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SPRUCE
MOUNTAIN
(ELKO COUNTY)
(SPRUCEMONT)(SPRUCE)(HICKNEYTOWN)(BLACK FOREST) (LATHAM)(JASPER)(STEPTOE)(JOHNSON)(KILLIE)
Spruce Mountain, located in southern Elko County, has been the scene of mining activity since 1869. During those years, small communities named Sprucemont, Spruce, Hickneytown, Black Forest, Latham, Jasper, Steptoe, Johnson, and Killie came to life and then died. These camps stretched for over six miles, from the west to east slope of Spruce Mountain. The area has had a fascinating history and is one of the most intriguing historical sites in Elko County.
Spruce Mountain's illustrious history began in 1869 with the discovery of the Latham, later Killie, Mine by W. B. Latham. The ore was lead-silver and sufficiently valuable that a small rush of prospectors and investors developed to the area. Within months, three new mines; Black Forest, Juniper, and Fourth of July, began production.
By 1870, close to 100 men were working mines and claims around Spruce Mountain. In August, 1871, the first large mining sale occurred when the Latham Mine was sold by W.B. Latham, Isaac and Abner Wiseman, Thomas Kane, and Nick Shone, to Crawford and Company of Philadelphia for $30,000.Three separate mining districts were organized: Latham, Johnson and Steptoe. On September 26, 1871, all three were consolidated and the Spruce Mountain Mining District came into being. N.H. Cotton was elected president. New mining companies continued to enter the district. The two most prominent were the Ingot Mining Company and Starr King Mining Company. In October, the Ingot company paid $80,000 for the Latham and Fourth of July Mines. The company also owned the Monarch and Eureka Mines. The Starr King company controlled the Badger, Carrie, and Grecian Bend Mines.
Two separate camps formed; Sprucemont on the west slope and a company town at the Starr King property on the east slope. Newspaper accounts greatly exaggerated the growth at Spruce Mountain, claiming that 4,000 people were living there, making it the largest community in Elko County. Wild claims of $4,300 per ton ore were also reported. However, realistic numbers show that about 500 people resided here. The ore, while worthwhile, was not even close to these claims. The Ingot company produced $17,000 in 1871. The following year, construction was begun on a thirty-five ton smelter at Sprucemont. J.J. Crawford supervised the construction. However, the smelter proved unsuccessful and was closed by the end of 1872. The $80,000 smelter bankrupted the company which folded in early 1873.
During 1873, the Starr King company began building a smelter of its own to treat Grecian Bend Mine ore. Completed in April, it cost $24,000. The furnace was started on May 5, only three weeks after the foundation was laid. Mrs. J.W. Witlatch, wife of a local mine owner, shoveled the first load of ore. By 1872, the town of Sprucemont had grown to almost 200. Woodruff and Ennor opened the Humboldt Wells and Sprucemont Tollroad. The town was anything but tranquil. Rowdy miners patronized local saloons and there were not many quiet nights in town. On August 29, the stage from Wells was robbed just west of town. The two robbers demanded the Wells-Fargo box and were disappointed to find it contained only letters. After robbing the passengers of $50, the culprits fled and were never caught. In December, a serious confrontation occurred at Snyder's Saloon. Morris Margum was stabbed by W.B. Langford during a drunken brawl. Margum recovered but Langford was sentenced to the state prison in Carson City.
On the other side of the mountain, the company town at the Starr King continued to grow. About 150 people made it their home. A number of businesses, ultimately under the ownership of the Starr King company, provided goods and services. While there was considerable activity around Spruce Mountain, actual production was relatively small. This discouraged much of the populace and by 1873, population of the district had dropped from a high of 400 or 500 to less than 100. Sprucemont was particularly hard hit. After the Ingot Mining Company folded, all of the active mines were on the east slope. Sprucemont clung to life, though. The Schell Creek Stageline had a daily stage serving the community. All supplies for the Starr King camp were shipped through Sprucemont. During the boom of 1871 and 1872, a hotel (the Globe), four saloons, and other businesses were in operation. After 1872, one by one they all closed. A post office opened on April 29, 1872 with Timothy Gallagher serving as postmaster. While Sprucemont had an up and down life, the post office continued on until August 31, 1896.
