You’ll find the ruins of Copperfield near Snake River’s Oxbow in Oregon, where a copper mining boomtown once housed 1,000 residents in 1907. The town’s notorious reputation for lawlessness led Governor West to declare martial law in 1914, sending Fern Hobbs with militia forces to restore order. After devastating fires and economic collapse, this wild frontier settlement transformed into a ghost town, though its dramatic story of corruption and redemption still echoes through time.
Key Takeaways
- Copperfield was a mining boomtown established in 1907 near Snake River’s Oxbow that grew to 1,000 residents at its peak.
- The town gained notoriety for its eleven saloons, widespread lawlessness, and corruption, leading to martial law intervention in 1914.
- Three devastating fires between 1914-1915 destroyed most buildings except the school and post office, accelerating the town’s decline.
- The population plummeted from 1,000 to fewer than 100 by 1913 due to economic collapse and closure of mining operations.
- Today, Copperfield exists only as a ghost town, transformed into a gateway for outdoor recreation near Brownlee Dam.
The Birth of a Copper Mining Frontier
While copper deposits were first discovered in 1895 near the Snake River’s Oxbow in eastern Baker County, Oregon, Copperfield’s establishment as a mining frontier wouldn’t take shape until over a decade later.
The initial copper strikes sparked interest, but the area’s isolation at 1,700 feet elevation posed significant challenges for mining logistics.
You’ll find that it wasn’t until 1907 when realtor James Harvey Graham officially platted the town, anticipating the completion of a crucial railroad connection.
The settlement quickly exploded into a bustling frontier of 1,000 residents, with eleven saloons, brothels, and boarding houses dotting the landscape.
A temporary tent city sprang up to house the influx of workers drawn to the promise of copper wealth and railroad construction opportunities.
The completion of a 2,100-foot tunnel through the mountain marked a significant engineering achievement for the railroad project.
In 1899, the town reached a significant milestone with the establishment of its post office, marking its official recognition as a growing settlement.
Wild West Mayhem and the Saloon Wars
As Copperfield’s population swelled with miners and railroad workers, the town’s eleven saloons became epicenters of chaos and corruption.
You’d find saloon rivalries intensifying as owners, who’d managed to secure positions on the city council, manipulated laws to crush their competition. These establishments stayed open all night, with illegal gambling and unlawful alcohol sales running rampant.
Corrupt saloon owners infiltrated local government, using their power to eliminate rivals while their establishments brazenly flouted the law.
When the population plummeted from 1,000 to under 100 by 1913, the remaining saloons fought viciously over the dwindling customer base. Residents eventually submitted a petition signed by fifty people demanding action against the illegal activities.
You couldn’t count on local law enforcement – they turned a blind eye to the mayhem. With Baker 150 miles away by rail, effective policing was virtually impossible.
It took Governor West’s intervention, sending Fern Hobbs with militiamen to declare martial law in 1914, to finally end Copperfield’s notorious saloon wars and restore order to this untamed frontier town.
Governor West’s Bold Martial Law Response
When Copperfield’s lawlessness reached its peak in late 1913, Oregon Governor Oswald West launched an unprecedented response that would reshape the town’s future.
The once-bustling town of a thousand residents had dwindled significantly by the time martial law was declared.
After receiving a petition from fifty residents decrying illegal alcohol sales and gambling, West declared martial law on January 2, 1914, in this small community of just eighty people.
You’ll find West’s bold government intervention particularly fascinating: he sent his private secretary, Fern Hobbs, backed by militia forces, to deliver resignation demands to the saloon-controlled city council.
When local officials refused to step down, West’s forces padlocked the saloons and established military control.
Though saloon owners sued for $8,000 in damages, the Oregon Supreme Court ultimately upheld West’s actions, setting a precedent for state authority over local governance during the prohibition era.
Fires, Floods, and Fading Dreams
Shortly after Governor West’s martial law intervention, a devastating fire consumed Copperfield’s jerry-built structures and permanently shuttered its saloons, marking the beginning of the town’s physical decline.
