Greenhorn City, Oregon

Brooks Hawley notes: A larger sinking plant that cost $150,000 was put in at the Bonanza during 1901 and got going by May, 1902, so guess this picture is of that plant. The shaft was 4 ½ ft x 14 ft. in 3 compartments with 2 cages. April, 1903, the shaft was down 1,000 ft. and was called the deepest shaft in Oregon. The last contract on the shaft was for $32.50 a foot, and it went down 30 inches a day.

The big activity at the Bonanza was about 1892 to December, 1904. It was located perhaps by Jack Hoggard in 1877, or Daniel Entermell. Al Geiser acquired the mine in 1891, perhaps just on a $2,000 loan his father had made to the mining company, to Mr. Ladd. In 1898, sold the Bonanza to Pennsylvania capitalists, F. P. Hayes and W. H. Thatcher for $500,000, and he seemed to get his pay. Some reports are it was $750,000. Al Geiser seemed to have an interest at the mine after he sold it. His brothers Ed and Frank ran the Company store. Al Geiser married Bernice Dodson. In later years, Frank Dodson, his brother-in-law, at times worked parts of the mine on leases. Bill Pullman was also brother-in law, married to Emma Geiser, and Prescott Lilley being married to Louise. Pullman it can be assumed some of the original Bonanza fortune is intact. However Al Geiser likely lost most of his fortune on other mining ventures.

A figures for total production of the Bonanza to1916 is $1,750,000. It had ore as high as $20,000 a ton.

Brooks Hawley notes: A larger sinking plant that cost $150,000 was put in at the Bonanza during 1901 and got going by May, 1902, so guess this picture is of that plant. The shaft was 4 ½ ft x 14 ft. in 3 compartments with 2 cages. April, 1903, the shaft was down 1,000 ft. and was called the deepest shaft in Oregon. The last contract on the shaft was for $32.50 a foot, and it went down 30 inches a day.

The big activity at the Bonanza was about 1892 to December, 1904. It was located perhaps by Jack Hoggard in 1877, or Daniel Entermell. Al Geiser acquired the mine in 1891, perhaps just on a $2,000 loan his father had made to the mining company, to Mr. Ladd. In 1898, sold the Bonanza to Pennsylvania capitalists, F. P. Hayes and W. H. Thatcher for $500,000, and he seemed to get his pay. Some reports are it was $750,000. Al Geiser seemed to have an interest at the mine after he sold it. His brothers Ed and Frank ran the Company store. Al Geiser married Bernice Dodson. In later years, Frank Dodson, his brother-in-law, at times worked parts of the mine on leases. Bill Pullman was also brother-in law, married to Emma Geiser, and Prescott Lilley being married to Louise. Pullman it can be assumed some of the original Bonanza fortune is intact. However Al Geiser likely lost most of his fortune on other mining ventures.

A figures for total production of the Bonanza to1916 is $1,750,000. It had ore as high as $20,000 a ton.

Bonanza Mine. Five men in tunnel wielding "single jacks," four-pound hammers, and steel drills. For light the miners had candles on a wire stuck in a crack in the wall.

Bonanza Mine. Boiler enroute to mine. On photo: 120 h. p. Boiler for Hi? Con. Bonanza G. M. Co. Shipped from Sumpter by S. T. Co. Feb. 1901.

This photo was apparently taken well after the mine ceased operations.

Geiser, Oregon (Bonanza Mine). An image of the address side of postcard is also attached to this record. The postmark says Aug. 15, 1901 or 1907. The big building at upper left is the mill. The two buildings with darker roofs in the middle of town are a store with hotel behind. In front of the store is a house. The big building at upper right is a barn. Small building in front of the barn is a grainery.