On January 22, 1874, the Ingot property was sold at public auction. However, the new owners were actually the old owners. By purchasing their own property at a depressed auction price, it was hoped that the savings would help operations resume. However, this wasn't feasible and Ingot deeded its holdings to the Globe Smelting Company of New York City in June for $500,000. Many other mining deals were made in 1874. In February, the Black Forest Mine was taken over by Porter and Cowen, and the Monarch Mine by Bennett and Company. The Starr King company added to its holdings in August when E.P. Lee's Nevada Gem and Homestake Mines were purchased. However, a miners strike in 1875 led to a virtual abandonment of Spruce Mountain. By the end of the year, only 50 people were left. From 1875 to 1880, mainly assessment work and exploration were done. Only the Starr King company managed limited production. In February, 1876, the Globe Smelting company folded and its property was sold in Elko at public auction for $16,900. A new company, St. Louis Mining Company, was incorporated and began working the district in June. However, the company folded in 1877 after finding little ore. Despite the slowdown, the need for law was recognized and Elko County appointed Andrew McClain as constable.
The first real spark of new life came in April, 1880. At the time, seven businesses were still active but the district's population had shrunk to 50. The Milo Mine was discovered and began producing $75 per ton ore. The Milo Mining Company was formed and F.B. Beach was named superintendent. The company constructed a small 15-ton furnace in August. This was the beginning of a strong revival. Other small mines began to attract outside interest. In July, 1883, Jasper Harrell, prominent rancher and partner in the powerful Sparks-Harrell cattle operation in northern Elko County, sold his ranches and share of the partnership for $950,000. He purchased many of Spruce Mountain's mines and immediately began expanding them. This purchase included all holdings of the Starr King Mining Company. A new boom was on and the rejuvenated Starr King company town was renamed Jasper in honor of the camp's new benefactor. Quickly, a hotel, store and two saloons opened. The store was owned by Abner Wiseman and Warren Angel, prominent Clover Valley ranchers. The revival at Spruce Mountain proved to be a boon for all the Clover Valley ranchers and farmers. With their valley brethren running a store in Jasper, they enjoyed a prosperous business. The residents of Jasper greatly enjoyed having a constant supply of fresh fruit and vegetables.
Abner and Isaac Wiseman had been active in local mining since 1870 and had been involved in the first sale of mining property. The store operated until 1889. During the Wisemans years at Spruce Mountain, they bought seven parcels of lode mining property. In 1875, they paid $8,000 to Alexander Beaton for 1680 feet of quartz veins. While they did conduct some mining operations of their own, most of their interest was in speculation. They never made much money from their mines but considered it more of a hobby than a business. On December 10, 1884, A.J. Roulstone completed a 20-ton furnace for Harrell. By his contract, Roulstone had to complete a successful 30-day run before Harrell's company would accept the mill. One hundred men were hired for the construction. Most were immediately hired by Harrell when the mill was completed. This greatly increased his ability to expand his operations. Sprucemont, originally the largest community on Spruce Mountain, did not share in this revival until the Ada H. Mine was discovered in 1886. In 1884, the town had less than 20 people left. Despite Jasper's larger size, Sprucemont continued to have the only post office. In 1886, the Spruce post office was renamed to Sprucemont, by which name it was known until its closure in 1896.
The Harrell controlled Starr King Mining Company kept Jasper growing. By June, 1885, three new mines; the Scorpion, Friday, and Belt, were producing ore. The furnace was operating 24 hours a day and was under the management of Andrew Harrell, Jasper's son. G.W. Small served as superintendent of the mining company. The town of Jasper had grown to include two saloons, two restaurants, a hotel, two general merchandise stores (Wiseman and Angel, Madelina and Cannon), butcher shop, drug store, livery stable, blacksmith shop and 10 families. In October, Jasper Harrell fell dangerously ill and had to move California. Colonel E.P. Hardesty, prominent Elko County resident, took over company operations. In January of 1886, Silas Myers, also known as Silas Arguile, while in a drunken rage, murdered a miner named O'Hearne. Having no defense, he pled guilty and spent the rest of his life in prison.
