Freeport McMoRan, the mining company, is currently demolishing the leaching ponds in Bisbee, citing concerns over squatters and unsafe conditions. These legendary structures, which have stood as a part of our town's skyline for decades, are being torn down.
Growing up in the 1970s, I vividly remember these ponds. Back then, only one pond was visible from the road because a large building used for drying the thickened copper concentrate obscured the others. My young imagination was captivated when we drove past these massive structures on State Route 80. To me, it seemed like witches could be lurking in the shadows, hidden behind the imposing concrete columns. They were both fascinating and somewhat terrifying.
In my grade school years, my friends and I would daringly wade through the river of toxic leach water that flowed past Lowell School. We were on quests to discover rocks and other treasures, oblivious to the dangers. The polluted water, tinged orange with copper, sulfur, and other toxic substances, would stain our clothes irreparably. I can still hear my mom scolding me for the ruined clothing, which she could never clean completely. We didn’t have the money for new clothes, so we spent the rest of the year attending school with a subtle orange hue marking our attire.
Today, the leaders who shape Bisbee's future are no longer directly linked to its rich mining past. They have brought in financial investments that have prevented our beautiful city from becoming just another ghost town. They rightfully make decisions about the fate of old mine sites—sites that once provided the economic backbone allowing people to build their homes here. Unfortunately, this often does not include preserving the old mine structures, leaving many locals like myself saddened by the loss of such iconic parts of our history.
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