Goodbyes and Castle Dome

February 13 -18, 2017

This is our last week in Yuma.  We have enjoyed our stay but are anxious to return to Casa Grande on Sunday. 

Monday we said a last goodbye to our RVillage friends Trisha and Bob by having dinner together at the Prison Hill Brewery where we enjoyed our meal at a table on the sidewalk outside in the warm early evening air.  It has been fun catching up and I know I certainly enjoyed learning how to make cinnamon rolls.  Haven’t tried them on my own yet.  Don’t know when we will see each other again, but I’m sure we’ll cross paths again as we did this year.  Safe Travels, friends.

Wednesday afternoon Ron and I  ventured 30+ miles north on a major highway then 10 miles out into the desert (last 7 miles on a dusty dirt road) to the old mining town of Castle Dome.  This old mining town has been restored using 45 old buildings (changed little from the 1800’s) and artifacts found in the mines (over 300 in the district and found just like they had left yesterday).  In 1878 this town was larger than Yuma.  Instead of the roar of the mills, ringing of church bells and uproar from the five saloons, today the town is silent with only the footsteps and voices of visiting tourists and ghosts of yesterday.

In 1998 when the government (who owned the property) decided to take out everything that was left of the Castle Dome era, a local couple asked permission to salvage everything and was given permission to do so.  Since that time they have spent time recreating the old town with old buildings from the site as well as hauling in others from outlying mines.  There was no shortage of artifacts and information from old newspapers gave insight into who owned mines, how much silver was mined and even folks to talk to who had lived and worked there.  Thus history was preserved.  

Castle Dome sat on the second patented mine in 1871 and was the longest worked mining district in the state.  There were three patented mining claims, the Floral Temple, Floral Temple extension and the Castle Dome.  Mining began in 1864 and ended when silver prices dropped in 1979.  The silver here is mixed with lead and the process to separate the two was very costly.  When the cost of separating the two cost more than the silver was worth, it was time for the mine to close. 

Walking along the wooden sidewalks of the town and into the many buildings full of artifacts give us a view of what life was like in this once thriving community.  Having so many artifacts in each place really gives you a sense of the rough, tough life lived here.  Everyday things like cooking, washing, and keeping house were so much more primitive than we are used to today.    Buildings include the usual places such as barber shop, ladies dress shop, bank, grand two story hotel, machine shop, post office, several bars, sheriff office as well as several cabins and a bunkhouse with bunkhouse shower room.  We learned that there will soon be underground mine tours available to the more adventurous. 

 

Miner Cabin

Miner Cabin

Barber Shop

Ladies Dress Shop

Mercantile Shop

Bar

Bunkhouse

Bunkhouse Shower Room

After a couple of hours of viewing and walking the old wood sidewalks and up and down the dirt paths, our legs said it was time to return to the car and town.   A interesting and informative afternoon learning more of our American history.

Signing off until we return to Casa Grande.