By March, Jasper had reached its peak population of 175. Other mines were active near Jasper. Alex McLaughlin owned the Juniper, and Ed Gowans the Black Forest. In April, the first school on Spruce Mountain opened at Jasper. Between 1885 and 1888, almost $200,000 was produced. Most was from Starr King properties. Other mines also produced fair amounts. The Jumbo Mine mined $40,000 while the Ada H., mainstay of the town of Sprucemont, brought in $11,000. By June, 1887, Spruce Mountain had 200 miners and five saloons to serve the thirsty men. The mines still had a desperate shortage of men, though. Higher wages than normal were offered as inducement. Miners received $6 a day, smelter workers $5, feeders $4 and helpers $3.50. A new furnace was completed by the Juniper Consolidated Mining Company but was unsuccessful and closed down within a year. However, by the end of 1888, the mines began to fail as ore veins thinned and faded. The smelter in Jasper shut down in 1889 and by the end of summer, all mining had stopped. The ore on Spruce Mountain was very porous and smelting techniques weren't efficient enough to extract enough silver from the poorer quality ore to make a profit. When the Starr King company folded in 1890, Spruce Mountain entered an extended period of very low activity.
Mostly insignificant production occurred until 1899 when the Monarch Mining Company was organized. This signalled the beginning of Spruce Mountain's longest period of sustained activity. Another mine, the Hartley, was brought into production. A new gas hoist was installed in April, 1900. The population of Spruce Mountain by the end of 1900 had risen to about 75. In 1901, Charles Spence reopened the Black Forest Mine and by October, had started a smelter at Jasper. He organized the Black Forest Mining and Smelting Company. In March, 1901, A.J. Reed, nicknamed Copper King Reed, reopened and cleaned out the Jasper (formerly Starr King) Mine. Two mines reopened on the Sprucemont side and a couple businesses opened including the Sprucemont Hotel, run by Mrs. Healy. In April, there was a new strike on Banner Hill. Also, the Four Metals Mining Company reopened the Latham Mine. In July, the Latham Mining Company was organized and took over the Latham Mine. A concentrator was built and George Moats was named manager of operations. Most employees of the company resided in Jasper. J.J. Wiseman, Frank Avery, John Williams and Frank Smith were contracted to haul coke and bullion to and from Wells.
In July, 1904, the Black Forest smelter closed after producing 700 bars of silver. The ore lacked sufficient sulphur content for smelting. The smelter was refurbished with better equipment, enlarged to 30 tons, and restarted in October. The smelter was again enlarged to 45 tons in 1906. While Jasper enjoyed a revival, Sprucemont received little benefit. Most residents left and moved to Jasper. In March, 1905, Mary Hamilton sold Sprucemont's last hotel, shop and stable for $400. The lumber from the buildings was removed to Black Forest and used in constructing boardinghouses. In August, the Ohio Lead Mining and Smelting Company took over the Latham Mining Company and began working the Latham and Juniper Mines. George Moats stayed on as manager of the new company. Robert Hartley sold the Hartley, Index, Bengal and Spring Mines to the Ohio company for $14,000. The Black Forest company was still the most prominent, producing virtually all of the lead and most of the silver mined in Elko County. A new wagon road was graded to Bews, or Shafter, on the Nevada Northern and Western Pacific Railroads. In November, George Talbot, Nevada Supreme Court Justice, sold the Killie and Junior mines to Montana capitalists. In 1907, the Big Four Nevada Mining Company was organized, with Frank Arford as president and William Shelton, manager. The company's mines were on Banner Hill. The new mines included the Neversweat and Keystone Mines. The ore was smelted at the Black Forest smelter.
They were soon joined by another new company, the Spruce Mountain Copper Company. The company was owned by William Dunn, Carlton Hand and A.A. Jones, who consolidated their holdings, including the Contact Mine. While silver was still Spruce Mountain's main product, there was a realization of the value of copper, lead and zinc. Many new copper discoveries were made. The Spruce Mountain company had a big strike in August and quickly became the biggest producer in the district. They bought all holdings of the Ohio Lead company and controlled most of the producing mines. The company also absorbed the Black Forest company and smelter. Charles Spence was named manager of all their Spruce Mountain operations. In August, a strange occurrence happened for miner William Vineyard, working on the 200-foot level of the Spruce Mountain company's new discovery. There was a fierce thunderstorm above ground. A bolt of lightning came down the shaft and hit the rails he was standing on. He was badly shocked and bruised but lived through the experience.
