Thompson Smelter

From the main road it doesn’t look like that much to see, however, as you drive closer the full-scale of this site begins to reveal itself. Roughly a century ago, giant mill buildings stood here about a century ago churning out copper. The mine employed about 350 workers, many of whom lived in the small town nearby. When you pull up to the site the enormity of the previous size of the operations here becomes apparent.

Towering concrete footings and foundations are everywhere you look. Numerous deep pits and sunken areas reveal this was a massive complex with a complex process happening here. Glance up the hill you will see the footings and walls of the former gigantic chimney from the mill. Red brick is strewn about all over it. Make your way up there admiring how much work must have gone onto constructing this site back when brute force and not advanced technology built it.

Once you arrive at the top of the hill where the actual chimney used to stand, your nose is assaulted by the aroma of smoke over 100 years later still lingering. The smell is strong, at times almost overwhelming and at the same time almost takes you back to when the mill was in full swing.

After that explore the grounds in all directions as you come across a plethora of artifacts of a former time and place. Lots of colorful slag still litters the area just begging to be admired in the sun with its rainbow of colors.