The Miners of Wabana: The Story of the Iron Ore Miners of Bell Island

by Gail Weir

For seventy-one years, iron ore was mined at Wabana, Bell Island: half the output was used in Canada; the other half was shipped around the world. When the mine shut down on June 30, 1966, it was Canada s oldest, continuously operating iron mine. The miners worked three miles under the ocean in Conception Bay, in what was, during its lifetime, the world s most extensive submarine iron mine. This is the story of the miners, of their workday, of the conditions in the mines, the story of the horses and the rats, of the fun that relieved the tedium and of the tragedies.

Genres: History

208 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

Reviews

[Max · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantastic educational book on the iron ore mines and life of the miners on Bell Island. Each chapter gave you information on different aspects of the mines and working in the mines, the history of the companies, pay, different jobs, the dangers, life after the mines, and more. With all this information you really got a better more full picture of a man’s life working in the mines. There were interviews from men who worked in the mines and they told various stories, both serious and funny and it’s so important to have that real world experience be included.
I really liked that there were photos included as well. I knew a lot about the mines as my grandfathers worked in them, but this gives a more in-depth look at them with proper numbers/dates.