Approximately 500 men worked side by side in Shafter, TX throughout the most active time of the mines which spanned nearly 60 years. Many of the men came to work and did not stay; neither did the businesses or hotels for visitors passing through.
There is something inherently romantic about fighting for something that you believe in but can not see at first. The more people dig in mines, the more is revealed and the higher the risk meets the value. This is what has happened to the men, companies, and investors of the silver mines in Shafter, Texas over and over again. Since, the mid 1800s the major and minor mines of the Presidio County have run hot and cold for the people of that area. But there are still treasures to explore in the preserved homes, hotels, and landmarks throughout such an open town.
Over the past century and a half, the excitement moved from a discovery and turned profit. From bare hands and mules, in 1880, to the advanced machinery of 2011, mining has been going on here. Yes, even now the Aurcana Corporation continues to dig there with the aim of turning a substantial profit. The history of unrest, discovery, progress, and disappointment nourishes the soil of that entire area as it traces all the way back to World War II when the workforce diminished and so did the value of silver. But just before the war took most-able bodied men away, about 500 men were right there working to unearth the future. Men of European, African, and Mexican descent all worked side by side in Shafter, TX throughout the most active time of the mines which spanned nearly 60 years. Many of the men came to work and did not stay; neither did the businesses or hotels for visitors passing through.
There have been many mining companies that have returned to Shafter or Presidio County since the rush of the late 1800s and early 1900s. Much like the 2008 revitalization of the area, they’ll be back trying to see what they can find. They will take new and inventive approaches to seek, to dig, and to uncover the value of what is uncovered. The goal is has it has been since the very first discover. They wish to find as much silver as possible among other metals and minerals that may be hidden underneath the rocks and sand.
The Texas State Historical Association almanac has the population of such a richly historic mining town at fifty-seven. But, as the mines continue to turn a profit and if the corporations choose to expand, it will draw more and more people to the general area. There are residents to speak with, there are historic landmarks to visit, and even the local hotels are bustling with stories and memories. Sounds like an unforgettable adventure to me.
