Garland Gotzinger was born in 1939 at his family farm. He grew up in rural Potosi and farmed until he married his wife, Vyra. He started his career in the mines in 1965, and ended it six years later in 1971.

Garland started mining in Wilson Zinc Mine. “We mined for lead and zinc. There was some iron, but not enough to mine for it,” said Garland. “I was running the Loader. I would sit for hours, it’s quiet underground, sometimes 16 hours without seeing daylight.” Machines would come in and put holes in the end of the mine. They tried to make a “V”, with the open end of the “V” towards the drift - a drift is the main tunnel that they used to get to the top. Once the holes were drilled, the “powder monkeys”, or explosives handlers, would load the holes with dynamite and set the fuse. Everyone had to evacuate so there was no one in the mines when it was blown. “There’s a lot of pressure coming out of there,” Garland said. The mines were blown at dusk before heading home, because airflow is minimal underground, and it takes hours for the dust to settle. “They blew multiple parts of the mine up so when we fished in one area we’d just head to another,” said Garland 

“The working conditions were not the best underground, “Garland said. “It didn’t help the lungs any; it was black under there and you always breathed in the black smoke from the exhausts.” He also added that it was “pretty steamy and wet.” “It was completely dark underground besides the lamp that you had on your head,” he said. “I was supposed to carry a lamp with me but I didn’t because someone always took it. I always got in trouble for not having one by the foreman,” added Garland. “The mine got fined for their exhausts going into the water and turning it black like tar. The mining companies were for themselves. I wanted a fan and couldn't have one but they could have air-conditioned offices,” Garland said with an upset tone. 

“When I was working in the Winson Zinc Mine, I was making around $1.85 an hour,” he said. In 2024 this would be around $18 an hour; this does not seem like bad pay, but the work was not easy. He later worked in a Cuba City mine and made $3.25 an hour. In 2024 this would be around $26 an hour. Garland ultimately stopped working in the mines in 1971 and went to John Deere. 

Today, the old mines are filled up with water, and the only way you can access them is with scuba gear. There is not much remaining of what once was a major mining operation. Garland says, “I saw some mining stuff down at the River Museum the other day. I also gave some rocks to the Rollo Mining Museum,” Garland said. “If you get the chance go to the Rollo Jamison – there is a lot of history there.” 

After talking with Garland Gotzinger, my great-grandpa, I have realized that he is the living history of the Wilson Zinc Mine. He could have told stories all day about his experience in the mine.