P a g e 2 G h o s t T o w n s a n d H i s t o r y Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz ore each month. In 1889, a diphtheria epidemic hit the town and stole the lives of many women and children. Nevertheless, in May of 1893, construction of the famous Fraternity Hall began. This would serve as a social center for the townspeople. It was built next to Gillian Hall which served as a store and saloon. Many meetings, dances and theatre shows were enjoyed at Fraternity Hall. There is a rumor that at one of these dances, two men got into a fight over what kind of music the band should play. The squaredancer shot the waltzer dead. The repeal of the Silver Purchase Act in 1893 was the beginning of the end for Elkhorn. The population steadily declined and production slowed to a dull roar. The mine shut down for good in 1912. But in its time, Elkhorn produced more than 14 million dollars in silver ore. Peter Wys would have been proud. On Douglas Creek about one mile south of Philipsburg, the Bimetallic mill was built in 1888. The 50-stamp mill, 150 feet wide by 367 feet long, was rated at 75 tons with the capacity to add more stamps later. A separate twostory building housed the mine offices, fireproof vault, kitchen, library, parlor and living quarters. The mine and mill employed 500 workers. Around this operation grew the small Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz town of Kirkville, later known as Clark. The mill began reducing ore in January of 1889. It was connected to the Blaine shaft in Granite by a two mile long tramway. The large iron tram buckets Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz could carry 500 pounds of ore down the mountain and fuel back up. In 1891 the mill was enlarged by 50 stamps to give it a 200ton capacity. Photo by Jolene Ewert-Hintz
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