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Inyo National Forest
Bennettville
Bennettville was named after Thomas Bennett Jr., president of the Great Sierra Consolidated Silver Company. Boasting its own post office and the highest telegraph line in the world, linking it with Yosemite Valley and the town of Lundy, this was a town of great expectations in 1882. It was hoped by eastern investors and miners alike that the Great Sierra Tunnel being driven into the solid Sierra granite at Bennettville would intersect the expected rich Sheepherder and Great Sierra silver ledges catapulting the town into prominence as one of the world's greatest silver producers. The developers projected a city of 50,000 at this remote alpine location.
In 1882, desiring the best and latest in mining technology, the directors ordered new equipment: an engine, boiler, air compressor and drills to be brought to the mine site from the town of Lundy, some nine miles away and four thousand feet lower in elevation. This was accomplished by utilizing twelve men, two mules, six heavy hardwood sleds, two bobsleds for supplies, a thousand feet of thick manila rope, and double block and tackles. All of this equipment was needed to hoist the 16,000 pounds of equipment up to Lake Canyon, across Dore Pass, down to Saddlebag Lake, then down Lee Vining Creek to Bennettville. This amazing feat was accomplished in late winter through a number of blinding snowstorms and near zero temperatures.
Because of the difficulties reaching the remote Bennettville site, a road over the Sierra crest to the west was planned by the mine directors. Constructed as the Great Sierra Wagon Road and stretching for fifty-six miles, it linked Bennettville to Sonora via Crockers Station.
By 1884 the tunnel had penetrated 1784 feet into Tioga Hill and still no ledge of silver had been encountered. Investors became skeptical of the mine's potential and by July of that year, after a serious financial crisis, all operations at the mine suddenly ceased. By 1888, after the mine briefly reopened and the tunnel lengthened to 2000 feet without encouraging results, Bennettville and nearby Dana City had joined the ranks of the west's colorful ghost towns. The area received but a brief flurry of additional mining activity in 1933.
Today visitors may view two of Bennettville's original remaining buildings - the assay office and a large barn used to house the town's livestock from the harsh alpine weather. Also of interest to the visitor are several building foundations of rock, the entrance to the Great Sierra Tunnel, the final segments of the Great Sierra Wagon Road, as well as trails, trenches and waterlines to the settlement. The Mono Lake Ranger District is currently in the process of returning this equipment to the site where it will be on permanent display to the public.
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