Army scouts were on the trail of marauding Apaches, but the elusive renegades were always a step ahead. The soldiers were tracking them up a small stream in a narrow canyon, later named Chase Creek. One of the scouts, Robert Metcalfe, noted that the water in the canyon was heavily mineralized and tasted foul. He observed that the canyon walls had copper out-croppings, and there were indications of primitive mining. Having had mining experience in New Mexico, Metcalfe was familiar with identifying promising mineral deposits. The hostile Indians were his first priority, so he made note of the location, vowing he would return. That he did, along with his brother James and a party of adventurous miners and businessmen eager to prospect for valuable metals.
The area was first known as Goulding’s Camp, named for one of the early miners. The town of Clifton was founded in 1873, as the miners settled along the canyon’s stream banks near the confluence of the San Francisco River and Chase Creek. Mining companies were formed and many claims were staked out and developed. The largest mine at the time was the Longfellow, which was about three miles up Chase Creek Canyon. Businessmen Henry and Charles Lesinsky owned many claims and their success helped Clifton grow quickly as they expanded their mining and smelting operations. Experiencing limited smelting success with their first adobe furnaces, in 1874 the Longfellow Copper Mining Company built a larger and more efficient smelter where Chase Creek emptied into the San Francisco River. The Arizona Copper Company purchased the Longfellow group in 1882, and continued expanding and making improvements to the smelter complex. In 1902, the Shannon Copper Company built a smelter and concentrator on Cemetery Hill (now called Shannon Hill) to refine ore from Metcalf. The Arizona Copper Company, headquartered in Scotland, built a new smelter in 1913. It was located two miles south of Clifton and replaced the Chase Creek facility. It incorporated modern smelting techniques and improved the air quality in town. The neighboring towns of Metcalf and Morenci were also full of mining activity, contributing to the success of the district’s mining industry.
As Clifton grew, so too did its importance in the area’s economy, governance, and social life. Many businesses grew and flourished. The Clifton Mineral Hot Springs and Bath House attracted people from across the region seeking out the natural healing properties of Clifton’s thermal springs, which fed directly into the facility. Businesses in town benefited from a steady flow of patrons ready to spend their hard-earned wages. Clifton’s rich social life and entertainment opportunities compared favorably with much larger cities. Its opera houses and theatres welcomed national and world renowned talent to its stages. With the creation of Greenlee County in 1909, voters soon selected Clifton as county seat. The courthouse and jail were completed in South Clifton in 1912, making the town the center of local government. In 1926 a new state highway, known as the Coronado Trail, was completed, connecting Clifton to Alpine and beyond. It gave people greatly expanded opportunities to travel and enjoy the beauty of the area.
The proud history of Clifton is centered on mining. Copper is the life blood of the town and the incredibly rich ore body is still flourishing, even after 140 plus years of nearly continuous operation.
Click here to purchase Chilicky and Hunt's excellent book on the history of Clifton
