The Tri-Party Coal Mine was located one half mile north of M-21 on Durand Rd., now the site of a junk yard. It started operations in the Fall of 1935, by William Bendall of Flint, who had the mining knowledge. An investment of $75,000 was provided by the Braden-Whiting Leather goods Co. of Flint and Michael Terry, an engineer at AC Spark Plug. Hence the name Tri-Party. They ran the mine until some of the employees took it over and it continued operations until about 1948.
The first strata of coal was found at 40 feet, but better quality coal was found at 125 feet. They reported in 1935, that their coal company had 1000 acres under lease with a coal supply sufficient for the next 10 years.
About 10 tunnels were extended 3000 to 3500 feet each, under ground, at different levels down to about 125 feet. Then the mine's runs were leveled off so narrow guage railroad tracks could be put down. Coal taken from the "rooms" was hauled in cars to the main run by ponies. The coal was then hauled to the main shaft by an electric locomotive. Two white ponies were taken into the mine in the fall and stayed there until mining was completed in the spring. The miners would do repair work and expand the mine during the summer months.
Frank Bendall of 'Bendellville', East King Street, Corunna, recalls his father's coal mine. "When the miners came up at the end of the day, their faces were black." I remember Dad weighing the coal and giving the miner a slip with the weight.
From the Argus Press Jan. 2, 1939
The Tri-Party coal mine, located a half mile north of Venice Center is now producing the greatest quanity of coal daily since the mine opened three years ago.
At present, about 250 tons of coal are raised daily compared with 175 to 200 tons daily production of last years peak. The mine now operates on a full time basis with a crew of 60 miners, about 15 more than were at work last year. It is not believed by the management that more miners will be placed at work, however, as the production is now keeping up with demand.
A large proportion of coal is sold in and around the Owosso area in a mine-to-consumer system. Consumers bring in trucks and trailers to the tipple for the size of coal they want. Large quantities are sold in other cities, however, with a great deal going to Durand, Flint, Saginaw, Flushing and some going as far away as Battle Creek and Muskegon.
For the Past few weeks, miners have been working a full schedule, 35 hours a week, but because of warm weather prevailing during most of the Autumn season, the mine was operated only three days a week until the first of Decemeber. A number of men over the age of 50 are on the mining crew, exploding the belief that only young men can do the work. "We are glad to have these men work for us," the mine manager stated, "because we know they will take the necessary precautions without being watched. They are all old-time miners and will not take the chances in working in a room not properly propped for the sake of getting out a few more tons of coal."
All the men work at good wages under unionized terms and are paid for their work by the ton. The mine is a shaft mine, the shaft going into the earth about 125 feet, and the entries extend a quarter mile from the shaft. Each miner works his own room which is 30 feet wide and 100 feet long, with the proper cuts in each room to insure good ventilation.
Because the company spent a good deal of money in 1937 for modern equipment, it has been unnecessary to spend much during 1938, except for maintenance. The mine is entirely electrified and the only battery locomotive in use in a mine in this section is operated by the Tri-Party mine.
Installation of a new oiler for stoker coal and a new runway and car for the dumping of clay and state constitutes the only new expenditures this year designed for efficiency and for better service to consumers.
The mine is owned by the Tri-Party Mining Co. of Flint and Howard Braden, of Flint is in charge