The financial panic of 1907 had a devastating impact on companies active in the district. While some continued exploration, only the Spruce Mountain Copper Company shipped any ore in 1908. In October, William Shelton, manager of the Big Four company, died suddenly in Chicago. Shortly afterward, the company left the district. The smelter at Jasper closed in 1908 and little production was made during the next few years. In April, 1911, Spence, after 18 years on Spruce Mountain, finally found a rich deposit, in the Latham Mine. In May, another strike was made on the Great Eastern Mining Company's property. This helped revive interest in the area. In February, 1912, William Johnson, F.F. Dalton and James Davis formed the Bullshead Mining Company and acquired the old Harrell holdings which had been abandoned since 1890. The company began shipping ore to Garfield, Utah for treatment. Another new company, the Banner Hill Copper Mining Company, began operations in March, 1913. However, production from all companies was small and by September, only ten men were still employed. In 1914, Spruce Mountain Copper Company folded and the district was basically inactive and non-productive until 1916. Charles Spence regained control of his old properties. He built a 50-ton furnace on the edge of the valley to the east of Jasper. Ore from his Black Forest Mine and the Bullshead Mine was treated there. In 1916, the Keystone, Ada H., and Black Forest Mines were active but only produced $13,000. Spence incorporated his Black Forest Mining Company in February with an optimistic one million dollars in stock. Production was slow until 1918. Better mineral prices, boosted by demand of World War I, led to an increase of activity. The Spruce-Monarch Mine was taken over by Bart Woodward and Herbert Badt of Wells. The Spruce Mountain Monarch Mining Company was formed with Herbert Badt as president and David Neff, vice-president. The Monarch Mine, located on the western slope of Spruce Mountain, was the deepest in the district. Woodward, formerly from the Tintic District in Utah, was named manager. The company also operated the Ada H. Mine.
The Bullshead property was bought by Judge C.E. Mack and William Johnson. The new Bullshead Mining Company purchased the old Salmon River Mining Company's smelter in Contact. This smelter had specialized treatment processes that could easily process the difficult Spruce Mountain ore. Captain Herman Davis was in charge of the Bullshead mines and smelting construction. Soon, over 20 buildings were on the Bullshead property, located on the old townsite of Jasper. In addition, a number of other buildings were built at the mine site, located at the head of the canyon just south of Jasper. There were only three producers in 1918; Spruce-Monarch, Bullshead and Black Forest. These three companies produced $23,800. 1919 was the beginning of the district's biggest production period which extended for over 20 years. In November, the 50-ton smelter of the Bullshead company was completed. In the first week of operation, 24 100 pound bars of silver were produced. By the end of 1919, Bullshead Mining Company, Spruce Mountain Monarch Mining Company, Spruce Mountain Consolidated Mining Company, Black Forest Mine, Breedin and Riter properties were all producing. Ore was being shipped to railheads at Currie and Tobar. The Spruce-Monarch Mine became the primary producer. In 1920, the mine produced 7,000 tons of silver-lead ore. In January, a major strike was made in the mine. The mine was originally discovered in 1901 by Fordham and Stratton. Six large motor trucks were employed hauling ore to Tobar. Ore was then sent to Salt Lake City for treatment.
