Full Operations 1919-1939

August 1919 to June 22, 1920

A wide copper vein on Eagle Peak, below the north-facing ridge, was uncovered by a hunting party while bringing down a mountain sheep killed near the summit. This party is known to have included E.F. (Ed) Stacy, his brother Ryan Stacy and R.E. Ong. Other reports include Ong’s brother, Louis and a Mr. Radle.

On August 28, 1919, R.E. Ong and E.F. Stacy filed a location certificate on Big Horn Load; recorded Dec 23, 1919 by Custer County Recorder, Book U, pg. 510.

The Vein was traced toward the peak ridge and an audit cut. Location for this claim, the Gray Ram Lode, was filed August 18, 1920 by E.F. and W.R. Stacy recorded June 22, 1920, Book U, pg. 521.

1920 – 1921

Three more adjoining claims on Eagle Peak and 6 on Baldy Peak (above and near Silver Lake across the basin to the west) were filed some time in 1920-21 The locator-owners were listed as Edward and William Stacy , Rueben E. and John L. Ong, William Cody, Melby Curtis, and William Kleine, Jr. 

1922

Oklahoma relatives of some of the above men told W.B Porch and his friends in Oklahoma City about the find. Mr. Porch who had hardware stores in Oklahoma, made several trips to the property to assess the potential. Sometime in 1922 he and the original locators and other interested persons hired Frank Homan of Canon City, an engineer, to survey the property and determine the possible depth of the ore. His estimate was that it was a large sheet vein, extending in a perpendicular slant at least half way down the mountain. The area where the vein was uncovered was in loose slide rock, to difficult to mine. He therefore recommended to drop down the mountain to a more stable area and drive a tunnel at about a 90 degree angle to the vein hoping to cross cut it.

During April and May, the 7 original locators agreed to help organize The Cloverdale Mines Company and turned over their 11 claims to the new company. They contracted to take stock when the company was fully functioning. Each also retained a small interest in the claims. (William Stacy, William Cody, and Melby Curtis later sold their 1/8 interests.)

Cloverdale Mines Co. received a Certificate of Authority from the State of Colorado to operate as a closed (nonpublic) mining company on May 9th, 1922, with capital stock of $100,000 divided into 1000 shares of $100 each.

On May 22nd, Cloverdale Mines filed location certificates for the Oklahoma City Lode (which covers the location of the camp), and the Tunnel Lode (where the tunnel starts). These were recorded as filed on October 12th, 1922 in book T, pgs 488 and 489.

1923 – 1930

From 1923 to 1926, three camp cabins were built. Miners, including some of the locators, were hired. All supplies and equipment were brought in by burro trains, horseback, and foot. Exploration continued on all the claims. It was learned that a local rancher, A.L. Hatley, had water rights in the creek below the camp that flows into Rainbow Lake. He had built a ditch to divert the water to ranches several miles below. On August 27, 1926, a Memorandum of Agreement was signed between Cloverdale Mines and Mr. Hatley that the ditch would be protected or new ditches built when the road was constructed to the camp.

The Forest Service issued a Special Use  Permit for the 7 mile one-way road which was to be completed by 1924, however it was not finished until 1928. It started 3.5 miles west of Hillside at the new Rainbow Lake Club, a summer resort owned and operated by the Porch family (now Rainbow Lutheran Camp). This was across the creek from the mine office and family residence. The road was graded, but unpaved. It climbed in altitude from 8200 feet at the Club, past Rainbow lake at 10,000 feet to the mine camp at 11,500 feet. The road is about 7 miles in length with many switchbacks, plus another road from the camp to the mine tunnel entrance.  Total cost was $40,000, far exceeding the original $10,000 estimate.

As the Veins in the tunnel were traced, other nearby claims were filed: Silver Cliff Lode to the east, adjoining the Big Horn Lode, and the Empty Belly and Eagle Lodes to the west. Another claim called the Burro was filed and recorded October 28, 1928, Book 91, Page 155. This adjoined the Silver Cliff and Tunnel Lodes. Apparently no ore was found here and no further reference or assessment work was filed and no further mention made of it.

In September of 28, The Board of Directors approved purchase of a 100 KW Allis-Chalmers generator, a Pelton water wheel, and construction of a power house located at the foot of the falls below the camp.

Assays and evaluation of ore texture of several hundred pounds from two of the tunnel veins showed high gold and silver values. Plans were made for a 50 ton flotation mill following recommendations from The School of Mines and Denver Equipment Company. This would include a pumping plant for water from the creek by the camp, pipe line, assay furnace and building, rail and ore cares at the tunnel. A sawmill was purchased and put into operation and a new truck and pickup were purchased. Capital stock was increased twice in this period. Six stock holders loaned the company 10,000 toward machinery purchase so that the mill could be started before the end of the season . Additional stock offerings at $200 per share were authorized to increase operation funds.

The Great Depression kicked in at this time, preventing some stockholders from investing more, and making it rather difficult to sell more stock. Nevertheless the work proceeded as planned, although some what slower.

In a letter to the stockholders of November 15, 1930, Mr. Porch reported the following progress: near completion of the ore mill, with an estimated capacity of 75-100 tons daily. The mill is equipped with a Marcy Ball Mill, a 6 cell Fahrenwald Flotation machine, Revolving screen, Ore bills, tracks from tunnel to the top of the screening units. All machinery is ready to set as soon as the concrete bases are seasoned enough to make it safe. A fully equipped assay office is in place, as are the hydroelectric and pumping plants.

