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490:, in the merchant metallurgical market. During the industry's peak, thousands of workers were employed on the island with a large percentage of the downriver community supported by the local steel producer. Recently a few hundred people worked on the island with the hourly workers at U.S. Steel represented by
624:
The island is mostly off-limits to the public. Cameras are prohibited on the premises, so pictures of the island's interior are rare. Due to its location and relative security, many urban legends exist regarding the island. One popular legend claims that the island is home to a correctional facility
674:
Rock". ICP themselves have made references to Zug Island in their songs "The Shaggy Show", "In the
Haughhh!" "Cotton Candy & Popsicles" and "Toxic Love". This is likely due to its proximity to the Delray/River Rouge area, where the members spent some of their youth. In fact, part of the island
605:
The results of the 2013 study were released on May 23, 2014. Although contemporaneous news reports claim the study confirmed that Zug Island was the source of the Hum, the report's findings actually stated "the most probable source of the Hum points well to the South of Zug Island. The bulk of our
384:
The
Stevenson & Zug Furniture Company flourished until 1859 when Samuel Zug, by then a rich man, dissolved the partnership. He decided to invest in real estate to provide security for his wife, Anna. Envisioning a luxurious estate on the Detroit River, Zug bought 325 acres (1.32 km) of
475:, a subsidiary of U.S. Steel company, also operates some rail facilities on the island. A "2-way" vehicle/rail bridge is the main access to the island. Secondary vehicle and rail bridges (the "Swing Bridge") at the southwestern corner of the island also allow mainland access.
463:) which includes 3 blast furnaces ("A", "B" and "D") and raw materials storage areas. Ships supply large ore docks along the north ("1 Dock") and east ("3 Dock") shores of the island and large coal/coke/ore storage fields along the south and west ("B Area") shores. Number 5
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that it cannot afford to spend any more money on investigating the hum. They claim the City
Council had already spent over $ 1 million to help Windsor and Ontario find the source of the noise. However, they say it likely comes from the steel mill facilities on the island.
396:
In 1888, Zug allowed the River Rouge
Improvement Company to cut a small canal through the south section of his property to more directly connect the Rouge River to the Detroit River. This Short Cut Canal, as it came to be known, was enlarged in the early 1920s by
459:, which currently operates the mill. The island is home to the mill's ironmaking facilities (the rest of the mill's facilities, primarily steelmaking and processing, are located at the main plant a few miles south in the city of
558:, large numbers of cancer and asthma cases, and foul smells with "sparkly" dust that must be removed with toilet cleaner. Interviewed separately, residents of the area say the foul smells are strong enough to cause dry heaves.
601:
In April 2013, a
Canadian scientist used sound-level meters and a portable "pentangular array" of cameras and microphones to try to accurately identify the source of the sound, in order to know whom exactly to ask to fix it.
329:; it was formed when a shipping canal was dug along the southwestern side of the island, allowing ships to bypass several hundred yards of twisting waterway near the mouth of the natural course of the lowest portions of the
497:
U.S. Steel announced in
December 2019 that it would idle most of its operations in the area, including all of its operations on Zug Island, by April 2020. Primary steelmaking activities shut down in April 2020, and the
448:
for foundry companies. The plant expanded and became part of the Great Lakes Steel
Corporation in late 1931, becoming a key component of a fully integrated steel mill and a division of the larger
405:. In 1891, Zug completed the largest real estate transaction of the decade: he sold his island for $ 300,000 ($ 10.2 million in 2023) to industries that wanted it as a dumping ground.
514:
Despite the island's extremely developed industrial landscape, areas along the south and west shores are left undeveloped to provide habitat for wildlife. Foxes and once-endangered
381:, in 1836 to make his fortune in the furniture industry with the money he earned as a bookkeeper. Shortly after, Marcus Stevenson, a Detroit financier, went into business with him.
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One of the most pressing problems in the neighborhoods surrounding Zug Island is poor air quality. According to an article in the
January 20, 2010, edition of the
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at the ore docks, thrive on the island and offshore. At the bottom of the
Detroit River is a man-made bed of coal cinders which serves as a rare spawning site for
455:
When
National Steel became insolvent in 2003 most of the island's facilities were purchased, along with the rest of what is now called the Great Lakes Works, by
851:
550:, the neighborhoods around the area compose six of the ten most polluted zip codes in Michigan. In the article, residents cite air quality samples containing
1108:
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444:, which built a second blast furnace in 1909. At this time the island's two furnaces were reportedly the largest of their kind in the world, producing
60:
586:", that plagued hundreds of area residents with cyclical vibrations, reportedly being felt in the ground up to fifty miles (eighty kilometres) away.
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reported that there remained 500 employees working at the plant, and that "a few operations ongoing — as long as demand will support them".
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Local 1299. In fall of 2008 U.S. Steel halted its production due to the economic downturn, but restarted it in fall of 2009.
