Morenci High School - Copper Cat Yearbook (Morenci, AZ)

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Reality, Brings Influx of Workers 1965, the town has advanced along with the outside world. The open pit has now advanced into the center of Morenci, constantly eating up the houses and mountains. Therefore, in 1966, a new Morenci was constructed. Since 1966, many new changes have taken place. A dirt fill has been placed across the canyon be- tween “Old Morenci” and “New Morenci”, a second smoke stack has been added, and production has been increased tremendously. Today, in 1972, a hundred years since the first miners came into the district, Morenci is moving faster than ever before. A new highway will take travelers through Morenci instead of to it; a man- made lake is being completed; and the once-deserted Metcalf mines are being processed for open pit mining. Time alone holds the se- cret of Morenci’s second century. THIS IS OUR TOWN: its past, present, and future in ........... MOfifcNCI fcfiAMCM FAMILY TQM. Sports and Activities . . .22 Academics.........08 Classmates........Q4 Community........130 7

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EARLY ORE TRANSPORTATION con- sisted mainly of donkey power, above. Below, HIGH SCHOOL of 1920's. Hav- ing eight levels, each had a ground en- trance. Spiral firecase provided firedrill fun. Right, TOWN SITE of 1905. End of Depression Sees Open Pit a The greatest event in Morenci’s history took place in 1937. In this year, Phelps Dodge began strip- ping for an open pit mine. With the depletion of rich underground ore, the only alternative to becom- ing deserted was to extract the surface copper. In 1942, the pit became a reality and was formally dedicated. At this time, the pit’s potential was claimed to be one of the world’s top five and the smelter was one of the most mod- ern in the nation. By 1943, pro- duction was up to 45,000 tons a day. Today, the Morenci pit is the largest open pit copper mine in Arizona, the second largest in the United States, and the third lar- gest of the world’s copper mines. As Morenci again became a boom town, housing was sparse. By 1942, all flat places on the old Clifton road were occupied by a tent, a car, and awashing machine. Since the 1940’s, Morenci has continued to expand and to grow more modern. Between 1945 and

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Students Find September Days FROSH ARTISTS design spirit boosting windows. Right. INJURED VETERAN, W. Bruce, views game from the sidelines. With summer vacation’s sudden disappearance, school once again resumed, complete with confused freshmen and new teachers. At the opening assembly, the students were greeted by Student Body President Pelusi and introduced to new teachers on the MHS faculty. September seemed governed by tradition. The freshmen started the year off with the whitewash- ing of the “M”, though they seem- ingly whitewashed themselves in- stead. To welcome the newcom- ers, the sophomores gave the annu- al sock hop. Soon afterwards, stu- dents found themselves smiling in- to a camera, as underclassmen pic- tures and senior portraits were taken. Football got off to a good start, with a win over neighboring Duncan. The volleyball teams also began a season of competition, with games against rival Willcox. To welcome the new teachers PAINTING PICASSO'S....M. Conlogue and G. Wood diligently paint bleachers. Above, FOOD, FOOD, and more food. Student Council sponsor and members arrange victuals at the fall Get-Together.