^ The Castle Creek Mill served Ashcroft mines. Photo c. 1900
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Living with the Land
Mining the Land
The silver mining boom in Ashcroft was short-lived, but the impacts on the land were longer lasting.
The miners valued the land for its minerals and other resources, perceiving them as limitless and utilizing them without reserve. Forests were eventually depleted for building materials, firewood and mine timbers. As a result, the surrounding landscape was scarred and burned by fires, mining operations, and timbering. Once abundant populations of elk, mule deer, bighorn sheep, and native trout were severely diminished. Miners, lacking current knowledge, perceived the land as a limitless resource. They consequently had little interest in mining and living in a sustainable manner or in protecting the land from mineral pollution.
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Historical Note:
Positioned at the crossroads of two busy stage roads, Ashcroft was far from the mines themselves. This allowed the town to escape the environmental damage of mining activities. Ashcroft’s relatively unspoiled meadow makes it unique among other mining towns.
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