Join The Friends of The Mining & Rollo Jamison Museums For the “No-Show” Miners Ball on September 5th!

PLATTEVILLE, WISCONSIN – The Friends of The Mining & Rollo Jamison Museums invite all to carry on the tradition of the Miners Ball — a classic Platteville dance celebration — except this year, you can enjoy the Miners Ball from the comfort of your own home, with no formalwear required!  The “No-Show” Miners Ball will be brought to you virtually on September 5, 2020 in a program consisting of a video production and a raffle drawing broadcast via Facebook Live.  Tickets cost $50, and each participant is entered in a raffle for cash prizes and more, with a grand prize of $1,000 cash! 

What is the Miners Ball?  The Miners Ball, or M-Ball as it was sometimes known, was an annual tradition for almost 70 years in Platteville, Wisconsin.  Formal dances, both on and off campus, were an important part of extra-curricular life in Platteville during the 1920s for students of both the Wisconsin Mining School and the State Teaching College.  Mr. Homer B. Morrow, president of the Mining School at the time, was largely responsible for establishing the standards of quality for these dances.  He insisted on bringing only the best big-name bands from the finest dance halls in Chicago.  The first official M-Ball was held in 1938 just a year after completion of the Big “M” on Platte Mound.  An important part of the M-Ball was the lighting of the “M” at midnight after the dancing was done.  The Ball was one of two times each year that the M was illuminated.  Decorations were a central part of creating the festive atmosphere of the Ball.  Several crystal balls were built for the dances, with each more elaborate than the last.  The last University-sponsored M-Ball was held in 2006.

Although the university discontinued the mining engineering program in the late 1980’s, the industry that brought Platteville the “M” remains a nostalgic part of Platteville’s identity.  This nostalgia led the Friends of The Mining & Rollo Jamison Museums to partner with UW-Platteville and members of the community for whom the Miners Ball conjured fond memories.  Together, the Friends of the Museums reintroduced the Miners Ball in 2019 to draw attention to the deep connections between the mission of the Museums and the historic roots of the university and City of Platteville. 

More than 150 people attended the 2019 Miners Ball, which featured dinner, dancing, live music by The Ken Killian Classic Big Band, and a silent auction.  The banner from the Wisconsin Mining School along with a historic crystal ball created for a previous M-Ball provided a backdrop for many wonderful photos. 

While we can’t share a meal or dance together this year, we invite you to join us virtually for this program, which is the largest annual fundraiser for The Mining & Rollo Jamison Museums.  The raffle is a great way to support the Museums while earning the chance to win valuable prizes.  Beyond the $1,000 grand prize, second prize is $100 cash, third prize is $50 cash — and 17 non-cash prizes valued at $25 or more increase the odds of winning to one in 10!  Tickets can be purchased by visiting the Museums during open hours Tuesday – Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.  Last day for ticket sales is Friday, September 4th.  If you have questions about tickets or the Ball, please call (608) 348-3301.  The “No-Show” Miners Ball broadcast and drawing will be held at 5 p.m. on September 5th.  Tune-in to Facebook Live to watch. 

The Friends of The Mining & Rollo Jamison Museums are the nonprofit organization that exists to fundraise and provide financial support for The Mining & Rollo Jamison Museums.  The Friends also promote interest in the history of the tristate area and support the Museums in all their endeavors.  If you are interested in learning more or becoming a member of the Friends please contact Museum Director Erik Flesch or talk with a current board member.  You can find a current list at www.mining.jamison.museum. 

The Mission of The Mining & Rollo Jamison Museums is to continue in the pursuit of excellence in the areas of regional and mining history.  To achieve that purpose, the museums are commissioned to be a custodian of the past; to interpret the rich lead and zinc mining heritage of the region, as well as to preserve, interpret, and display the artifacts that define Southwest Wisconsin.

The Mining & Rollo Jamison Museums currently offer self-guided tours of the museums’ interior exhibits, exterior spaces, and train rides on our 1931 locomotive (weather permitting) May through October.  Visit our website – www.mining.jamison.museum for more information or to reserve a time for your visit.