A black and white postcard of the Spray Shaft in Bisbee. The caption on the upper right reads “Spray Shaft (Copper Queen). Bisbee Arizona. It was sent by Will Wilson to Miss. Emily Wilson 735 12th Street Douglas, Arizona. Written on the back in ink: “Dear Emily. We got your letter & card last night. I don't think I shall come down this summer. We are beginning to wish you back in Bisbee. Ma said not to stay to (sic) long. Ma is a little better & we are washing today. It is lovely here since the rain & it sure washed out the St. below us. From your brother Will Wilson.” The postcard is postmarked Bisbee, July 26, 1910 and was published by the Albertype Company, Brooklyn, New York. Emily Wilson Trischka Collection.

In April 1889, The Spray Shaft was sunk by the Copper Queen Mining Company. One year later, the shaft was 550 feet deep and producing ore. The Spray Mine had the outbreak of two small fires on November 10th, 1902 and March 25,1903 which were put out by miners who redirected groundwater in a series of pipes. In April of 1914, the Spray was temporarily closed. When production picked up again in the Spray Mine the ore it produced was hoisted through the Holbrook and Gardner mines. The Spray shaft was permanently closed in 1940. The deepest point of the Spray Mine measured 1,000 feet and along with copper, it produced silver, gold, and chalcopyrite.

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