By: Linda Gross

The History of the Old Dominion Mine

The community of Globe-Miami was built on copper and the East Coast money which flocked here at the turn of the century to cash in on the rich bodies of copper ore. At one time there were over 35 operating mines around Globe and none were bigger than The Old Dominion Mine.

Photo by: Robert Fugate The head frame of the Old Dominion was dismantled in 2007, but a group of photographers led by Ohio Photographer, Bill Woody, was allowed on site months before the actual demolition. This photo by Bob Fugate accurately reflects the image of the Head Frame and pump house which inspired the Parks' logo.

Like mining in general, the Old Dominion had fits and starts as it came to life and passed through several owners. The Old Dominion company was originally a silver producer, but in the early ’1880′s erected a small copper furnace west of Globe to treat some ores found nearby. From 1876 – 1884 the “camp: produced about 21 million pounds of copper until the price of copper dropped to 9 3/4 cents and was closed down. Four years later, the price of copper ‘soared’ to 17 cents and the mines reopened.” (The Border. pp10. pub.1909)

“From 1899 -1905 the mine developed few new ore bodies and it was even thought that the supply would soon be exhausted. Yet, the discovery of a large ore body west of Globe, which would become Miami Copper, proved there was still much to be discovered in the area, and by 1906, under new management, the mining engineers with the Old Dominion discovered one of the largest low-grade ore deposits in the United States.” (The Border. pp10. pub.1909)

The mine was shut down in 1931 and has remained closed for nearly eighty years.

Large 4' x 4' Signage around the Park will provide visitors a glimpse into the regions rich mining history

A new future for an old mine:  A Historic Mine Park

The idea of a walking park on the Old Dominion property was first raised twenty years ago, but it wasn’t until 2003 that a committee was formed to seriously advance the idea and began working with all stakeholders including BHP,  the City of Globe, FreePort McMoran and

others. The small group which has lead the way on the project includes; Thea Wilshire , Mary Ann Moreno , Brandon Parker , and  Ellen Kretch. The group has succeeded in getting all the necessary permits and approvals which took over 7 years of wrangling with lawyers and stakeholder interests to arrive at an agreement on how the property would be used and what was permissible on the site.

Today, all of the site planning, design work, signage and ramadas have been done and are finally ready to put into place this Fall.

The Generosity of others in funding a Walking Park

The Womens Auxiliary to American Institute of Mining Engineers (WAAIME) presented a check for $2,000 to the Old Dominion Historic Park Committee to sponsor one of the educational signs for the park, which is scheduled to open Feb. 12, 2011. The donation is in memory of Laura Stover, a member of WAAIME and long time supporter of mining in the community. Receiving the check are Thea Wilshire (left), chair of the Old Dominion Historical Park Committee; Ellen Kretsch, ODMP committee member; Joanne Zache, WAAIME Pinal Mountain Section treasurer; and Mary Ann Moreno, WAAIME president.

The Park is made possible through the slow and steady persistence of this group in working through every obstacle. Funding for the site came from many sources including: $140,000in grant monies and donations; including a Govenors’ Rural Tourism Development grant for $140,000, $12,500 from BHP, $10,000 from Globe Rotary, $2,000 from the Rotary District, $2,000 from Gila Historical Musuem, $2,000 from WAIME, $2,500 from SME, $5,000 from MWH, $3,000 from FreePort McMoran, $1,000 from Resolution Copper and $5,800 from individuals.

Looking East at the head frame before it was dismantled in 2008

In addition, Wilshire says the group has received over $70,000 of ‘in kind’ services involving engineering and design.

The Park is slated to open February 12,2011 and promises to be a real draw for tourism, as well as local school groups, organizations and individuals.

The Old Dominion Historic Mine Park will be open from Dusk to Dawn…

The Old D logo courtesy of Tanner Hunsaker/ WesternReprographics.com

and involve approximately 3 miles of walking paths which will be marked by large 4′x4′ signs detailing the history and evolution of mining in the region. The Self-Guided tour will give the visitor a rich sense of the regions mining history including “evolving mining methods”, and the impact of railroads on the mining industry.

The entrance to the park will be up the road behind DeMarcos Italian Restaurant, off hwy 60, and will have a large area for parking, plus ramadas strategically placed throughout the park for enjoying the views, and getting out of the sun.

The following are some shots from the old Mine site. Photo Tags supplied by Brandon Parker.

Surrounded near and far by areas that have experienced demolition and reclamation, these 9 concentrate bins were left for historical preservation. Concentrate was loaded into the tops and a tunnel below allowed rail cars to receive a load of copper concentrate and take it to the smelter for further refining. Veiwable from Park Trails.

This is a remnant of the large concentrator building complex. A relic seen from travelors for decades, select pieces were removed and it has been fenced for safety, but allowed to remain for historic notation. Veiwable from Park Trails.

This is inside the “Hoist House” for the A-Shaft. The large spools of cable are powered to raise and lower multiple cables like a bank of highrise elevators. The Hoist house is not planned to be accessible to patrons of the future Walking Park.

Think about everything you have read or heard from local media sources pertaining to the ongoing debate in the Resolution Copper Co. land swap saga.  Has the prospect of another ‘copper boom’ inspired some local media to bury their journalistic hats and don the mining helmets of Resolution Copper Co.?

Examine the lead story in the October 14, 2009 issue of the Copper Country News (CCN)  — remember the handsome photo of Navajo President, Joe Shirley, featured prominently above the fold, on the front page?  The headline declared, ” Hopis Evict Environmentalists; Navajo President Approves”.  Why did CCN print this ‘Navajo news release’ and attach such great importance to it for its Globe-Miami-SanCarlos audience?

Propaganda in  favor of mining interests?  Could it be that the CCN portrayal of environmentalists as extreme obstructionists who kill economic development for no good reason, and who therefore care little about poverty on Indian Reservations — is trying to shape public opinion in favor of Resolution Copper Co.?  What exactly IS the connection between the Black Mesa Coal Mining controversy in Northern AZ, to Globe-Miami?  Is the Copper Country News trying to depict the Navajo President as the ideal, Native American pro-mining role model for the San Carlos Apache Tribe?  And, is CCN’s (not so subtle) message to the San Carlos Apaches — ‘just quit obstructing, drop your bogus cultural claims, & get out of the way of Resolution Copper Co. development’?  Is there an attempt by some in the local media to delegitimize environmental and Native American concerns?

Perhaps a more relevant news story for the Copper Country News to feature prominently on their front page pertains to the recent agreement between a Phelps Dodge subsidiary, Cyprus Tohono Corporation, and the EPA to pay $6 Million for an investigation into groundwater contamination.  According to Robert Anglen of the Arizona Republic, this investigation is part of an on-going clean-up operation to determine if uranium contamination exists at this copper mining site on the Tohono O’odham Indian Reservation.  Read more at www.watchdog.azcentral.com.

This story is actually about copper and a mining company that Globe-Miami is well acquainted with.  Suppose nobody around here wants to read about negative environmental impacts — especially on an Indian Reservation — caused by copper mining?  Oh, No!  How could a story such as this possibly advance the interests of Resolution Copper Co.?  Just keep to the local politically correct script — you know, the one that trumpets, “Boomtown’s Coming!  Everbody can win if we kick out the environmentalists & other obstructionists!”

So, is it not fair to ask — Who in the local media shills for the mining industry?

Author’s Note:  As a local business owner, I am in favor of responsible economic development, including responsible mining.  But, the media has a sacred responsibility to ask tough question of ALL sides, report factually, and refrain from editorializing — except on the Opinion Page.