A color postcard of the Spray Shaft. The front caption reads: “Spray Shaft, (Copper Queen) Bisbee, Arizona 2085” The postcard is unused and was published by the Benham Company, Los Angeles, California. Viola Brown 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.

1978.46.11