Schuyler Copper Mine
newspaper feature story from July 13, 1947
| Mark Crist found this article in a family scrapbook. The clipping does not identify the source except to say it was dated July 13, 1947. Perhaps it was the Observer. Perhaps it was elsewhere. Since the copper mine has been a source of considerable discussion on this list, and since this article had quite a bit of information, I am sharing it here. | |
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SOME of the streets of North Arlington may be built upon silver.
Does that sound fantastic? Well they're built upon copper—as any one who knows about the old Schuyler copper mine can tell you—and there is a possibility that when Thomas F. Gordon prepared his Gazeteer of the State of New Jersey in 1834. he knew what he was talking about when he wrote: The mine "is more productive than many of the much-worked, highly valued mines of Mexico. The mines in Mexico do not yield more than three ounces of pure silver to one quintal of ore; whilst remarkably rich mines give only five and one-tenth ounces the quintal. The ores of the Schuyler mine are reported to give from four to seven ounces of silver the quintal." Which means (and Gordon said his informants were skilled, respectable persons) that the old copper mine should have four to seven ounces of silver in about every 101 pounds of ore. Of course, there's a catch in all this. The Schuyler copper mine always has had a bugaboo; time and again water has driven out miners, even though huge pumps were installed. Since there's a distinct chance that the mine may be flooded by ocean water seeping through the meadows. perhaps clearing it is a human impossibility. Which makes a statement of the New Jersey Department of Conservation and Development very germane: "Save for some mushrooms that received second place at the National Mushroom Growers' Fair at Washington, the mine has produced nothing of value since the Civil War and little enough since the Revolution." Gordon's statement on the silver should prove a surprise to all South B e r g e n - West Hudson residents near the mine —which has been officially abandoned and blocked off for decades— and particularly to the kids of the neighborhood. RICHER in legend now - than in minable ore, . the Schuyler mine has been the stamping grounds for generations of imaginative youth. One of the prime challenges it has offered is to find the tunnel which was said to run from the mine to a trap door in the Old First Church. Belleville. During the Revolution, this tunnel was allegedly used as a means of reconnaisance behind the British lines on the North Arlington-Keamy ridge. But no one ever has found the tunnel—at least no one would tell about it—and the story must remain shrouded in doubt. That same doubt. also covers tales of how deep the mine goes down. They are always begun: "A couple of fellows, a few years ago * * *." There is never any further identification. The extensive tunnels finger out from the mouth, about 30 feet above sea level, underneath the entire southern section of North Arlington. Immediately above the entrance are Morton, Avon. Stratford and Renner places and Schuyler Avenue. The thickness of the ground roofing the mines becomes greater as the tunnels penetrate the ridge, so nowhere is that thickness less than about 130 feet, it is believed. Discovery of the mine is credited by legend to one of Schuyler's farm slaves about 1719. The ore, stained green from malachite, was sent to England for assay and found to be 80 per cent copper. SCHUYLER immediately began operations and old records indicate he netted $300,000 in the first seven years of its operation. He made enough, in fact, to install the first steam engine ever used in this country. It was imported from England in 1753 to pump the water out of the tunnels. That first engine is now in the Smithsonian Institution in Washington. The mine which operated at a great pace until 1772, was responsible for the partial development of Schuyler avenue, Belleville turnpike and Passaic avenues. The ore was shipped from Schuyler's wharf in the Passaic River at the foot of what is now Laurel avenue, Arlington. It was sent to Holland for refining because British policy prohibited refining of native ore. After lying in disuse during the Revolution, the mine was reopened in 1793 with imported German and English mine labor. Water foiled these operations, but in 1825 a new attempt was made. This was short lived and followed by a British company's attempt in 1837, which subsequently failed also. AROUND the turn of the present century, a local mining company was organized and attempted operations. But its financial difficulties brought it into court and to dissolution before it could establish any production of note. Since then only mushrooms have produced - revenue for owners. It is currently owned by the Borough of North Arlington. But the adventurous youngsters still probe and dig, despite all barriers, looking for an outlet of pure imaginative romanticism—regardless of copper, or even silver —as a relief from a materialistic modern age. |
