Calhoun Mine was built when the Georgia Gold rush came to Lumpkin County, GA about 1828. Speculators came in and made claims on the gold rich Cherokee Indian land. The area around Dahlonega, GA was plentiful - but the most productive area was north of Auraria, GA. South Carolina Senator John Calhoun purchased land and started a mining company. He allowed his son in law to manage it (Clemson). The location of the Calhoun Mine is 3 miles south of Dahlonega, GA on GA highway 60. It's on a hill on the west side of the road - about .6 miles off the road - on the opposite side of the ridge. It is on private property.
The accident occurred as a direct result of the mine operator's failure to insure that secure blocking procedures were used on the loader bucket before performing repairs beneath the raised bucket.
Muse, Foster, and Calhoun prepared to make repairs to the loader by installing a damaged steel "I" beam with a metal strap and wooden block wedge, which was found at the mine site, as a strut between the yoke on the rod and the cap of one of the bucket lift cylinders.
The method used by the mine operator to support the loader arm frame assembly was not in accordance with the method stipulated in the service manual provided by the equipment manufacturer.
Calhoun graduated from Yale, studied law in Charleston, S.C. and Litchfield, Conn. and served the nation for over forty years as State Legislator, member of U.S. Legislature, Secretary of War, Vice President, Secretary of State, and then became a very powerful U. Senator.
June 3, 1879, the Calhoun Gold Mine lot was sold at the partition sale, for division among the heirs of John C. Calhoun and was bid in by his son, Patrick for $410.00.
There were many mines in Lumpkin and Dawson Counties and they had a convenient market for their gold at the United States Branch Mint in Dahlonega.
Feeds |
Contact