Eagle Creek Copper Mine

At the Eagle Creek Mine there were doctor offices, boarding houses, power houses, an engine house for trains, stores, school, church,

When the mine shut down ore was around 32% copper.

There was some gold taken on the first level of the mine.

The mine was 2000 feet deep at the 18 level. This is how far the skip track went down into the mine. There were two more levels below that with no track. In the 1930's, the mine operated three shifts. Then later in early 40's there were two shifts. Mr. Sizemore was killed the day my father in law went to work W.W. Calhoun said because of baulk ground.

The 10 level was said to have 35% copper (very rich copper).

A hoist or winch let cable down to the 18 level.

Mine shaft was on about a 45 degree slope.

There was a ladder road that went down the shaft.

The men would ride the skip up and down the shaft to work and about 8 men could ride skip. 80 to 100 men worked for the first owners of the mine. Later, only about 40 to 50 worked per shift.

N.C. Expiration Co. or Tenn.: Copper Co. owned mine.

The mine shaft was about 12 by 12 Feet.

EAGLE CREEK

About two miles below Fontana Boat Dock on the right side of the lake you will see a sign Eagle Creek. About two miles up Eagle Creek on the right you will come to the old copper mine, there depending on the time of year and water level you might see an old foundation of a old doctor office, old boarding house, store house, cross the hollow you might see an old power house, up the hollow you will see a old Rail Road Bed that leads up to the mines. There you will see the mine shaft 2000 ft. deep about a 45 degree angle up cross from the shaft you will see a winch with 2000 ft of cable on it which let the men down the shaft, also pulled ore cars out of mine. Just down the hollow old boiler foundation and shower house.

My father in law W. W. Calhoun work at the mine he walk from Dorsey some 10 miles to Eagle Creek Mine every day rain or snow to work, then every evening walk back home to Dorsey. The first day he worked at the mines a man was killed right below him, Baulk Ground Fell on him. Further up Eagle Creek you will see old chimneys and two primitive camp sites, and old rail road bed. I can close my eyes and imagine the train pulling logs, and copper even gold down the creek and see all those people working and living on Eagle Creek. At one time about 500 citizens on Eagle Creek.

SOURCES

W.W. Calhoun, David Monteith