What's happening: Two anonymous donors have established a new endowment
fund through the Keweenaw Community Foundation to support preserving and operating one of the Copper Country’s most iconic historic landmarks: Champion #4 Shaft-Rock House. The Endowment for the Preservation of the Champion #4 Shaft-Rock House Fund will provide long-term financial support for the ongoing efforts of Painesdale Mine and Shaft, Inc.
About the house: The Champion #4 Shaft-Rock House was built in 1902 and modified in 1906. It is the oldest structure of its type on the Keweenaw Peninsula. Its surrounding landscape and companion buildings remain intact, offering visitors an authentic look into the region’s copper mining heritage. Unlike any other site in the area, Champion #4 offers tours of its upper levels, where tools and machinery still hang exactly where they were left by the workers who once toiled
there.
What they're saying: “The Champion continues to operate thanks to small donations and tour income, but those funds only cover day-to-day needs like insurance and toilet rentals. What’s often left unfunded are the more substantial preservation efforts. My hope is that this endowment will provide a steady stream of support -- without forcing the site to become overly commercialized just to
survive,” said one of the fund donors.
To donate: To donate to the Endowment for the Preservation of the Champion #4 Shaft-Rock House Fund, visit the
fund site. To learn more about the Painesdale Mine and Shaft, Inc., visit
painesdalemineshaft.com.
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