Newark Two prospectors from Austin, Stephen and John Beard, ventured into unexplored Newark Valley in October 1866. They located silver claims later bought by the Centenary Silver Company in 1867. The company spent $50,000 to move a 20-stamp amalgamation mill from Kingston (Lander County) and rebuild it at the newly formed camp of Newark. Another $130,000 was spent adding eight reverberatory roasting furnaces, ten amalgamating pans, five settlers, and a 140-horsepower engine. These additions, however, were a waste of money because the ores of the district were free milling and didnt need to go through the amalgamation process. Money for mill expansion was given by the Methodist Church, with the understanding that the company, when profits rose, would build a new Methodist Church in Austin. The main mines of the district (Baystate, Nevada, Battery, Lincoln and Buckeye State) were located in nearby Chihuahua Canyon. The Centenary Mill handled large amounts of ore from Treasure Hill during the late 1860s when ore production was too much for White Pine mills to handle. Centenary treated ore that was primarily from the Aurora South and Eberhardt mines. A fire struck the mill on February 5, 1868, and while the machinery was barely damaged, more than $20,000 in structural damage did occur. The mill was repaired and back in operation by May 1. The Newark Mining Company bought out the Centenary Company in 1872, and the town of Newark peaked soon after. Newark Mining spent $400,000 on mine development and opened new mines, including the North Chihuahua, South Chihuahua, Washington, and Indian Jim. The summer of 1874 saw close to 200 miners working the district, but the shallow deposits soon ran out and the Newark District began a quick slide to oblivion. The mill closed down in 1874 and was idle through the rest of the decade. Caretakers kept the mill in running condition, and only a few residents stayed in Newark. It wasnt until 1902 that a revival began, with the Newark Mining and Milling Company working several old mines. The company was active until 1908, when ore values dropped enough to force the company to fold. Intermittent activity took place until 1957. Since then the district has been abandoned. Total Production stands at $518,000, with the Baystate Mine, at $134,000, being the biggest producer. Considering the money put into developing the district, the returns were not that significant. ( By Cold Creek) Joy (Bald Mountain) (Water Canyon) DIRECTIONS: From Cold Creek, head north for 2 miles. Exit right and follow for 3 miles. Exit left and follow poor road for 1.5 miles. Exit left again and follow for another 1.5 miles. Exit right for 4.5 miles. Ruins are scattered around this area. Silver ore was discovered in this remote area on August 13, 1869, by G. H. Foreman. A week later, on August 20, the Bald Mountain Mining District was organized. The richest area was the Free Metal Belt claims. By May 1870 the district had begun to make some noise. The Nevada Mine was the big producer, with ore assaying at $128 per ton. Other mines included the Genie ($40 per ton), Bismark ($80 per ton), Eastern, Silver Fringe, Alpha, Oneida, Mountain Queen, Winona, and Summit. It wasnt until 1875 that the mining camp of Joy was established. During the spring, Dr. J. M. Bailey gained a controlling interest in the districts mines. A camp of 25 formed, and freight lines from Elko and Halleck were set up. Joys elevation of 7,400 feet and its location made access to the camp very difficult. Nevada mining magnate George Wingfield visited Joy but decided against investing in the camp. Discoveries in 1875 and 1876 included the Crown Point, Mountain View, Oddie Tunnel (one of 20 claims that made up the Blue Bell group), Redbird (J. G. Merritt), Carbonate (August Munter and Jacob Mayer), and Copper Basin group (25 claims owned by Simonson and Hannon of Skelton). A couple of placer deposits were discovered about half a mile west of Joy. Although they were promising, the lack of water proved to be a permanent hindrance. By 1877 mining activity hit a slump, and from 1878 to 1897 only the Nevada Mine produced measurable amounts of ore. A small revival took place beginning in the spring of 1897, when a few old mines were reopened. A post office opened on May 6, with Jim Fulton as postmaster. The revival lasted only about a year and a half before investors withdrew support. The Joy post office closed on June 21, 1899, and the camp was pretty much abandoned until 1905 when the districts final revival began. Charlie Skeggs controlled 22 claims that made up the Bald Mountain Copper Basin group. During the summer of 1905 he sold his holdings to the newly formed Copper Basin Mining and Smelting Company for $300,000. By 1906 the producing mines in the district included the Dees Antimony, Dees Tungsten, Gold King, Oddie Tunnel, Copper Basin, Water Canyon, Carbonate, and Crown Point. The post office reopened on March 22, and D. O. Dees, district recorder, served as postmaster. Joy became a company town, owned and run by Copper Basin Mining and Smelting. Other companies were interested in the district, but Copper Basin already controlled all the claims. This closing of the district to other companies greatly limited Joys growth. Copper Basin employed about 50 men, and Joys population remained fairly constant at 75. Mines around Joy were consistent but not rich producers, and the cost of transporting ore across the great distances to mills and smelters kept profits from the Joy district quite low. Copper Basin folded in the summer of 1918, and with it went all the mines and all the stores, saloons, and other businesses. The post office closed on October 15, and by winter the camp was abandoned. A small revival took place from 1939 to 1942 when the Pioneer Mine was worked, and some leaseholder activity went on in the mid-1950s, but no production was recorded. Recently new activity has begun and plans include a major mining buildup. Today only scattered rubble, mine dumps, and hoisting works mark the site.
Posted on: Sat, 29 Mar 2014 22:43:23 +0000
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