Frank Matthews

NEGAUNEE — When Marji-Gisick pointed to the exposed ore on the root of a fallen tree pine tree stump to Philo Everett,an agent for the Jackson Mining Company, it marked the beginning of the City of Negaunee.

It began the development of the U.P.’s resources of iron ore and the beginning of the Jackson Mine, later to become Cleveland Cliffs Iron Co.

On October 5, 1902, Frank Matthews was born in a farmhouse three miles west of the historic Jackson Mine. He was fascinated by the mining activity and became a collector of old bricks, abandoned tools, discarded horseshoes and scraps of metal.

He became a saver of things that nobody had a use for.

Matthews was a jack of all trades. He worked as a butcher, a baker a candlestick maker. He helped to build the county airport on U.S.41.

He was a newspaper boy, a shoe shiner, appliance repair man and sold pasties for 15 cents. Matthews’ worked at the Maas Mine but when his brother was killed in a mining accident he felt he couldn’t continue mining.

Matthews’ family home was built near the Jackson Mine in 1850. It was moved to U.S.41 in 1962. In 1969 he opened a one room museum on that location in Negaunee Township. The building was constructed of scrap lumber from the Jackson Mine and old pioneer houses that wee torn down.

Inside, the artifacts, tools, pictures and mining memorabilia offered a visual history of the area’s early pioneers and mining companies who built a thriving community. He envisions his museum as a larger project of promoting Negaunee to the world.

He feels this is important to the tourist industry and to educate Negaunee’s youth about their roots. Matthew said, “iron ore is the backbone of this country.”

The garage sized building and grounds where his collection overflowed had something that each nationality brought with them when they came here.

In his nationality garden he had shamrock from the Irish, mint from the Scottish, multiplier onions from the French Canadians. Cornish brought parsley for the pasty.

The Swedes brought chives for mixing with fresh butter, the Italians added garlic and grapes. The English brought rhubarb and johnny jump ups and the French brought lilacs, the Germans brought hose radish.

Frank hoped that what started as something for him to putter with would turn into something the community could be proud of. He thought every little town should have at least one room to tell of its beginnings. We have the history of Franks beginnings at the Negaunee Historical Museum.

Working with the Cleveland Cliffs Iron Co,. The State Historical Commission, the Department of Natural Resources and the area service groups a plan for a multiple facility park was drafted. The committee reverted to an advisory group and they waited. Anxious to see his dream come true , Matthews shook his head at “progress” and given his personality he said,“Give me $5,000 and six lumberjacks and a team of horses and I’ll build you a park and whatever happens it will be my playground.”

Frank was asked if he would donate his collection to Michigan’s State Historical Museum. He refused saying. “every time we do this the people down state take it all away.

We are sitting on a wealth of history in Negaunee and I would like to see the community preserve our historical sites.

He was adamant that his collection remain in Negaunee where iron ore was discovered. A quote from Frank,’“If we forget our past there is no use looking ahead.”

The Michigan Mining Museum is now in Negaunee Township across highway 41 from where Frank Matthews began his one room museum to preserve the history of Negaunee.

A visitor to the museum can experience the mining process and it offers outdoor interpretive trails that illustrate the Carp River forge plant and animal life, geological features and Native American culture.

We can thank Frank for his persistence in preserving this history.