Mining in Cottonwood Canyon 1890's - 1900 About the turn of the century there was considerable activity in Cottonwood Canyon. Several mines were operating and stockmen own¬ed grazing land there. Lower down, several homes were located where farming and ranching practices were carried out, but mining was a thriving busi¬ness in the various canyons. The principal mine was the Carbonite Hill Gilson Mine located on the south canyon side about half way between the main road through Mountain Green and the Schmalz Ranch near the mouth of Arbuckle Canyon. The last time I was in the Canyon the ore bins were still in place. The mine had been operated by Alonzo Van Patton who lived in an ugly blue frame house that was torn down to construct the IDS Seminary Building south of Central Junior High in Ogden. The Arbuckle Mine was operated by my grandfather, John Croft, and Mr. Pembroke who owned the Pembroke Stationary Store in Salt Lake City. They still owned the store in 1984. During 1885-1890 my grandfather operated the boarding train during construc¬tion of the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad, Family tradition has it that Dad returned from Kansas City after completion of the Rock Island job with $150,000 in cash. At any rate, he was 'well heeled.' It is also well known that he spent most of his cash on the Arbuckle Mine. This mine was in operation in 1914 because I helped my Uncle Walter Croft of Enter¬prise haul a large air compressor and gasoline engine from the Peterson Railroad Station to the mine that year. We had to build about one or two miles of road up Arbuckle and use a four- horse team to get each of these heavy machines to the mine. We were hired by Adr¬ian Pembroke. I believe the Carbonite Hill Mine produced considerable profit. The Arbuckle mine never did. About 1895-1900 there was a wagon road all the way to the head of Cottonwood. ARBUCKLE MINE BOARDING HOUSE JACK CROFT IN DOORWAY 57