“Silver or gold?” That was the question on everyone’s lips in Newbury, Massachusetts in 1874. Today we are standing at the Chipman Silver Mine. It sparked a local frenzy.
The Chipman Silver Mine became the center of attention. Silver and gold were discovered here. The mine was established in 1874. It operated until 1879. It was revived for a few years in the early 1900s.
Imagine this small town buzzing with excitement. Dreams of striking it rich filled the air. The Chipman Silver Mine yielded half a million dollars in silver during its short life. That was a fortune.
News spread quickly. A map of the mining lands was created. N. Little, likely a local landowner, detailed Chipman’s Lode. The map showed nearby landowners’ claims. It displayed the roads, railroads, rivers, and creeks around Newbury and Newburyport.
Many accounts documented the mine’s activity. R.H. Richards wrote about the Newburyport Silver Mines in 1875. Ellen H. Richards analyzed the chemical composition of minerals. Charles J. Brockway mapped mineral deposits in Essex County.
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology got involved. Henry D. Hibbard reported on smelting silver-lead ore. Walter Jenney studied the working of silver and gold from Merrimac Mine ore.
Even the geology of the region was examined. Charles Henry Hitchcock explored the Ammonoosuc Mining District. William Otis Crosby contributed to the geology of eastern Massachusetts.
The Chipman Silver Mine wasn’t just a local story. It attracted scientific and economic interest. It was a brief boom. It left behind stories and studies. The mine represents a unique chapter in Newbury’s history. Consider the dreams and efforts poured into this land. The Chipman Silver Mine reminds us of a time when silver fever gripped this small Massachusetts town.