Calumet Reclamation Company

07/22/2026

Hill Annex Mine was once one of Minnesota’s largest natural ore producers, and Calumet Reclamation Company will build on that legacy.

During World War II, as demand for iron surged, Hill Annex helped recover as much valuable material as possible. The highest-grade ore was processed first to meet urgent wartime needs. At the same time, other iron-bearing material was sorted, stockpiled, and preserved on the surface for future use.

Those legacy stockpiles are part of Hill Annex history. They reflect a period of extraordinary production on the Iron Range, when mines across the region helped supply the iron behind the Allied war effort.

Hill Annex also shows how recovery methods kept changing over time. A wash plant was built at the mine in 1920, and heavy-media separation was added later as the site continued working to recover more iron.

At Calumet Reclamation Company, our work begins with that legacy. CRC will reclaim legacy stockpiles and recover high-grade iron ore for a new role in domestic steel production.

⛏️ We would love to hear your stories about Hill Annex in the comments.

07/16/2026

Calumet Reclamation Company’s work on the Iron Range is part of a larger path that leads all the way to American steel.

🇺🇸CRC will reclaim legacy iron ore stockpiles in Minnesota and prepare that material for shipment to our sister company, North American Iron, in North Dakota. There, the reclaimed ore will be turned into pig iron, a high-purity iron product used to make American steel.

That steel supports the things we rely on every day. It is used in bridges, roads, buildings, water and sewer systems, farm equipment, vehicles, and energy infrastructure.

♻️This is what makes the CRC project important for the Iron Range. Resources preserved here for decades can help support local opportunity in Minnesota while also fueling production of domestic steel that keeps communities across the country moving.

07/13/2026

Calumet Reclamation Company was proud to support United Way of 1000 Lakes’ Day of Action in Calumet.

This year’s event brought volunteers together to complete 28 community projects that supported local residents, strengthened neighborhoods, and invested in Calumet’s future.

As Donna Johnson, our administrative director, shared, “The Calumet community is something special, and we were honored to be part of its story through United Way’s Day of Action. The day showed the power of coming together to support and strengthen the community.”

We are proud to have been part of an effort that brought people together to make a real difference close to home.

Learn more: https://vist.ly/5b36h

Day of Action volunteers transformed Calumet during United Way of 1000 Lakes’ annual day of service, completing 28 community projects that strengthened neighborhoods, supported residents, and demonstrated the power of

07/01/2026

Northern Minnesota played a vital role in supplying the iron used in the Allied war effort during World War II. During the first half of the twentieth century, the Iron Range supplied 85 percent of the nation’s ore.

As wartime demand surged, production on the Range rose with it. Between 1940 and 1945, Minnesota shipped more than 387 million tons of ore, including more than 75 million tons in 1942 alone. That ore moved by rail and through Great Lakes ports like Two Harbors, Duluth, and Superior to steel centers across the Midwest and beyond. From there, it became part of the steel behind warships, merchant ships, machine guns, tanks, and military airplanes.

On the Iron Range, miners understood what that work meant. Production became more than a paycheque. It became part of the war effort. Miners worked six days a week with overtime, contributing to the Allied victory with pride and purpose.

To meet urgent wartime demand, the highest-grade ore was processed first. Lean ores and lower-grade material were stockpiled near the pits, organized by grade and purity, and preserved for the future.

Calumet Reclamation Company will reclaim legacy iron ore stockpiles preserved from earlier mining years and prepare them for a new role in domestic steel production.

Resources that helped power America once before can still create value for Iron Range communities today.

⛏️ We would love to hear your stories about Iron Range history in the comments.

06/29/2026

We are proud to support initiatives that help make the Calumet community stronger! Thank you United Way of 1000 Lakes

06/22/2026

Calumet Reclamation Company was proud to support United Way of 1000 Lakes as a sponsor of this year’s Day of Action. 🏡👨‍👩‍👧‍👦

This annual initiative brings volunteers together to help Calumet residents and small businesses with outdoor projects, light repairs, and community improvements that leave a lasting impact.

It was great to see people come together, lend a hand, and show the kind of community spirit that makes Calumet strong.