 | | Kraig Mahrley uses the huge 1912 Ahmeek 3 & 4 mines 6,000 square-foot dryhouse for his workshop. The big dilapidated building just north of his housed the hoist for one of the mines. | Kraig Mahrley makes custom cedar rustic cedar furniture and cabinetry here in Mohawk in the "dry" of Ahmeek mines 3 and 4. He bought the business from his uncle and still makes some classic outdoor furniture and lawn swings displayed outside and sold boxed, partly-assembled for convenient transportation. But increasingly he is focusing on custom work such as the cedar door he made for a home recently. Not long ago Kraig converted a portion of the bottom floor into an apartment in which he and his family live.
 | | This old postcard shows how the Ahmeek #3 mine caused U.S. 41 to curve around the minesite. With the shafthouse gone the highway was straightened to its present route. | In his building 300 to 400 miners at a time once cleaned up and changed clothes after their grueling shifts. Signs about mine safety precautions are still on the walls. Kraig's website (http//Xwww.superiorwoodworks.com) you can see a number of historic photos of the site.
In 2006 Kraig also began marketing 4x4 Ford and GM full-sized vans, a natural for tradesmen in the Keweenaw. (http//Xwww.factory4x4vans.com)
On U.S. 41 just south of Mohawk. (906) 337-0875. Mon-Fri 7-5, Sat 7-1. Handicap access: no
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