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526:, a threatened species. Less desirable are the sizable and sometimes troublesome populations of gulls, feral cats and rats.
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986:"The 'Windsor Hum': where is the noise plaguing a city of 210,000 coming from? | World news | The Guardian"
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observations from both stations do not support the hypothesis that the source of the Hum emanates from Zug Island."
1129:
366:
361:, making up the very northeast corner of the township. The beginning of interest in developing the land came when
467:
Battery located there, once an integral part of the mill, is independently owned and operated by EES Coke LLC, a
378:
45:
1086:"Mysterious Windsor hum's source revealed as Zug Island — but scientists still have no idea what the cause is"
675:
can be seen in the background of the cover photo for Insane Clown Posse (at the time, Inner City Posse)'s EP,
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via rail to steelmaking at the main plant while DTE's coke is shipped via rail to supply consumers, chiefly
1355:
40:
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or prison, but no such facility exists on the island. Another popular claim is that parts of the movie
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452:. A third blast furnace was added in early 1938 while the existing furnaces were rebuilt and enlarged.
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in 1876. But the dampness was too much for the Zugs, and after 10 years they abandoned their home.
609:
Reports of the Hum ceased after the US Steel plant on Zug Island ceased operations in April 2020.
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were filmed there. The island is mentioned by name in the movie, but the steel mill shots in
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The Detroit Iron Works brought ironmaking to Zug Island in 1901 with the commissioning of a
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burial ground for thousands of years. Upon European arrival, the land was incorporated into
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879:"Steel mill at Zug Island still operating with a fraction of the workforce it once had"
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825:"U.S. Steel to cut 1,545 Michigan jobs as weakness overwhelms Trump's protection"
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1207:"A celluloid pilgrimage: Brothers journey from Dundee to see 'RoboCop' location"
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thread that the plant's byproducts flare stacks were the origins of the hum.
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In 2011, Detroit based author Gregory Fournier published his novel,
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In April 2024, an alleged former worker at Zug Island claimed in an
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735:. Detroit, Michigan: Wayne State University Press. p. 45.
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1130:"Infamous 'Windsor Hum' finally dies down as U.S. Steel idles"
852:"Layoffs loom at U.S. Steel's Zug Island mill despite tariffs"
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shut down in June of the same year, but in January 2021, the
342:
551:
1322:
1239:. Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society. Archived from
850:
Thibodeau & Hall, Ian & Kalea (20 December 2019).
772:"Mill workers at Zug Island steel themselves for the end"
653:
destined for Zug Island on her fateful voyage in 1975.
518:, which frequent large outdoor structures such as the
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built in 1902. In 1904 the works was purchased by the
301:
is a heavily industrialized island within the city of
294:
Zug Island, viewed from the Detroit River in May 2021
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688:
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to allow large ships to more easily navigate to the
1064:"Mysterious Windsor Hum traced to Zug Island, Mich"
902:"48217: Life in Michigan's most polluted ZIP code"
1347:
963:"Mysterious noise escalates in Windsor, Ontario"
666:, a Detroit-based rock band in association with
408:Zug became interested in politics and served as
566:In 2011, the Zug Island area was identified by
478:Iron produced at Zug Island was transported in
1264:"Timeline of Events for the Edmund Fitzgerald"
1011:"River Rouge calls off search for Windsor Hum"
1056:
983:
649:of Great Lakes shipwreck fame was laden with
19:For the Canadian short documentary film, see
1213:. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: PG Publishing Co
1150:"I spent 10 years working at Zug Island AMA"
1109:"Summary of the 'Windsor Hum Study' Results"
908:. Detroit, Michigan: Gannett. Archived from
1106:
1122:
933:"Zug Island likely culprit of Windsor hum"
39:
870:
799:"'The dirtiest square mile in Michigan'"
639:Corp.'s Monessen Works in Pennsylvania.
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1333:. Great Lakes Steel Corporation. 1948.
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939:. Postmedia Network Inc. Archived from
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317:. It is located where the mouth of the
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1160:from the original on August 17, 2024
1205:Batz, Bob Jr. (September 7, 2000).
931:Schmid, Doug (September 21, 2011).
899:
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13:
1330:Men and Mills of Great Lakes Steel
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797:Allnutt, Brian (23 January 2020).
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416:. He died in 1896 when he was 80.
219:0.93 sq mi (2.4 km)
133:
100:
83:Show map of Wayne County, Michigan
67:
14:
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1371:Islands of Wayne County, Michigan
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1135:Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
877:Witsil, Frank (January 5, 2021).
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658:Zug Island: A Detroit Riot Novel
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729:Boneyards: Detroit Under Ground
726:Bak, Richard (September 2010).
