Tuesday, September 13, 2016

HIGHWAY 60 TO SPRINGFIELD, MO

A little disappointed in the weather - and the fact that I was not able to get out and see some of the things I had on my sight-seeing list - but, on this damp and dreary day with on and off drizzle and rain, I headed east out of Neosho on Highway 60 toward Springfield....with a few stops along the way!

First Stop:  GRANBY, MO – OLDEST MINING TOWN IN THE SOUTHWEST

After the Louisiana Purchase, homesteading was the main reason to move to the area. Madison Vickery came about 1850 and, while digging a water well, discovered lead; news of the strike spread quickly. The flood of prospectors was so wild it became known as the Granby Stampede.  Within about 5 years, the town that took its name from Granby, Massachusetts, boasted a population of 8,000. 

By 1859, over 25 million tons of lead had been shipped from Granby mines. It had the largest lead mining and smelting operations in the state and was one of the most important lead resources in the country. 

Granby lead flew inn both directions during the Civil War; North and South came to Granby for ammunition. In October 1862, although the smelter was destroyed in the fighting, the Battle of Granby finally established Union control of the mines. 

After the war, with new technology and rail road, mining resumed with output increased. In 1875 the city of Granby was officially chartered and by the turn of the century, Granby contained a smelter and a gristmill.

The mines thrived through World War I & II, but then the payable ore deposits began to run out.

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