The fire aftermath proved relentless, with two subsequent blazes further ravaging the struggling settlement. By 1915, a major conflagration destroyed nearly every building except the school and post office. The historical record of these events remains well-documented, though some statements are marked as unsourced content. Led by the determined Fern Hobbs, Governor West’s special representative had already set the stage for change by closing saloons and removing town officials in early 1914.
While you might expect floods from the nearby Snake River to have played a role, historical records don’t support this. Instead, it was the economic collapse that sealed Copperfield’s fate.
The completion of railroad and Idaho Power projects in 1913 had already scattered most workers, dropping the population from 1,000 to mere dozens.
From Mining Hub to Recreation Gateway
Despite its dramatic collapse as a mining hub, Copperfield found new life in the late 1950s through Idaho Power’s ambitious dam projects along the Snake River.
Beginning with Brownlee Dam in 1959, these projects sparked an economic transformation that would redefine the area’s purpose.
Like many early mining towns in Oregon, Copperfield’s population followed a pattern of transient settlements as mineral deposits were discovered and depleted.
You’ll now find a stark contrast to the town’s rowdy past of saloons and mining schemes. Like the town of Bourne where investors were swindled, Copperfield’s mining history is marked by both opportunity and deception.
Where copper once lured fortune seekers, the Snake River’s reservoirs now attract outdoor tourism enthusiasts.
The former industrial infrastructure has been repurposed to serve anglers, boaters, and campers seeking adventure on the water.
While the post office closed in 1927 and trains stopped running by 1931, Copperfield’s strategic location has made it an ideal gateway for recreation, proving that even ghost towns can reinvent themselves through nature’s appeal.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Was the Average Wage of a Copper Miner in Copperfield?
Like today’s gig economy, your wage fluctuations depended on mining conditions at Copperfield’s Iron Dyke mine. You’d earn $1/day for surface work or $20/fathom underground, minus supply costs.
How Many Children Attended Copperfield’s School During Its Peak Years?
You’ll find that school demographics peaked at 35 students in 1913, with 31 attending in 1912. These numbers highlight the educational challenges faced before martial law caused attendance to plummet dramatically.
Were There Any Documented Murders or Unsolved Crimes in Copperfield?
You won’t find documented murders in Copperfield’s crime history. While violence and lawlessness plagued the town during 1910-1914, available records don’t reveal specific murder mysteries or major unsolved crimes.
What Happened to the Original Buildings and Artifacts From Copperfield?
You won’t find any original artifacts or building remnants today – fires between 1914-1916 destroyed most structures, and Idaho Power’s development in the 1950s cleared what little remained at the site.
Did Any Famous Outlaws or Notable Personalities Visit Copperfield?
Ever wonder who dared venture into this lawless frontier? While outlaw stories abound, your only confirmed notable visitor was Fern Hobbs, Governor West’s secretary, who arrived with militia to impose martial law in 1914.
References
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copperfield
- https://www.oregonencyclopedia.org/articles/copperfield/
- https://www.hellscanyonchamber.com/history
- https://www.oregonhistoryproject.org/articles/historical-records/news-article-copperfield-under-martial-law/
- https://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/American_Ghost_Towns/Ghost_towns_in_Oregon/Ghost_towns_in_Baker_County/Copperfield
- https://www.bakerlib.org/files/cdb1dc40e/The+Founding+of+Copperfield+in+1907.pdf
- https://www.americanheritage.com/hells-canyon
- https://www.opb.org/television/programs/oregon-experience/article/oregon-idaho-baker-county-snake-river-showdown-fern-hobbs-3/
- https://www.oregonencyclopedia.org/articles/copperfield_affair_of_1913_1914/
- https://www.opb.org/pressroom/article/new-opb-documentary-chronicles-the-story-of-fern-hobbs-and-the-lawless-oregon-town-she-cleaned-up/
