About The Town of Chloride
   Compiled by James Coons

Location:

   Chloride is located in Mohave County, Arizona, 42 miles northwest of
   Truth or Consequences, via I-25 and N.M. 52. It lies under the Cerbat
   Mountains and is one of oldest miner communities in Arizona. It also
   lies near Kingman. The mining town of Fairview was located a few
   miles to the northeast.

Origin:

   Chloride sprang into existence shortly after silver was discovered by
   Harry Pye. Here is the more complete story.

      One day in 1879 Harry Pye, a muleskinner and veteran prospector,
      was hauling freight to a military post when he picked up a piece
      of silver float in the canyon where Chloride now stands. The piece
      assayed high in silver, triggering Pye's enthusiasm. After
      completing his freighting contract, Pye returned to the canyon
      with a small party, prospected the area, found the mother lode,
      and made the first location, which was called the Pye lode. As a
      result Pye is credited with being the discoverer of the district.
      A few months later Apaches killed him.

      Pye's lode sparked attention among other avid prospectors and
      induced them to explore the area. In January of 1881, eighteen
      prospectors camped at the mouth of Chloride Gulch and established
      headquarters. A band of thirty-five Apaches ruthlessly interrupted
      their mining venture by killing two members of the party and
      running off horses and mules. In the interest of self-preservation
      the prospectors left the area, but returned in March, laden with
      arms and ammunition. A store was erected, more miners filtered in,
      and the men realized a community was in the making and called a
      meeting to select a townsite.

   Around the same time, Fairview also took root as a mining camp a few
   miles to the northeast.

   The supporting mines were very rich indeed. By 1871 it was a booming
   town, with 75 mines operating by 1920. By 1948, total production from
   one of its mines alone was $7.5 million.

Town Features:

   There was only one bank in Chloride, but it failed before it actually
   ever opened.

   The Chloride Post Office was founded around 1872, but was shortly
   shut down. It was reestablished in 1893 when mining operations
   resumed. Today, it is the oldest still working post office in
   Arizona.
 
   The Butterfield Stage Line served Chloride from 1868 until 1919.
   Santa Fe Railroad served Chloride from 1898 until 1935.

   Chloride also had a brewery, general store, blacksmith and several
   saloons.

   It also a brothel named "The House of Soiled Doves" on Silver Sage
   Road, also known as "Rock House".

   Various cemeteries are located on the mesas at the north and south
   sides of Chloride. The southern one is by far the larger and a drive
   to it on a wagon road constructed in 1884 is certainly worthwhile.
   The grave of Frank Winston, from nearby Fairview, is found here, as
   are many unusual and well-preserved markers.

Population, Rise and Fall:

   At the turn of the century, there were 1,500 people in Chloride. In
   Chloride's more hectic days (1900 to 1920), the population grew to
   more than 2,000.

   In the 1890s, the U.S. selected gold as the monetary standard and the
   price of silver plummeted. This signalled the end of Chloride as a
   mining town.

Chloride Today

   Today, Chloride is a peaceful, pictureseque town with one restaurant,
   three cafeterias, one store, two saloons. It claims a 400 citizens.

   Modern-day Chloride has a genuine main street, featuring false-front
   stores, stone ruins and residences. Over two dozen buildings, most
   under roof and several occupied, are in varying states from
   restoration to total decay.

   The main dirt road is flanked by adobe ruins and fascinating old
   buildings ranging in variety from the peaked roof adobe with
   gingerbread decor to the wooden false front.

References:

   * See "Historic Chloride: A Guide to A Classic, Old West Ghost Town",
     a pamphlet published by the Sierra Country Tourism Council.

   * The book "Chloride Mines and Murals" by Roy E. Purcell.
   * Various historic details and image were obtained from these web sites:
      * http://members.tripod.com/~catmandoo2/webring.html ("Ghost Town Ring")
      * http://www.ghosttowns.com/states/az/chloride.html (buildings and text)
      * http://www.ghosttowngallery.com/htme/oatmap.htm (map)
      * http://www.nmmagazine.com/NMREGIONS/swtruthorconsequences.html
        (map and text)
      * http://www.rozylowicz.com/retirement/chloride/chloride.html
        (lists town as in NM, not AZ)
   * Various other images and information from Google.com and Google
     Image Search.

