Description

Monte Cristo Mine, Wickenburg, Arizona. Handwriting on back of photograph reads: "View of ore chute in first level more than 12 feet wide." ca. 1911.

The Monte Cristo Mine was a silver mine located in the Black Rock-Hassayampa District of the Bradshaw Mountains in Yavapai county, Arizona at an elevation of 3,442 feet. The mine was owned originally by John Hutchins, a lifetime miner who owned and worked at many mines in Yavapai County, especially in the Groom Creek area. John Hutchins, (b. 1826 (?) - d. August 25, 1914), was one of Prescott's early pioneers. He was a lifetime miner who owned and worked at many mines in the Yavapai County area, centering on the Groom Creek area. The mine was discovered in the 1860's and worked in a small way for the production of high grade sorted ore. It was worked by the 1890s for its high-grade silver, but never lived up to what many felt was its full potential.

The mine and mill were the center of mining in the area, and spawned the creation of Groom Creek City, which lay about 6 miles south of Prescott, Arizona. In addition to silver, gold and copper were secondary commodities produced from the mine.

Hardware store owner, Ezra W. Thayer, eventually owned and operated the Monte Cristo Mine. Many of the pictures in this collection (of 14) feature a placard stating the name of the mine, the date, and his business name as well.