The Franklin Mine

 The history of Franklin mining is extensive. Enough to devout a lifetime to study and research, which many people have.  From the 1700's until the mid 1950's, the Franklin mine served up extensive supplies of unique minerals, being one of the few successful mines in Sussex county. Today the site is still honored and glorified by rockhounds for its ore, being known as the "Fluorescent Capitol of the world".

 The mine is located on private grounds across from the Franklin Mineral Museum. The museum is opened from march through November, and is a great place to view history and precious minerals pulled from the area. More information can be found here at www.franklinmineralmuseum.com.

This Author obtained permission to tour the grounds from the owners whom we most graciously thank.

Buckwheat Mine

The Buckwheat mine, started in 1866 as a huge open pit mine with up to 5 underground working levels. The buckwheat pit was where most of the zinc ore was pulled from the great Franklin Mine. Over the years it passed through the hands of prospectors and companies, and was the focus of much litigation.

  As is seen below, it has taken on the appearance of a quarry, with spring fed blue water. The Buckwheat mine has many shafts and tunnels which are all mostly submerged and hidden from view. The water level is kept constant by a pipe which drains through the Buckwheat Tunnel, which was used as a haulage tunnel in the 1800's. The tunnel passed under Evans street and exits in the buckwheat dump area of the Franklin Mineral Museum.  The entrance on the dump side is obliterated, except for the 10 inch pipe coming out of the ground leveling the water in the buckwheat pit.  The secrets of the mine today lie beneath water and stone.

 The museum area was once a mill, and some structures and foundation are still visible.

	Broad view of the pit	This open area was once a solid wall with an adit. it has been daylighted in later operations.	Broad view of the south side with the tunnel in view..
Here is the tunnel on the buckwheat pit side. Mules once pulled ore cars out of here.	The drainage pipe empties the pit through the tunnel, and exits near the wallkill.	Steps leading down to the pit waters.	An adit once entered in here into the underground north chamber..	Old dewatering pipes atop the taylor mine
The view looking south..

 

Trotter Mine

The Trotter mine is located north of the buckwheat pit, on the west side of the ore vein, and consists of a number of shafts sunk in the footwall.  In the late 1800's, Charles W. Trotter ran a careless mine which consisted of over 5 shafts sunk on the zinc ore footwall. The conditions of these mines were outlined in a 1900's report, indicating carelessness  due to pursuit of profit. Most of the remains were obliterated save for the 20th century shaft which was used as a timber shaft, and later as an air shaft to the Palmer Mine.. Most of the remains were eaten up by strip mining today. What remains is the capped Ding Dong Shaft and the 20th Century Trotter shaft. . There were 2 other shafts on the property which were filled in/subsided as well. These are called the Newcombe and Nichols shaft.

The Trotter #4 (20th Century) shaft lies below here. It is 500 ft deep.		a closer look..	The 2 shallow adits to the Ding Dong Shaft.	Amazingly one of the shafts stiull has the rails intact..
at the end of the shaft, the wall is cemented shut..		Rails up-close	The top of the Ding Dong Shaft is welled shut..	The trotter shafts looking south, this area is no longer existant..
The trotter mine towards the north end..	The subsided area in the foreground is believedto be the newcombe shaft..

All Images Copyright, do not use without permission. 

Disclaimer: This site attempts to presents a historical perspective to the arm chair explorers on the mines of NJ & NY. The owners and authors do not condone visiting these mines, as they are dangerous and life threatening. We do not take responsibility for any injuries or death which may occur by visiting these mines nor will we give directions to anyone. All mines were thoroughly examined, with all suitable precautions taken when documenting these sites.