379:Cumberland County, Pennsylvania
305:at the southern city limits of
16:Man-made island in Michigan, US
1376:Artificial islands of Michigan
1032:Tingley, Kim (June 24, 2013).
984:Ashifa Kassam (June 7, 2016).
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353:, it served as an uninhabited
325:. Zug Island is not a natural
146:Zug Island (the United States)
1:
1268:S.S. Edmund Fitzgerald Online
1088:. National Post. May 23, 2014
770:Rubin, Neil (19 April 2020).
712:
576:Ministry of Natural Resources
427:
423:Coke train, Zug Island, 2009.
365:, one of the founders of the
149:Show map of the United States
1366:Islands of the Detroit River
1237:Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum
1107:Colin Novak (May 23, 2014).
1013:. CBC News. November 7, 2011
965:. CBC News. January 30, 2012
635:were actually filmed at the
538:View of Zug Island from the
48:aerial imagery of Zug Island
7:
1289:"Meet Author Greg Fournier"
900:Lam, Tina (June 20, 2010).
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10:
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582:and vibrations, known as "
473:Delray Connecting Railroad
450:National Steel Corporation
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1361:River islands of Michigan
823:Deaux, Joe (2019-12-20).
637:Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel
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1066:. CBC News. May 23, 2014
1034:"The Sound and the Fury"
403:Ford River Rouge Complex
227:571 ft (174 m)
26:Not to be confused with
1211:Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
542:neighborhood of Detroit
1318:Zug Island Photo Essay
1040:. NRDC. Archived from
707:Michigan, geography of
543:
424:
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224:Highest elevation
752:on December 16, 2010.
537:
422:
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200:42.28278°N 83.11139°W
172:River Rouge, Michigan
113:Zug Island (Michigan)
80:Zug Island (Michigan)
943:on December 25, 2011
881:. Detroit Free Press
580:mysterious rumblings
530:Environmental impact
349:at the mouth of the
116:Show map of Michigan
1262:McCall, Timothy C.
1243:on October 26, 2015
562:Noise and vibration
556:methyl ethyl ketone
554:and high levels of
492:United Steelworkers
457:United States Steel
412:Auditor under Gov.
327:island in the river
205:42.28278; -83.11139
196: /
35:
1356:Ford Motor Company
906:Detroit Free Press
668:Insane Clown Posse
620:In popular culture
548:Detroit Free Press
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504:Detroit Free Press
438:M.A. Hanna Company
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385:marshy land below
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830:Los Angeles Times
646:Edmund Fitzgerald
578:as the source of
516:peregrine falcons
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1180:"Zug Island"
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858:. Gary Miles
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778:. Gary Miles
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410:Wayne County
407:
395:
383:
371:abolitionist
340:
298:
297:
276:Demographics
238:
1299:October 17,
1273:October 17,
1247:October 17,
1217:October 17,
1190:October 17,
1186:. July 2009
1184:Google Maps
1038:OnEarth.org
1017:October 17,
969:October 17,
947:October 17,
916:October 17,
591:River Rouge
480:bottle cars
351:River Rouge
331:River Rouge
319:River Rouge
303:River Rouge
270:River Rouge
203: /
179:Coordinates
1350:Categories
1323:U.S. Steel
1164:August 17,
1154:reddit.com
836:2019-12-21
713:References
664:Zug Izland
469:DTE Energy
428:Steel mill
399:Henry Ford
387:Fort Wayne
373:, came to
363:Samuel Zug
311:U.S. state
299:Zug Island
281:Population
191:83°06′41″W
188:42°16′58″N
140:Zug Island
107:Zug Island
74:Zug Island
34:Zug Island
28:Zug Izland
885:March 26,
678:Dog Beats
471:company.
347:peninsula
159:Geography
1339:38219465
1158:Archived
1114:June 19,
1048:June 20,
995:June 19,
862:20 April
808:20 April
782:20 April
685:See also
651:taconite
568:Canadian
510:Wildlife
446:pig iron
345:-filled
315:Michigan
250:Michigan
164:Location
1092:May 23,
1070:May 23,
672:Juggalo
633:RoboCop
628:RoboCop
584:The Hum
572:Ontario
375:Detroit
337:History
309:in the
307:Detroit
1337:
739:
614:r/IAmA
540:Delray
488:Mittal
461:Ecorse
391:Delray
256:County
174:, U.S.
750:(PDF)
733:(PDF)
377:from
343:marsh
260:Wayne
246:State
1335:OCLC
1301:2015
1275:2015
1249:2015
1219:2015
1192:2015
1166:2024
1116:2016
1094:2014
1072:2014
1050:2013
1019:2015
997:2016
971:2015
949:2015
918:2015
887:2024
864:2020
810:2020
784:2020
737:ISBN
642:The
595:Star
552:lead
465:Coke
266:City
216:Area
46:USGS
644:SS
574:'s
484:ISG
440:of
313:of
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