Bruce Bannon’s ties to the mining industry are deeply rooted in his heritage and personal history. With a Slovak lineage steeped in iron mining and a father who worked at the Sterling Hill Mine in Ogdensburg, Bannon spent his formative summers laboring as a miner while studying geology at Penn State University. Today, he channels his expertise as a guide at the Sterling Hill Mine, now a museum, leading groups of 20 to 25 visitors into the 150-foot-deep mine, retracing the footsteps of miners from the past.
While Bannon is recognized by sports enthusiasts for his collegiate football career at Penn State and his professional tenure with the New York Jets, as well as his contribution to the Miami Dolphins’ 1973 Super Bowl victory, his tours at the mine focus on the life and challenges of zinc miners. He provides a vivid depiction of their daily routines, the hazards associated with ore blasting, and the stringent safety measures they followed, all in the quest to extract zinc – a material integral to reinforcing steel, lotions, paints, and vitamins.
Having operated as a productive iron and zinc mine for over a century, Sterling Hill ceased its mining activities in 1986. However, Bannon points out that vast quantities of ore remain untapped. “There were two active mines in this region, the Franklin Mine and the Sterling Hill Mine,” he elaborates. “These mines are renowned for having more minerals than any other location globally.”
Other museum guides offer insights into the applications and characteristics of calcite and other local minerals, emphasizing the fluorescent rocks that have garnered the area significant attention. Following the two-hour mine tour, visitors are invited to explore the museum’s extensive collection, which features minerals, rocks, arrowheads, meteorites, dinosaur footprints, magnetic rocks, fossils, and even a piece of petrified dinosaur dung.
Visitor Information
The Sterling Hill Mining Museum is situated at 30 Plant St., Ogdensburg, accessible via Passaic Street beneath the railroad trestle. The mine welcomes visitors for tours on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. Mineral collection is available on these days from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., weather permitting. For reservations and further details, contact 973-209-7212 or email info@shmmuseum.org. Please be aware that the gift shop is currently closed.
