One hundred years ago, a mining disaster in Ely Township, Michigan, changed families and communities across the Upper Peninsula. The 1926 Barnes-Hecker Mine Disaster remains the deadliest mining disaster in Michigan history, claiming the lives of 51 miners.
A century later, their stories are still being remembered. WNMU Public Media presents three programs that explore the tragedy, its impact on generations of families, and the efforts to preserve the memory of the men who lost their lives.
Whether you're interested in Upper Peninsula history, Michigan's mining heritage, or the personal stories behind this historic event, these programs offer different perspectives on the Barnes-Hecker Mine Disaster.
Barnes-Hecker: Memories of Misfortune
WNMU-TV Documentary
Explore the history of the 1926 disaster in this WNMU-TV documentary. Through historical photographs, interviews with miners' descendants, and graphic illustrations, Barnes-Hecker: Memories of Misfortune portrays the tragedy and its lasting impact on the families and community.
Based on Thomas G. Friggens' book No Tears in Heaven, the documentary preserves an important chapter of Michigan's mining history and the stories of those connected to the disaster.
Watch Barnes-Hecker: Memories of Misfortune • Watch on YouTube
Media Meet: Barnes-Hecker Remembered
WNMU-TV's local public affairs program
On the 100th anniversary of the disaster, Media Meet looks back at what happened at the Barnes-Hecker Mine and explores its impact on the surrounding community and the history of mine safety.
Host Mike Settles is joined by mining historian and mine safety expert Jim Paquette, along with Annie Tippett and Glenn Wing, descendants of Barnes-Hecker miners. Together, they reflect on the disaster, the families who were affected, and the importance of keeping these stories alive.
Watch Barnes-Hecker Remembered • Watch on YouTube
Media Meet Extra: Barnes-Hecker Memorial Park Honors the Miners
An extended conversation from Media Meet
At the original site of the Barnes-Hecker Mine, a new memorial park provides a place for the miners to be remembered. In this Media Meet Extra, Jim Paquette, Annie Tippett, and Glenn Wing discuss how the park came to be and what it means to the descendants of the men who perished.
The park was made possible through a community effort, with local businesses and volunteers donating their time and services to transform the once-inaccessible property into a place of remembrance. Visitors can explore three metal statues modeled after miners' descendants, interpretive features that tell personal stories, and the remains of the original engine house foundation.
For the families, the park offers a meaningful place to honor their loved ones. For the community, it ensures that the miners and their stories will not be forgotten.
Watch Media Meet Extra • Watch on YouTube
Visit Barnes-Hecker Memorial Park
If you're in the Upper Peninsula, consider visiting Barnes-Hecker Memorial Park in Ely Township. Located at the original mine site, the park offers an opportunity to connect with the history of the disaster and remember the men whose lives were lost.
Search "Barnes-Hecker Mine" in your map app to find the location. You can also visit the Barnes-Hecker 100th Anniversary Facebook page for more information.
Remembering an Important Part of Upper Peninsula History
The Barnes-Hecker Mine Disaster is more than a moment in Michigan's mining history. It is a story of the miners, their families, and a community that has carried their memories for a century. Through these WNMU Public Media programs, their stories continue to be shared with new generations.
