 Metcalf Mine - 1920The white building in the left of this photograph is the Metcalf High School, built in 1918. It was used for just 3 years. In 1921 students were bussed from Metcalf to Morenci. The wooden trestle on the left was the Shannon Railroad which stayed on the left side of Chase Creek all the way up to the far end of Metcalf. The two-story building on the right is the grade school that was built in 1913. The large building in front of the grade school is the Arizona Copper Company store. |
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 Metcalf Mine - 1912The wooden trestle to the right of center is the Shannon Railroad which ran along the west side of Chase Creek from where the Conoco station is today through Metcalf up to the Shannon Incline. The Incline was the only way ore could be moved from the top of the hill down into the Canyon. Seven inclines were used to get ore from the top of the hill to the ore bins in the canyon for use by the trains: The Longfellow, the Coronado, the Shannon, the Wilson, the Metcalf, the King and the Queen |
 Metcalf Mine 1882 -1883 |
 Morenci Mine Map c1990Map of the Morenci and Metcalf Mines. Mine Locations from Earlier Days are Shown on the Map. |
Metcalf Mine - Greenlee County
Where: Covered up by tailings from the Morenci Mine
Travel Conditions: N/A
Operation Dates: 1870 - 1979
Description: Metcalf in Greenlee County is covered with mine garbage from Morenci mine. Post office opened on August 25, 1899 and closed on May 15, 1936. Once a town were lived between 4000-5000 people, is now covered with mine garbage. The copper mine witch were discovered in 1870 was the towns living heart. This town had his own railroad with the name "Little Emma", witch brought the ore out of the canyon. When the mine was empty, people disappeared and now is nothing left. Bobby Zlatevski. (www.ghosttowns.com)
Elevation 4,431 feet, cooper camp on branch railroad up Chase creek. About 8 miles northwest of Clifton. Named for Robert B. Metcalf, an early mining man who came to this camp 1872. One of the first owners of the Longfellow mine. (Arizona Place Names)
What you will see today: No longer a town and covered by the expanding Morinci mine.
Comments: I have seen the name Metcalf associated with mining and the Metcalf brotheres were a key players in locating the inital copper find which has lead to a large operation still in production today.
Minerals Mined: Main production is copper with minor production of gold and silver.
Acknowledgement: ghosttowns.com, Arizona Place Names