Hecla Mining District in the Pioneer Mountains of Montana
Nestled within the rugged embrace of Montana’s Pioneer Mountains lies a region steeped in history, ambition, and the echoes of a bygone era: the Hecla Mining District. This area, once a vibrant hub of silver, lead, copper, and zinc extraction, tells a compelling tale of boom and bust, of fortunes made and lost, and of the enduring spirit of those who sought their dreams in the heart of the American West. Established relatively late in the Pioneer Mountains’ mining history, the Hecla Mining District quickly distinguished itself as one of the most lucrative, leaving behind a legacy that continues to fascinate and intrigue.
The story of the Hecla Mining District begins in the 1870s, a time of fervent exploration and resource exploitation across the western territories. The district, also known as the Glendale or Bryant Mining District, stretched for approximately ten miles along a series of gulches carved into the side of Lion Mountain. This mountain, a prominent feature of the landscape, became the epicenter of the mining activity that would define the region for decades to come. Four distinct mining camps emerged along this stretch: Trapper City, Lion City, Glendale, and Hecla, each playing a unique role in the district’s overall narrative.
The initial spark that ignited the mining boom in the Hecla Mining District can be traced back to 1872, when William "Billy" Spurr and James Bryant staked the first claim, christened the Forest Queen. However, Spurr’s initial enthusiasm waned, and he failed to develop the claim. Undeterred, Bryant returned the following year with a group of men, embarking on a new quest for potential riches. Their efforts were rewarded with the discovery of a significant silver outcropping, which they named the Trapper Lode.
Securing their claim in Bannack, Montana, the men commenced the arduous task of extracting silver and lead from the Trapper Lode. The ore was transported by pack train and wagons to Corinne, Utah, where it was loaded onto trains bound for Denver, Colorado, for smelting. This initial success served as a powerful catalyst, drawing prospectors and fortune seekers from far and wide.
News of the promising discoveries in the Hecla Mining District spread like wildfire, attracting a wave of prospectors, many hailing from the established mining town of Bannack. This influx of hopeful individuals led to the discovery of additional lodes, including the Cleve and Avon Mines, further fueling the mining frenzy. The first of the four mining camps to take shape was Trapper City, which established a post office in 1873, solidifying its status as a burgeoning settlement. Trapper City quickly evolved into a bustling community, boasting a hotel, several saloons, a brothel, a general store, a butcher shop, a livery stable, and numerous cabins lining the banks of Trapper Creek. At its peak, the settlement reached a population of nearly 200 residents. However, Trapper City’s prominence was short-lived, as mining operations gradually shifted higher up Lion Mountain, drawing residents and businesses to more advantageous locations.
In 1875, a significant development occurred that would further shape the Hecla Mining District: the construction of a 40-ton smelter by Noah Armstrong and Charles Dahler. Located farther down Trapper Creek, the smelter was strategically positioned to process the ore extracted from the mines. The camp that sprang up around the smelter was named Glendale, and a post office was established there in the same year. Glendale rapidly grew into a more established and family-oriented community compared to the other mining camps in the district. The town also featured "The Montana Brewery," owned by John Mannheim, who had previously operated a brewery in Bannack, and a general merchandise store owned by Noah Armstrong.
Two years after the smelter’s construction, Noah Armstrong, along with investors from the East, formed the Hecla Consolidated Mining Company. This marked a turning point in the Hecla Mining District, as the company aggressively acquired and developed the mining operations. The name "Hecla" was inspired by a painting depicting Mount Hecla, a volcano in Iceland, which hung in the company’s payroll office. The Hecla Consolidated Mining Company embarked on a buying spree, acquiring numerous workings on Lion Mountain, including the Cleopatra, Trapper, Franklin, Cleve-Avon, Mark Anthony, Ariadne, True Fissure, and Atlantus lodes. By 1878, Glendale had flourished, boasting a population of nearly 1,000 residents.
Concurrent with the growth of Glendale, the camp of Lion City emerged at the base of Lion Mountain. By 1878, the majority of residents and businesses had abandoned Trapper City, relocating to either Lion City or Glendale. Lion City quickly became a vibrant hub, featuring three saloons, two brothels, two hotels, several businesses, a school, mining buildings, numerous cabins, and a population of approximately 600 people.
