Moriah’s Iron Ore Operations

A recent newspaper article provided a public update of a proposed application to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission regarding the proposed re-development of the old iron ore mines in Mineville, Moriah, NY.  This proposal is to develop a 240-MW closed-loop pumped storage project to generate “green energy” – a renewable power source for the future.

Pumped Storage Facility Diagramed Credit: TVA

As it has been almost fifty years since the mines in that town have ceased to be active we here at the Ticonderoga Historical Society have routinely have been asked over the years about the old mines and their operations here in the Adirondack Region.  We have written several articles in the past few years to help inform in greater detail  to those that have shown an interest in this subject.

Early this year, while working with the Society’s archival library records, this writer came across a file donated in 1943 by J. R. (Joe) Linnery, Manager, Adirondack District, Republic Steel Corp. It contains a series of articles that provide both a historical and contemporary insight into the mines of the Adirondack Region.  Following are edited excerpts that may be a source for further investigation for researchers and the general interest of our readers.

Donald B. Gillies

The following edited text was in article written by D. B. Gillies, Vice President, Republic Steel Corp.

“In 1938 the Republic Steel Corp. announced that it had leased the ore mines and other property of the Witherbee Sherman Corp