A Comparative Study of the Miners’ Homes In Cornwall England And The Miners’ Homes of the Cornish in Michigan

Abstract

The study of domestic vernacular architecture can provide understanding of what was important to a group of emigrating people as they established themselves in a new environment. This paper focuses on the mid-19th century Cornish who emigrated to the copper mines of Michigan from Cornwall, England. An assessment of the house form and culture of the Cornish is made by studying a variety of archival materials including contemporary and historical photographs, reports, blueprints, public documents, and maps, as well as making site visits to Cornwall and Calumet.

The study examines the limitations the mining companies placed upon the miners in Calumet, Michigan regarding their homes. These limitations are contrasted with the limitations the miners experienced in Cornwall. The limitations that climate, geography, and housing styles in Cornwall (1820-1900) and in Calumet (1850–1914) placed upon the miners’ homes are also examined. Comparison is made of the construction and materials used in building houses, the location of the housing in relation to the mine sites, and the architectural details of the housing in each area.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Mary Jo Rowell Browne

Mary Jo Rowell Browne is a Master’s graduate from the University of Minnesota-St Paul.

Evelyn M. Franklin

Evelyn Franklin is Associate Professor, Department of Design, Housing and Apparel, University of Minnesota-St. Paul.