Swansea Townsite

A Jeeping trip was in order this morning, stopping first at Gina and Rollie’s to drop off my new cell phone so Rollie could charge it using some of that wonderful solar power he has!!  Last night I took them my new rechargeable toothbrush for the same reason!  Some people, right!!!

Michael picked the spot today, we headed to the old mining ghost town of Swansea.  Once a flourishing copper mining development—prospectors began working the mine site in 1862 and the last milling was reported in 1944.  One of the developers of the mine, George Mitchell, did not have a sterling reputation and the mine went into bankruptcy in 1911 before being rescued by another manager in 1915. 

Company housing dwellings where the miners lived are being restored by volunteers and several other ruins are visible on the site.  The surrounding scenery is breathtaking!  The road to Swansea is a little on the rough side but not too bad, you could do it in a passenger car if you took it slowly.

 

This natural arch was visible right by the road before we dropped  down into Swansea. 

Ruins of the early company housing.

Michael coming out of a mining shaft that I declined to enter!

We crossed this canal—look at all that water heading from the Colorado River to Tucson!

We had a great Jeep trip today—so much fun, we took a picnic and Emmi along.

Tonight we are celebrating Ellie’s birthday with Gina and Rollie’s homemade gumbo!  YUM!