Delaware Mine under new ownership following owner’s death

DELAWARE, Mich. (WLUC) – The Delaware Copper Mine and its touring business are now under new ownership.

Tom Poynter, who owned and operated the mine alongside his wife since 1977, died in September from a heart attack. Dennis Brewer, the mine’s Summer Operations Manager who worked with Tom, recalls how eager Tom was for the mine’s future.

“We all miss him. He was a good guy,” Brewer said. “Tom got real excited when we had Michigan Tech come last summer and teach industrial archeology class here. He got real excited about reinterpreting the historical period of the mine.”

The mine has since been purchased by Tom’s daughter, Laurie Sullivan, and her husband, Bob. They took ownership in January.

“We’re working with other people to try and continue what’s been going on for years,” Laurie said.

Since the new owners acquired the mine, they have been working to add improvements. This includes a new roof over the gift shop and new signage to provide more information about the mine’s history. However, according to the owners, they still have a whole list of other goals they want to accomplish.

“I want to update the lighting down in the mine a little,” Bob continued. “There’s some areas that could be better shown and viewed if we could put some better lighting down there. There’s some work that’s going to go on in the prehistoric pit area. Michigan Tech is actually going to be up here this summer, and they’re going to be doing some of their site work as well.”

Michigan Tech will also be resuming site work at the mine, with a focus on the mine’s Cornish-made surface buildings this year.

A feature that some may notice is missing are the skunks that served as mascots for the business. According to the owners, they were delivered safely to a rescue in Indiana.

“Sadly, they won’t be here,” Bob added. “But we do have commemorative skunks in our gift shop that all of the funds and proceeds will go to help fund the skunks’ care.”

“And we realized, after we took them to the Indiana skunk rescue, that we went through my dad’s wallet and there was a card in it from the skunk rescue, so one of the owners had been here and he had talked to them,” Laurie said. “So, we felt better about taking them there.”

Both owners live in Lower Michigan but say they are looking forward to engaging with and being part of the community as best they can.

The mine is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

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