good money for the stuff. I have a sample of fieldstone in my office from that area with some shiny soft metal in it.
Love your videos I go out in the state forest with my dogs I usually look for chambers so we will add mines to my search if you want to see any chambers let me know I would be happy to show you I live in south east Connecticut will send you my phone number and email
