Cochise College Student Papers in Geology
Geology Home Page physical geology historical geology
Roger Weller, geology instructor regional geology planetary gems
Bisbee
families
Gina Thursby
Physical Geology
Spring 2008
The History Behind One of Bisbee’s
Families
When my great-great-grandfather moved to Bisbee in 1915,
he moved here because of the copper mines. He had lived in England and Wales
before moving to Bisbee. He worked in a coal mine, but it was very unsafe, so
that is why he decided to move here. The coal mines in British Isles were
running out of coal. The copper mine here in Bisbee was safer and cared about
the safety of the miners.
The miners that worked in Bisbee get up very early and
walked to the mines in South Bisbee, Lowell, and Old Bisbee. They worked hard
many hours and walked home several miles at the end of the day. For the Welch
families many of the miners lunches were pasties, a meat pie. It was a pie crust
filled with beef, potaoes and onions. It was very hearty and well-loved by these
people. Our family on both sides of the family still loves to make these for
special times. The miners carried their lunches in big metal lunch boxes.
The community of Bisbee in those days was quite close. Part of the reason was
because the people pulled together during mining tragedies. There were accidents
and deaths and always the presence of danger. When those difficult times came
the families came together and supported each other.
One example
of this was when my grandmother on my dad’s side, had a dream that my grandpa
got smashed in the head with a rack. Well it sure did happen. When my
grandfather got home he was carrying a hamlet half smashed and a rock. This rock
was made up of iron and silver. They say if he wasn’t wearing his helmet he
would have been killed.
Native Silver (Photo courtesy of R. Weller)
Before World War II Phelps Dodge gave out leases. My dad’s
grandfather had one of these leases. My grandfather’s area was so rich he had to
mix it with his waste and drive it himself so PD wouldn’t find out about it. If
they would have found out about it then PD would have taken the lease back. The
land that my grandfather has was the land that is above the court house today.
It was rich in copper, gold, silver, and lead. It was so rich in gold that it
paid for its own shipping costs. When WWII broke out, PD took all of the leases
back so that they wouldn’t have any competition.
Copper (Photo courtesy of G. Thursby)
These calcite crystals were found behind the Glory Hole
by my father and some of his friends. They found this tunnel looking cave that
had calcite crystals everywhere. Of course they broke off as much as they could
carry and took it home. Two weeks later they went back and someone had got in it
and smashed everything up and there was nothing left.
Calcite Crystals (Photo courtesy of G. Thursby)
Sources:
http://www.discoverbisbee.com/about_hist.htm
http://skywalker.cochise.edu/wellerr/aawellerweb.htm
http://www.arizonahandbook.com/bisbee.htm
http://www.expertvillage.com/article/5597_history-bisbee-arizona.htm
Personal Interview:
Jim and Ruthe Thursby, Lived in Bisbee for over 55 years