You’ll find the ghost town once known as Picher (not Parr) in northeastern Oklahoma, where massive chat piles up to 200 feet high mark what was once America’s largest lead and zinc mining operation. Founded in 1913, the town boomed to 20,000 residents by the 1920s before toxic contamination, sinkholes, and health crises forced its evacuation. Today, these towering mountains of mining waste stand as silent sentinels over an environmental disaster that changed Oklahoma forever.
Key Takeaways
- Parr was a mining community in Oklahoma that faced similar environmental challenges to Picher, with lead and zinc contamination.
- The town was established during Oklahoma’s mining boom in the early 1900s but declined as mining operations ceased.
- Located in the Tri-State Mining District, Parr experienced toxic waste issues from chat piles and mine tailings.
- Like Picher, Parr became abandoned due to environmental hazards and the end of mining operations.
- The ghost town site contains remnants of mining operations and is generally unsafe for visitors due to contamination.
The Birth of a Mining Boomtown
When lead and zinc deposits were discovered on Harry Crawfish’s claim in 1913, the Tri-State Mining District witnessed the rapid birth of what would become Picher, Oklahoma. You’d have seen a mining camp spring up almost overnight, named after O.S. Picher of the Picher Lead Company.
By 1918, this bustling settlement had transformed from a simple camp into an incorporated town. The population skyrocketed to reach over 9,000 residents within just two years.
The infrastructure growth was remarkable – roads carved through the landscape, public services established, and buildings erected to support the booming mining operations. Like other entries on place name disambiguation pages, Picher quickly became a distinct and significant location on the map.
As mining fever swept through Picher, vital infrastructure emerged from the earth alongside the precious metals beneath.
You would’ve found miners pouring in from local areas and distant towns, arriving by an extensive interurban trolley system from places like Joplin and Carthage, Missouri.
The town’s swift establishment became a reflection of the pioneering spirit of early 20th-century mining boomtowns.
Life During the Peak Mining Years
During the peak mining years of the 1920s, you’d have found Picher bustling with over 14,000 miners working the lead and zinc mines, while another 4,000 workers kept the town’s 1,500 mining service businesses running.
You could’ve hopped on the trolley from Carthage, Missouri, joining the daily stream of workers heading to the mine shafts that plunged 350 feet below ground.
The town hummed with activity as 227 mills processed ore using innovative flotation techniques.
Community events often revolved around mining company gatherings and labor relations meetings.
The U.S. Department of Interior managed the complex lease arrangements for restricted Indian lands that made up nearly a third of the mining field.
The area was marked by local legends of a mysterious ghostly light along Spooklight Road.
You’d have noticed the diverse mix of European immigrants and American Indians working side by side, their families settling into company-owned houses.
Despite the harsh realities of mining life, the town maintained a vibrant atmosphere with thriving local businesses and social institutions.
Environmental Challenges and Health Risks
Once the mines closed in 1967, Picher’s devastating environmental legacy began to surface.
The flooding of abandoned mine shafts released a toxic legacy of 70 million tons of contaminated waste, while towering chat piles spewed dangerous dust containing lead, zinc, and arsenic into the air you’d breathe.
The area produced over $20 billion worth of mining ore during its peak operations between 1917 and 1947.
You’d witness the earth literally swallowing homes and cars as mine collapses created sinkholes throughout town.
The town’s population declined from 20,000 residents during the 1920s mining boom to near abandonment.
The health crisis hit children hardest – by the mid-1990s, over a third suffered from lead poisoning, facing developmental delays and neurological problems.
Even playing in local ponds left kids with strange orange hair and bone abnormalities.
Despite EPA’s Superfund designation in 1983, the scale of contamination proved too massive to overcome, ultimately forcing residents to abandon their homes forever.
The Slow Decline and Evacuation
After reaching its peak population of 14,252 in 1926, Picher’s decline became a stark reality you’d witness unfold over decades.
The mass population migration began as mining operations ceased in the late 1960s, leaving the town’s economy in shambles. The EPA discovered dangerous toxic water issues around Tar Creek in 1979. By 1960, you’d have seen only 2,553 residents remaining, and that number kept dropping. A 2006 report by the Army Corps of Engineers highlighted severe risks from sinkholes throughout the area.
Government intervention accelerated in the early 2000s when engineering reports revealed 86% of buildings risked collapse from underground mine tunnels.
The devastating 2008 EF4 tornado that killed eight people and destroyed 150 homes served as the final blow. Despite some residents’ resistance to leaving, federal buyouts and evacuation orders emptied the town.
Present-Day Ghost Town Status
Today’s Picher stands as a stark symbol of environmental catastrophe, with nearly every building torn down following the town’s official dissolution in 2009.
You’ll find massive chat piles towering up to 200 feet, surrounded by warning signs and fencing that restrict access to this dangerous landscape. While ghost town tourism isn’t officially sanctioned, the site draws occasional explorers and researchers documenting its decline. The Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality continues to oversee remediation efforts at the site. The town’s decline accelerated after devastating tornado damage in 2008, which destroyed many remaining structures.
- The last residents have all moved away or passed on, with the final business – a pharmacy – closing in 2015.
- Most structures are gone, though some historical preservation efforts focused on documenting the town’s mining legacy.
- You’ll encounter “No Trespassing” signs and federal property warnings throughout the area, as cleanup efforts continue for the next 50 years.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Happened to the School Records and Yearbooks From Picher High School?
You’ll find school preservation wasn’t prioritized after Picher High’s closure in 2009. The yearbook archives were split between Quapaw and Commerce schools, while some records were lost to environmental hazards.
Are There Any Remaining Mining Artifacts or Equipment Still Visible Today?
Mountains of toxic chat piles dominate the landscape, but you’ll find few intact mining relics today. Most historical mining equipment was removed, leaving only scattered foundations and dangerous underground voids as evidence.
Did Any Famous People or Celebrities Originate From Picher, Oklahoma?
You’ll recognize Picher’s most famous resident Joe Don Rooney, lead guitarist of Rascal Flatts. The town’s celebrity connections also include Tim Spencer, who became a singer with Sons of the Pioneers.
What Happened to the Cemetery and Are People Still Buried There?
You’ll find the cemetery’s still there with original burials intact, though it’s faced environmental damage. No cemetery restoration’s been done, and burial records are limited due to toxic contamination restricting access.
Can Tourists Legally Visit the Abandoned Town of Picher Today?
You can’t legally visit Picher as a tourist due to strict access restrictions. The EPA and local authorities actively monitor the area, prohibiting entry because of deadly health hazards and structural dangers.
References
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08y9RTS_nS4
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Picher
- https://okmag.com/blog/a-ghostly-site/
- https://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry?entry=PI002
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbLyYkx_Kc4
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9NYOUceRFA
- https://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2006SC/webprogram/Paper99781.html
- https://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry?entry=PE014
- https://oklahoma.gov/content/dam/ok/en/mines/documents/annual-reports/annual_report_2021.pdf
- https://pubs.usgs.gov/pp/0588/report.pdf
