Chloride became the center of mining operations in the Apache Mining
District in the Black Range Mountains. By 1883, Chloride had over 2,000
citizens, eight saloons, a Chinese laundry, law offices, barber shops,
dentists, two doctors, a meat market, a hardware store, a ladies millinery
store, three general merchandise stores (one being the "Pioneer Store"
which Apaches attacked on January 18, 1881, killing two and injuring
another), a livery stable, and a building used as a school. By January,
1887, J. H. Cook was Worshipful Master of The Western Star Lodge No. 14.
Over the years the mining district produced about $500,000 in silver and
other ores--about 480 prospector holes were dug, including 12 active mines.
By 1893, the Silver Monument, about 10 miles west of town, had produced
about $100,000, to become the richest mine. Others included the U. S.
Treasury, the New Era, the White Mountain, the Wall Street, the
Mountain King, the Midnight, the Colossal, the St. Cloud, the Mayflower,
the White Eagle and the Grey Eagle.
While there was no church in Chloride, Father E. Bertram started saying
mass in Mrs. Luciana Romero's home in 1913--worship in this manner
continued until 1939. And the Black Range Newspaper published from 1883
to 1897.
But soon after President McKinley was elected in 1896, silver prices
plummeted as gold became the monetary standard. By 1900, Chloride's
population had fallen to about 125. Today (1999) about 27 of the
original buildings still stand in Chloride. The "Pioneer Store",
built of Ponderosa pine logs in 1880, is now a museum and Chloride is
home to about 14 persons, most retired.
Donald R. Edmund (edmund@zianet.com) supplied much of the
historical information above. Mr. Edmund operates the "Pioneer
Store Museum" in the old Pioneer Store building, and is a local
historian. He and his family is also restoring old houses and buildings.