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

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UNION PICKET LINES of 1915 strike, above. Left, MINE CLOSING found cit- izens leaving Morenci by railroad cars. schools were built, immigrants began to arrive daily, and churches had parish halls instead of Sunday rented saloons. In 1901, the town of Metcalf was formally founded and by 1910, had grown to a city of approximately 5,000. It remained a thriving town until the 1930 depression hit, and then be- came another western ghost town. In the late 1800’s, the miners of Morenci and Metcalf had formed into labor unions. In 1903, the first strike occurred. Involving the workers of two companies, the disagreements resulted in bloodshed and uninvolved parties were sworn in as deputies to keep the peace. In 1915, and again in 1917, the labor forces went on strike. Though no blood was shed, the unions fought hard to gain their demands and fringe benefits. Between the years of 1918 and 1921, several copper companies sold out and left the area. The final transaction resulted in the total ownership by Phelps Dodge. The next years were uneventful. In 1928, the population of Moren- ci was about 6,000. With the arriv- al of the 1930 depression, towns- people began to leave the town. In 1931, the mines shut down and the town virtually became a ghost town. In 1934, the population was down to its lowest, only about 600 people. A few officials and the town watchmen remained, and Morenci became a little “Mexico.” AGING PROCESSES are shown by the houses above the high school. MODERN HOSPITALS of 1940, left, and 1970, top of page, reveal different locations.

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METCALF INCLINES. Ore transpor- tation proved a problem, as mountains disputed level ground, right. Above, MORENCI of 1942 shows town growth. 4 Despite their immediate success in the Morenci mines, the Lesinsky brothers left the area in 1883, selling their holdings for $2,000,000 to the Arizona Copper Company. The new owners soon moved the smelter to the Morenci proper and began more modern mining and processing methods. Two years later, the local railroad lines were connected to the mainline in Lordsburg, enabling travel to Morenci by means other than horseback or stage. Up to this time, the extracted copper ore was hauled 1200 miles to Kansas City by bull teams and the return trip brought back the com- munities needed supplies. With the railroad expansion, the trips were faster and much less dangerous, as before, Indians, wild animals, and unpredictable weather had presented unseen problems to the merchants and their supply teams. In 1880, the mines were closed down, resulting in a decrease in Morenci’s census. Realizing the potential of the recently abandon- ed mines, Phelps Dodge and Com- pany bought a controlling interest in the Detroit Company in 1897. During this same year, a devastat- ing fire swept through Morenci so- cial section. Called “Old Town”, it consisted mainly of gambling and dance halls, and saloons and was by reputation, one of the west’s roughest towns. However, before the ashes had cooled, townsmen began to rebuild a “New Town” on the site of early 1900 Morenci. With the arrival of the twentieth century, Morenci began to show the maturity of age. Several new

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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