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Jerome A historic, partly ruined town born to mine copper.
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| Ruins of old mine | Strolling the town | Mine museum | |
| By lunch time, all roads to, from and through Sedona had become nearly parking lots. We had lunch and fled - to Jerome. We had an good time strolling the steep streets. Excluding the jeep tour we spend much longer here than in Sedona. | |||
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Between 1915 and 1938 almost 4 million tons of ore was extracted from the mine, producing 397,000 tons of copper, 221 tons of silver and 5½ tons of gold. Ore was brought to the surface then transported by tram and burro train, to the railhead in the valley. Later, ore was taken out underground through the Josephine tunnel, which was 1300 feet down and 2½ miles long.
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_21may07-k_1528.jpg The history and statistics on this mine are most impressive.  |
_21may07-k_1529.jpg Audrey Shaft Headfram, the largest wooden headframe still standing in Arizona, it was completed in 1918 to haul ore up from mine. Shaft is 1900 feet deep, concrete lined with cross tunnels every 100 feet to Edith shaft. Edith shaft headframe was completed in 1915 to haul men and supplies. A wooden structure it was torn down in 1981 and replaced with the steel version you see today, 260' to NW.  |
_21may07-n_0327.jpg The shaft is covered with thick glass to provide fund for tourists.  |
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_21may07-b_1524.jpg Trying to see the bottom, 1900' below.  |
_21may07-b_1523.jpg We peer down the shaft.  |
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_21may07-b_1525a.jpg Structural detail of interest to Bruce.  |
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_21may07-b_1608a.jpg View including the Little Daisy Hotel. In 1919, Jimmy built the 40-room Little Daisy Hotel where he housed many of the miners. The Little Daisy Mine made Jimmy a billionaire, but when the production of the mine eventually dwindled after World War II, he shut it down in 1953. Jimmy then sold the hotel to William Earl Bell, the man who created the world’s first atomic clock. In 1995, the Bell family sold the mine to its current owners, Walter and Lisa Acker, as a rundown shell of a building. The Ackers spent nine years restoring and updating the property with deep respect for its history while enhancing its architectural features and adding high-end upgrades.  |
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This tranquil and idiosyncratic place provided a pleasing afternoon. Kay combed every shop while Bruce listened to the aging cowboy poets playing on the steps.
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_21may07-k_1621.jpg A town on a very steep grade. Much fun.  |
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_21may07-n_0514.jpg Maybe retirement could be enjoyable. A couple of pretty old guys perform here every Friday afternoon. It sounds like poetry the guitarist writes himself or improvises. I gave in to the spell while Kay checked out every shop in town.  |
_21may07-b_1715.jpg The town has done a nice job of providing for tourist visitors.  |
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_21may07-b_1722.jpg Looking down toward the head of the old mines. After the deep mining was large exhausted, dynamite and an enormous machine acquired from Panama Canal construction were used to gather more ore. The underminded mountainside slid, destroying a large piece of the town. Jerome never quite recovered.  |
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We arrived 20 minutes before closing, so we had to run through the museum and shap a few pictures. It deserved more time.
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_21may07-n_0347.jpg A 3D model of the underground.  |
_21may07-k_1556.jpg The complex underground geology.  |
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_21may07-k_1558.jpg Ore and mineral samples.  |
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