1931

The stockholders meeting of July 13, 1931 reported the near completion of the mill. Major equipment in place; minor equipment such as small motors, belting, screens, water and air lines yet to be installed. Development underground proceeded well to be ready for milling. Twelve miners plus two Porch boys have been working since June 1. All agreed to work for board and room (or groceries if married) and small stipends, with the balance of earned wages to be paid when the mill was in successful operation. Balance due employees at this date $2000.00; no one complaining.

FIRE!!!  On October 28th, 1931 the Mill, Assay house and storerooms burned. Brisk wind and no water made the fire uncontrollable. Cause was not determined, probably from spontaneous combustion as the mill was not running. Two insurance policies did not cover the the full loss, which a newspaper report said was $35000.00 – $40,000.00.  Since work at the mine was temporarily halted, the Board of Directors authorized payment of back wages to employees per the earlier agreement.

1932

An application was made to the Commissioner of Securities, State of Oklahoma, for permission to sell Cloverdale Mines stock in that state.

Most of 1932 was spent trying to raise money to pay back debts and wages for six men who were working on the cleanup from the mill fire. As of November 1932, there were 177 stockholders. Seven shareholders (some of the original locators and the Porches) worked for stock or deferred payments.

Work continued in the mine, extending drifts and stopes. The mill building and assay office were rebuilt. The ball mill and flotation units were reconditioned Other machinery and parts were purchased during the winter.

A strong letter was sent to the stockholders pointing out the large amount of work already accomplished and the investment of time and money by those at the mine to be ready for the mill to resume operation in 1933.

1933 – 1934

An August 1933 board of directors meeting discussed a proposition calling for an extension of the crosscut tunnel or a drift of 200 feet on vein #63 to contact the copper ore zone believed to extend down from the surface outcrop. Estimated cost $1500 plus $5000 needed to complete the Mill. A survey of both the outcrop and underground veins was made by Mr. Homan.

At a stockholders meeting on July 24th, 1934 Mr. A. A. Rounsavell, Company’s head carpenter, reported on condition of the mill. With the purchase and installation of an amalgamator and miscellaneous small parts and belts, he said the mill could be in operation in August.

A September 1934 Directors meeting reported that William Kleine was put in charge of the power plant, and Edwin Porch appointed for one year as the General Supervisor of the mine and mill. Emphasis was placed on furthering the work on the vein #63 to reach the Big Horn vein and to continue to open other ore bodies. A systematic sampling and assaying was ordered for all veins  so as to locate the best ore for concentrating through the flotation mill.

1935 – 1939 

In July 1935 H. S. Sanderson a well known and highly recommended mine engineer of Denver, completed a thorough examination of the Big Horn tunnel, the surface and adjacent areas. His maps and details agreed in all essential points with Mr. Homans 1933 survey, although the two had never met and neither had data used by the other. Mr. Sanderson’s estimate is that the Big Horn Vein is 150 to 223 ft from the breast of the tunnel to vein #63. He recommended cleanup of surface workings, continued sampling on all veins, and to push ahead. Since Mr. Sanderson had built the first flotation custom mill in Colorado, we asked him to evaluate our mill. He found it practical and high-class; and suggested one minor alteration.

A diesel power unit was installed in the powerhouse to provide power to the mill if the water power decreased at some point. Development on the Silver Lake claims showed significant gold and silver values.

Financial problems persisted because of slow stock sales. Tunnel operations and adjacent surface work was curtailed except for assessment work.

On September 15th, 1938, seven promissory notes were executed to cover indebtedness and give the company time to refinance and resume operations. In 1939, almost all operations ceased due to lack of funds

History compilation still in progress

Bill Humble’s Basin 1968-2002

Bill inherited his grandmothers interest in the Cloverdale mine in 1968. Shortly after he began searching for other owners and acquiring the rest of the numerous claims. During this time he moved to the Cloverdale Basin and began repairing and restoring the equipment and rebuilding the mining camp.

Bill would spend the summer months at the mine and would return to Denver at times during the winter until “civilization” would get to him and he headed into the seclusion of the mountains and his basin. Bill would still make the journey to the mine in the winter. He would make his trips using snowmobiles and snowshoes. In the winter months the snow would be higher than the cabins which required digging down into the snow to access. Bill spent a great amount of time staying at the Rainbow Trail Lutheran camp, helping out with maintenance and repair, then would use it as a base camp when he headed up into the Cloverdale basin and his mine.

Bill would be diagnosed with cancer in 1999. On December 24th, 2002 Bill lost his battle with cancer.

History compilation still in progress

Today 2002-Current

2002-2012

The mining claims would remain in the Humble family. Bill’s wife, son, and nephew would all be named as claimholders. After numerous meetings with the United States Forest Service (USFS) it was determined the claims Bill had were unpatented and therefore the land, buildings, and cabins were all USFS property. The family entered into an understanding with the USFS that they could use the cabins for mining operations as long as general rules and regulations were followed. For the first few years after Bill’s death various family members would check in on the mining camp and minimally maintain what they were able to. With guidance from the USFS some cleanup of the mining camp and mill area took place. Due to lack of presence from 2005-2012 the main cabin was broken into and ransacked allowing natural forces to degrade it rendering it unusable by 2012.

2015-Current

In 2015 the mining claims were transferred to Bill’s son and grandson. One cabin remained in decent shape and was utilized until Cloverdale Basin’s natural forces took it over by 2017. 2019 was the last known year the tunnel was passable. In 2020 The Cloverdale Flotation Ore Mill sign collapsed on top of the mill. Today the tunnel is blocked by a large ice “pond” just past the main entrance. Bill’s grandson makes regular trips each summer to the basin with family and friends to maintain the claims and enjoy the wonder of this beautiful basin and bask in the presence of times long past. The family continues keep the claims active with the hope that historical designation can be achieved.

More information and updates to be provided