Silver Bell is a ghost town in the Silver Bell Mountains in Pima County, Arizona, United States. The name "Silver Bell" refers to a more recent ghost town, which was established in 1954 and abandoned in 1984. The original town, established in 1904, was named "Silverbell" and abandoned in the early 1930s.[1][2] Both towns were utilized and later abandoned due to the mining of copper in the area.
Silver Bell, Arizona | |
---|---|
![]() A ruin in Silver Bell. | |
Coordinates: 32°23′05″N 111°29′56″W / 32.38472°N 111.49889°W | |
Country | United States |
State | Arizona |
County | Pima |
Time zone | UTC-7 (MST (no DST)) |
Post Office opened | August 18, 1904 |
According to James E. Sherman's Ghost Towns of Arizona, Silverbell was "one of the most renowned mining camps in the Southwest," and was also described as "the Hell-hole of Arizona." Today nothing remains of the town other than a cemetery.[3]
Gallery
edit-
Silverbell, c.1909
-
Another view of Silverbell around 1909.
-
An Arizona Southern train along the road between Red Rock and the Silver Bell Mine.
-
View of the Silver Bell Mine from the site of Silver Bell.
-
One of the three cemeteries near Silver Bell. Silver Bell Mine tailings can be seen in the background.
-
The Silver Bell Cemetery in Ironwood Forest National Monument.
-
A Bureau of Land Management cultural resources sign at the Silver Bell Cemetery.
-
The ruins of a house in Silver Bell.
-
Ruins at the BS&K Mine (This was the house of the watchman that was constructed to keep individuals out of the mine).
-
More ruins at the BS&K Mine.
-
The remains of a car at the BS&K Mine. Notice the suicide doors.
-
The entrance to an old adit at the BS&K Mine.
-
Inside the adit.
-
The light at the end of the adit.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Silver Bell Complex, Vignettes in Time Exhibit, BLM". Retrieved March 1, 2014.
- ^ "Ghost Towns of Arizona". Retrieved March 1, 2014.
- ^ Sherman, James E.; Barbara H. Sherman (1969). Ghost Towns of Arizona. University of Oklahoma Press. ISBN 0-8061-0843-6.
External links
edit- Silverbell – ghosttowns.com
- Silverbell – Ghost Town of the Month at azghosttowns.com