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The History of the Detroit Salt Mine and its Surface Structures

According to the 36th Annual Report of the State of Michigan Salt Inspector dated November 30th, 1906, the Michigan Salt and Manufacturing Company had started sinking a shaft to produce salt. This shaft was being sunk by the Oakwood Contracting Company, with a Mr. Eugene Brandt, from Duluth, Minnesota listed as the Engineer and Manager of the project.

With the completion of the shaft and the reaching the strata of salt nearly 1200 ft below the surface the Detroit Salt Company is listed as the new owner and, in 1910, constructed the #1 Tipple Building. The architecture firm is listed as the Wisconsin Bridge and Iron Company of Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

In 1913, the Shop building and the Mine Dry were built.
Between 1921 and 1925, a second shaft (Shaft #2) on the mine property was sunk by the Dravo Contracting Company of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
In 1925, The Detroit Rock Salt Company, a subsidiary of the International Salt Company, constructed the #2 Tipple and the #1 and #2 Hoist Houses. Allan and Garcia Engineers from Chicago, Illinois were contracted to do this project.
In 1998, The Detroit Salt Company, LLC, constructed a new #2 head frame, Mine/Tech Fabricators from North Bay, Ontario (Canada) were contracted for this project.

Detroit Salt Mine Ownership Timeline

Detroit Salt Mining and Manufacturing Company:

1909-1911 Detroit Salt Company
August 1, 1911 Watkins Salt Company
Sept 25, 1912 Detroit Rock Salt Company,
a subsidiary of Watkins Salt Company
January 9, 1913 Detroit Rock Salt Company,
a subsidiary of International Salt Company
April 1, 1940 International Salt Company consolidates all subsidiaries
1940-1985 International Salt Company
1985-1997 Crystal Mines, Inc.
1997- Present Detroit Salt Company, LLC