It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Tom Poynter on Saturday, September 30, 2023. Tom is survived by his beloved wife, Lani and by his four children, six grandchildren, and one great grandchild. He also leaves behind two skunks and a dog.
The Delaware Mine was Tom’s life’s work. As a teen, he worked as a tour guide in the now closed Arcadian Mine in Hancock, Michigan. He knew then that he wanted to have his own mine. Little more than a decade later, Tom and his brother Jack found the Delaware Mine and opened it for tours. After a few years, Tom became the sole owner and continued to develop the property.
Those of you that have visited the mine have experienced Tom’s handiwork. He rebuilt the stairs that take you into the mine and put up all the lights so you could see the tunnels that were mined so long ago. Tom built the gift shop to welcome guests and get them ready for their tours. He loved sharing his knowledge of the history of Keweenaw mining with everyone who came for a tour, and he built paths throughout the property so guests could see the buildings that used to be integral in keeping the mine running back in it’s heyday.
It's not often that you can go somewhere and truly see someone’s dream as a reality. Each of you who have visited the mine, and those who will visit in the future have helped make Tom’s dream come true. On behalf of Tom’s family, we truly thank you. We will continue on with his legacy to share his vision and passion.