A black and white postcard of the Spray Shaft. The front caption on the top left reads: “Spray Shaft (Copper Queen). BISBEE, Arizona” The postcard was postmarked Bisbee, Ariz. July 29, 1909 5 PM and was sent by “Sis” to Kline Ables, Clifty, Arkansas. The message on the back in ink reads: “Hello Kline, Saw Roy today. He is in from the ranch. Am going out there a few days next month. Lovingly, Sis.” The postcard was published by the Albertype Company, Brooklyn, New York.

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.

2021.7.17