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| Period photograph of the Mayflower Mill in Silverton, Colorado. Photo courtesy of the San Juan County Historical Society. |
Mayflower Gold Mill
Court House
Square
Website: San Juan County Historical Society
The Treasure: The Mayflower Gold Mill (also known as the
Shenandoah-Dives Mill) is an intact precious metals mill that preserves the
technology of the once-flourishing mining communities of Colorado .
Accessibility: Tours of the Mayflower Mill are offered
through the San Juan County Historical Society. Their Heritage Pass covers admission to the San Juan County Historical
Society Museum
Background: Starting in 1858, the Pike’s Peak Gold Rush
lured would-be prospectors to Colorado
in quest of the precious metals rumored to underscore the state’s formidable mountain
ranges. Initial placer mining quickly exhausted the metals that were there for
the taking in the alluvial deposits of modern and ancient stream beds. To
really take advantage of the metals locked within the mountainous terrain, new
industrial mills were needed to extract the precious metals from high-grade
ores unearthed through the dangerous work of underground lode mining.
Silverton is a small town nestled in a deep valley
surrounded by the magnificent San Juan Mountains of southern Colorado . In the first enthusiasm of the Gold Rush, this area largely escaped attention, partly because it was only officially opened to pioneers
in the early 1870s. Early prospectors found a harsh and rugged environment, but
the lure of precious metals was sufficient to eventually attract a permanent community,
prepared to weather the severe winters and dangerous mining conditions.
In the mid-1920s, successful mine manager Charles A. Chase decided
that a new state-of-the-art mill in Silverton would still have potential to
capitalize on the plentiful metals in the surrounding mountains. As the
American economy collapsed into depression in 1929, Chase’s Mayflower Mill
opened for business, complete with
modern steam shovels, dump trucks, a 10,000-foot aerial tram, and the latest in
metal extraction technology.
For the following 61 years, Silverton benefitted from the
hard-working mill. It produced nearly 2 million ounces of gold, 30 million
ounces of silver, and 1 million tons (not ounces—tons!) of combined base
metals such as copper, lead, and zinc. The mill used a flotation process to separate the minerals. The
original mill equipment is still there in the Mayflower Mill, which has been
closed for business for more than twenty years but has now comfortably moved into a new
function—educating visitors about Colorado
mining in the old days.
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| Children tour the Mayflower Mill. Photo courtesy of the San Juan County Historical Society. |
Notes from the
Editor: I’ll always link Colorado mining with the story of my own
great-grandfather heading west to mine for gold in Central City, a short
distance west of Denver .
Like thousands of other would-be prospectors, he never hit it rich and eventually returned east discouraged (and,
in retrospect, it’s a good thing his venture failed or I wouldn’t be here today!).
Central City is a long distance from Silverton but I still deeply appreciate
that places like Silverton keep their mining history alive. The Pike’s Peak
Gold Rush opened a remarkable chapter in American history, and Colorado ’s awesome
mountain ranges provide the most scenic backdrops imaginable for explorations
into our country’s mining history.
Other Recommended
Sites: The railroads were essential to the success of any mining
enterprise. At Silverton, you can experience a ride on the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad—a coal-fired, steam-powered scenic rumble
through the San Juan Mountains .
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| Photocrom postcard of Silverton, Colorado, circa 1897-1924. Source: Wikimedia Commons |
Tour America's History Itinerary
Monday’s destination: Montrose City Hall
© 2012 Lee Price
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