A new company, the Ada H. Mining Company, formed in March with Samuel Neff, president, and Herman Badt, vice-president. Bart Woodward, still mining around Spruce Mountain, was named manager. The ownership was basically the same as the Spruce Mountain Monarch Mining Company but was separated off for business purposes. However, tragedy struck in May. Charles Spence, who had worked Spruce Mountain mines since 1887, passed away at 60. Despite this, the Black Forest Mine continued to expand and increase production. The companies active in the district began to realize the multitude of minerals that was present in Spruce Mountain ore. Besides silver, lead and copper, manganese and zinc were being found. In 1922, the Bullshead company began shipping manganese ore from its J.B. Wall lease. Production from Spruce Mountain in 1922 and 1923 was over $100,000 but this was only a sign of better values in the future. In 1924, over $113,000 was produced, including over one million pounds of lead. The Spruce-Monarch mine was easily the top mine. With mines on both sides of Spruce Mountain active, Sprucemont and Jasper revived. In addition, two new camps formed at the Black Forest and Spruce-Monarch Mines. Over 100 men were employed and population on Spruce Mountain grew to 150. The Spruce Mountain Monarch company took over the Black Forest property and reopened the Killie Mine. By August, the company employed 80 and had five active mines.
Unfortunately, one of Spruce Mountain's most prominent mine managers, Bart Woodward, was seriously injured when the team he was working, backed over the edge of the ore dump at the Index Mine. Woodward was also part owner of the Polar Star Mine at Warm Creek in Ruby Valley. He had to endure a long and painful recovery but eventually returned once again to his mines at Spruce Mountain. During 1924, the Ada H. Mine was purchased by the Paramount Consolidated Mining Company. In 1925, Andrew Harrell returned to Spruce Mountain to work some of his father's old mines. Due to the increase of population on Spruce Mountain, a post office opened at Black Forest on January 9, 1926, with Henry Crittenden as postmaster. Another post office opened at Sprucemont on November 1, 1929. From 1926 to 1928, seven mines produced over $400,000. The Bullshead Mining Company gained control of the O'Neill Mines in April, 1926. This resulted in a construction boom at its company town on the old site of Jasper. The first dances at Spruce Mountain since the 1880s were held at the boardinghouse. The Nevada State Heralddeclared that "Old Spruce Mountain is coming back!" The Russell Freighting Company built four homes, truck garage, warehouse and double compartment ore bin. The company was running three trucks to Jasper Station on the Western Pacific Railroad. The ore was then sent to the American Smelting and Refining Company in Murray, Utah. A school also opened and had six students.
In August, 1926, Nevada Governor Scrugham visited Spruce Mountain as a guest of Herman Badt. There were six major mining companies in the district: Spruce-Monarch Lead and Silver Mining Company, Black Forest Mining and Smelting Company, Spruce Consolidated Mines Company, Mines Compact, Spruce Standard Mining Company, and Bullshead Mining Company. In January, 1927, the Spruce Consolidated company was bought by the Nevada Lead and Zinc Mining Company, owned by W.F. Snyder and Sons. All Bullshead and O'Neil holdings were organized under new ownership. The Bullshead Consolidated Mining and Milling Company spent $100,000 to purchase the holdings. Stanley Kimball served as president and manager. In May, 1927, an 6,800 foot tramway serving the Spruce Consolidated company and Black Forest properties was completed. The tram ran 3,900 feet from the Killie Mine to an ore bin at the Black Forest Mine. The ore was then loaded onto a second section of the tramway which ran another 2,900 feet down the steep canyon to a truck loading station. The tramway ran buckets that held 750 pounds each and the line could haul fifty tons in eight hours. In 1928, the Missouri-Monarch Mining Company, Inc., bought the Monarch, Black Forest and other holdings of the Spruce Mountain Monarch company. The two mines had been connected in 1926 by the 7,000' Bronco Tunnel. The Missouri Monarch company was listed on the Salt Lake Stock and Mining Exchange. The company was a consolidation of the Spruce Mountain Monarch and Big Missouri companies. The company controlled 34 claims and over two miles of the main strike fissure. A number of large bunkhouses were built at the Black Forest and Monarch Mines. Lead continued to be the mainstay of Spruce Mountain with over one million pounds being produced from 1924 to 1929. During 1929, the company mainly conducted exploration and defined ore deposits. Over $70,000 was produced in the district but this mainly came from the Nevada Lead and Zinc company's Killie Mine. However, Nevada Lead and Zinc folded in early 1930 due to low lead prices. In November, 1929, an application was made to build a railroad spur from Ventosa, on the Western Pacific Railroad, to Spruce Mountain. The railroad would have hauled ore from Spruce Mountain and the nearby Mud Springs Mining District. At the same time, it would have provided shipping points for ranchers and farmers in Clover and Ruby Valleys. During the next year, a railroad bed was surveyed but from Tobar. The cost was estimated to be $300,000. However, trucking eliminated the need for a railroad. In August, 1932, the Missouri Monarch company received permission to construct a new 3,000 foot truck road from their mines to Sprucemont.
