New publication by Mary V. Tippett documents the lives touched by the 1926 Barnes-Hecker Mine tragedy using rare photographs and personal stories
ISHPEMING, MI / ACCESS Newswire / June 16, 2025 / Nearly a century after the Barnes-Hecker Mine disaster claimed 51 lives in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, a new book offers a detailed portrait of the people forever changed by the tragedy. Enduring Legacies: People of the 1926 Barnes-Hecker Mine Disaster (Modern History Press, 2025), written by first-time author Mary V. Tippett, was released on June 15 and brings together decades of family histories, photographs, and personal accounts.
Mary V. Tippett with her debut book Enduring Legacies, honoring the 1926 Barnes-Hecker Mine disaster.
The collapse on November 3, 1926, remains the worst mining accident in Michigan history and the most fatal iron ore mine disaster in the United States. Tippett's book focuses not only on the event itself but on the lives that followed. The work includes stories from 26 of the men who died, the lone survivor, and others who were present at the surface or participated in recovery efforts.
Of the 51 men who perished, 42 were married and nine were single. Through extensive interviews and research, the author collected family narratives and previously unpublished photos, 175 in total, that shed new light on the lives affected by the disaster.
The book names each of the deceased, their spouses, and others connected to the event. It also provides insight into how the community and mining company responded in the aftermath. In many cases, this marks the first time these stories have been shared beyond immediate family circles.
Tippett's personal connection to the event is rooted in the story of her grandfather, Walter Tippett, whose name appears frequently in local historical accounts. "What began as my desire to interview as many families as possible became the genesis for a book at the suggestion of the historians at the Michigan Iron Industry Museum," Tippett said.
Family members who contributed to the book expressed gratitude for the opportunity to be included. One descendant remarked, "So if we hadn't come to talk with you, no one would have known about us?" Another said, "We've known about this tragedy for our whole lives and now we are in a book."
Enduring Legacies is available in paperback, hardcover, and eBook formats from Barnes & Noble, Amazon, and other major booksellers. An audiobook edition is scheduled for release in August 2025 on Apple iTunes and Audible. U.P. libraries may request a complimentary copy by contacting the publisher.
Media Contact:
Victor R. Volkman
Senior Editor, Modern History Press
734-417-4266
info@ModernHistoryPress.com
SOURCE: Modern History Press
View the original press release on ACCESS Newswire
