- Calhoun Mine
Infobox_nrhp2 | name =Calhoun Mine
nhl = yes
caption =
nearest_city=Dahlonega, GA
lat_degrees = 34
lat_minutes = 29
lat_seconds = 30
lat_direction = N
long_degrees = 83
long_minutes = 58
long_seconds = 50
long_direction = W
locmapin = USA Georgia
area =
built =1828
architect=
architecture= No Style Listed
designated_nhl =November 7 ,1973
added =November 7 ,1973
governing_body = Private
refnum=73002292cite web|url=http://www.nr.nps.gov/|title=National Register Information System|date=2006-03-15|work=National Register of Historic Places|publisher=National Park Service]The Calhoun Mine is perhaps the oldest and best known mine in
Lumpkin County, Georgia . When gold was discovered in Lumpkin County in 1828, which lead to theGeorgia Gold Rush in 1829, it was discovered on 239 acres owned by Robert Obar. After at least two intermediary sales, the land was purchased by SenatorJohn C. Calhoun ofSouth Carolina , who was also the 7thVice President of the United States . Calhoun started a mining company to mine the land and later allowed his son-in-lawThomas Green Clemson , the founder ofClemson University , to manage it. The ore deposit was a very rich deposit and, according to an 1856 letter from Clemson to his brother-in-law, was still producing significant quantities of gold nearly 30 years after its initial discovery on the land. This mine - along with theConsolidated Mine and theLoud Mine - were some of the most productive mines in theGeorgia Gold Belt .In 1879, the Calhoun Mine passed from the Calhoun family. In 1939, after the deposits at the Calhoun Mine were long thought to be depleted, a small pocket was discovered and mined. After that excitement, things became quiet once again at the mine. The Calhoun Mine was added to the
National Register of Historical Places [ [http://www.nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com/GA/Lumpkin/state.html Calhoun Mine on the National Register of Historical Places] ] and named aNational Historic Landmark [ [http://tps.cr.nps.gov/nhl/detail.cfm?ResourceId=1432&ResourceType=Site National Historic Landmarks Program] ] in 1973.Calhoun Mine is located about 3 miles (5 km) south of Dahlonega off GA highway 60 and on the eastern side of the
Chestatee River . It's on a hill on the west side of the road - about 0.6 miles (1 km) off the road - on the opposite side of the ridge. It is on private property.References
Sources
* [http://www.goldrushgallery.com/news/head1.html "Gold in Georgia" by Sylvia Gailey Head]
* [http://dlg.galileo.usg.edu/dahlonega/history.php "Thar's Gold in Them Thar Hills" - Georgia Gold History" by Edward A. Johnson]External links
* [http://dlg.galileo.usg.edu/vanishinggeorgia/id:lum149 Georgia Division of Archives and History Photo - Interior of stamp mill at Calhoun Mine, 1899]
* [http://dlg.galileo.usg.edu/vanishinggeorgia/id:lum175 Georgia Division of Archives and History Photo - entrance to Calhoun Mine, 1955]
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