A number of new companies entered the district in 1929. The Eastern Nevada Exploration Company was owned by David and Samuel Neff, Bart and Charles Woodward, and Herbert Badt, and mined the Junction claim group. Charles Woodward was also president of the new Bingo Consolidated Mining Company, which owned property between the Killie Mine and Missouri-Monarch holdings. Woodward was also a director of the Spruce Standard Mine. Much exploration and organization of new companies took place in the early 1930s. The Centennial Consolidated Mining Company, with Samuel Neff as president, located good ore in December, 1931. Unfortunately, in 1932, Spruce Mountain lost two of its biggest investors and promoters. Both Herbert Badt and Bart Woodward died. Most of their holdings were absorbed into the Missouri Monarch company. The Parker Brothers built a small mill at the Humbug Mine. In 1934, the Index Mining Company was incorporated. Directors included Charles Woodward, Samuel Neff and R.W. Edwards. M.H. Woodward, another brother, was in charge of the office at Spruce Mountain. Besides the Index Mine, the company also ran the Pal Number One and Number Two. In July, 1935, the Payette Mining Company and Branson Gold Mines Company were formed. Charles Woodward was president of both.
While all this activity was going on, businesses were operating at Black Forest, Sprucemont, and Monarch. At Black Forest and Monarch, virtually all businesses were under the company umbrella. Two schools, at Black Forest and Sprucemont, were in operation. At Black Forest, seven students were taught by Ruth Lyon of Metropolis. At Sprucemont in April, 1932, teacher Ula Reed VanDiver organized the first National Bank of Health program. Credits were given to students for cleanliness, neatness, proper eating habits and sleep. The Nevada State Nurse, Ebba Bishop, visited the program and was extremely impressed. She soon instituted the program elsewhere in Nevada. Reports on the program were published by the American Red Cross and the Cleanliness Institute of New York City. Many facets of the program were used when Franklin Delano Roosevelt started a national school health program. Despite the national accoloades, the school district was officially dissolved in October of 1933, although the schools were still used periodically for a few more years. Other teachers during the years included Mary Kearney, Rita Matson, Josie Crane, Virginia Troutman, Violet Shepherd, and Alice Marsh. However, Sprucemont was dying. Most mining was taking place on the east side of Spruce Mountain at the Black Forest and Bullshead Mines. Most residents left Sprucemont and the post office closed on October 17, 1935.
After 1937, the Missouri Monarch company was the only sizeable producer. The Index company, running the Bullshead and O'Neil property, made some minor shipments during 1937 and 1938. Other mines such as the Rainbow, Kelly, and O.D., were worked by leasers but little was produced. Tragedy occurred for one leaser in November, 1940, when Jake Wiskerchin was trapped and smothered to death in the Monarch Mine. He was working the mine with Joe Hawkins and Blaine Whimpy. Whimpy found some good ore and had Wiskerchin take a look at it. He swung a pick at the ledge and two tons of dirt and rock came down covering him from the neck down. Wiskerchin was still alive but suffocated before his friends could extricate him. His wife and four month old baby had just moved to Spruce Mountain to be with him. While the post office at Black Forest closed on March 19, 1943, over 30 men were still employed. The closure of the post office signalled an end to many years of postal service that included Black Forest, Spruce, Spruce Mount, and Sprucemont. Over the years, postmasters included Tim Gallagher, Mary Callaghan, Mary Hamilton, Robert Hartley, James Vandiver, Elizabeth Lewis, Charles Spence, Catherine Healy, and William Fordham.