The Glendale smelter played a crucial role in the district’s success, producing approximately one million ounces of silver and thousands of tons of lead and copper annually. However, in July 1879, a devastating fire destroyed the smelter, causing a significant setback. That same year, Elias C. Atkins replaced Noah Armstrong as the General Manager of the Hecla Consolidated Mining Company. Despite these changes, the company’s performance did not meet the expectations of its investors, leading to Atkins’ replacement by Henry Knippenberg in April 1881.
Knippenberg quickly reorganized the Hecla Consolidated Mining Company, dividing it into three divisions and appointing a superintendent for each. This restructuring proved successful, and by the end of the year, the company had returned to profitability. Simultaneously, the Glendale Smelter was rebuilt, enlarged, and placed back into operation, restoring a crucial component of the district’s mining infrastructure.
Henry Knippenberg established his residence in Glendale, constructing a grand mansion overlooking the townsite for his family. Glendale continued to expand, boasting numerous businesses, hotels, four saloons, a newspaper called The Atlantis, restaurants, a school, an opera house, a church, a hospital, and one of the largest skating rinks in the state. The town reached its peak population of approximately 2,000 residents during the early 1880s, solidifying its position as the heart of the Hecla Mining District.
During this period, Knippenberg also established the company town of Hecla, located about a mile from Lion City. The primary motivation behind the creation of Hecla was to separate the miners from the temptations and vices prevalent in Lion City. By constructing boarding houses for the miners and relocating the company mine offices to the new site, Knippenberg aimed to improve the miners’ morals and provide more convenient access to the mines.
In 1882, Knippenberg further enhanced the mining operations by adding the Greenwood Concentrator halfway down the mountain and constructing a four-mile narrow-gauge tramway to transport ore from Hecla to the mill. The mine operations continued to expand, and by 1885, the plant consisted of three blast furnaces, two crushers, a large roaster, two powder houses, warehouses, and numerous other mine buildings, showcasing the scale and complexity of the Hecla Consolidated Mining Company’s operations.
The prosperity of the Hecla Mining District, like many other mining regions, was ultimately undermined by the repeal of the Sherman Silver Purchase Act in 1893. This act had artificially inflated the price of silver, and its repeal led to a dramatic decline in silver prices, severely impacting the profitability of silver mining operations. Although mining activities continued on a reduced scale, the ore deposits were becoming increasingly depleted. The Cleopatra, the company’s most productive mine, closed in 1895, and in 1900, the Glendale Smelter was dismantled. By 1904, all operations of the Hecla Consolidated Mining Company had ceased, marking the end of an era for the district.
Despite the closure of the Hecla Consolidated Mining Company, Henry Knippenberg remained optimistic about the potential of the Hecla Mining District. In 1904, he purchased the operations at a sheriff’s sale and subsequently leased the properties to the Penobscot Mining Company, which continued to extract ore from the area for several years. Finally, in 1915, the mines were permanently closed. However, even after the mines ceased operation, efforts were made to extract remaining ore from the old slag piles, continuing until 1922.
Over the subsequent decades, the property changed hands numerous times as new developers attempted to revitalize the old mines and tailings. While small amounts of ore were recovered, these ventures ultimately proved unprofitable. Despite its eventual decline, the Hecla Consolidated Mining Company had been a remarkably successful enterprise, distributing dividends to its investors for over two decades.
Today, Trapper City has vanished completely, leaving no visible traces of its existence. However, Glendale still stands, displaying the remnants of its past, including the smelter stack, the ruins of the old stone office building, and a few surviving historic buildings. Lion City and Hecla also retain a few remaining buildings and mining relics. The old charcoal kilns, essential for the smelting process, can be found about five miles beyond Glendale on Canyon Creek Road.
The Hecla Mining District can be accessed from I-15 near Melrose at Exit 93, via Trapper Creek Road. Glendale is located approximately five miles from the exit, while Lion City and Hecla are another seven miles further along the road. Due to the rugged terrain, a four-wheel drive vehicle or ATV is recommended for exploring the district.
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