The biggest year of production ever on Spruce Mountain was in 1945, when almost $300,000 was mined. From 1944 to 1948, close to $900,000 was produced. However, by 1947, the ore began to grow lower in value and only $41,000 was mined. In July, 1947, the Missouri Monarch company, Spruce Standard Mining Company, Missouri Monarch Extension Mining Company and East Nevada Exploration company consolidated to form the Nevada Monarch Consolidated Mines Company. The company controlled all mines except the Killie. In September, $50,000 was spent to conduct diamond drilling to try and locate new deposits. Little production occurred during the next few years. The drilling, conducted by R.H. McClintock and Company, found few promising leads. The final blow came when the company president, W.M. Archibald, died in Toronto, Canada. The company folded in 1952 after less than $30,000 had been produced.
Spruce Mountain mines had produced every year from 1899 to 1952. When the Nevada Monarch company folded, it was the end of serious mining on Spruce Mountain. Some leasing activity occurred through 1961 but only had minor success. In March, 1956, the Bullshead property was reopened by the Index Daley Mining Company of Idaho. George Price was the superintendent and five men were employed. The company owned eight patented and forty unpatented claims and leased the Eugene Parker property. Charles Woodward, who had worked Spruce Mountain mines for 40 years, wanted one more chance at success. He was president and manager of the company. During the next two years, over 1,800 feet of tunnelling was done at Bullshead. The company also owned the Daley Mine in Mountain Home, Idaho. However, no rich deposits were found and low prices did not warrant shipping low value ore. By the fall of 1958, Woodward had given up and the company left Spruce Mountain.
Since 1961, absolutely no production has occurred. Some exploration was done through the 1980s, evidenced by two buildings near Sprucemont filled with ore specimen bags. Companies such as Newmont Exploration Limited, Freeport Limited, and AMAX, found deposits but none worthwhile of extensive mining. Total production from mining on Spruce Mountain was $2.9 million. This included one million ounces of silver, 22 million pounds of lead, 3.2 million pounds of zinc and 780,000 pounds of copper.
Today, Spruce Mountain is a fascinating place to visit. At Sprucemont, the old log post office is the only building standing. However, many dugouts, foundations and rubble clearly show the layout of the town. The meticulously built stone foundations of Spruce Mountain's first smelter are located just to the north. Just east of Sprucemont is a small complex of buildings built by the owners of the Ada H. Mine. About two miles further east are the remains at the Monarch Mine. There are at least a dozen buildings in various stages of decay. Buildings from the 1890s struggle to stand next to structures from the 1940s. This situation is quite unusual in ghost towns. Cement foundations and ruins of the smelter are located at the mouth of the still accessible Monarch Mine.
Another mile east, on top of Killie Pass, are the remains of the Killie (Latham) Mine. During the 1920s, the camp had a half dozen buildings. This is where the original discoveries on Spruce Mountain were made. While only scraps of wood and brick mark the camp's site, a number of log structures built before the turn of the century still remain nearby. Between Killie and Black Forest, one mile east heading down Black Forest Canyon, are the only remains of the tramway. The line was sold for scrap and dismantled except for one transom which still stands. Black Forest has much to offer. A number of buildings, including the post office/boardinghouse, remain. However, sometime between June and September of 1993, most of that building collapsed. Two mining buildings remain. One housed a small smelter and the other still contains original equipment used to pump water out and fresh air into the mine. About a half mile past the mine are another group of frame buildings. This was the main Black Forest camp. The frame building that still stands, barely, housed the mining offices. A boardinghouse is located adjacent. Across the road are the cement foundations of the school. A number of other ruins of family dwellings are evident.
Another mile east is Jasper. A number of buildings are scattered along the quarter mile townsite. Most are miners quarters built during the Bullshead operations in the teens and twenties. A couple pre-turn of the century cabins still stand. Foundations of two smelters are visible and the metal stack of the Bullshead smelter remains. At the Bullshead Mine, located high up in the adjacent canyon to the south, are extensive mining ruins. A couple stone ruins from the 1870s remain amid rubble from later buildings. The last signs of operations at Spruce Mountain are located a couple miles east of Jasper at the edge of a valley. Only slag heaps and one wall mark the site of the smelter Charles Spence built in 1916.
Besides the buildings and townsites, there are a multitude of mines, headframes, ore chutes, and dumps. With so much to see, Spruce Mountain provides the best opportunity in Elko County to view a hundred years of history with the old side by side with new.
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