TRIP TO RUBY GHOST TOWN

Yesterday, April 9, we went on a trip with the Camera Club to an old mining ghost town located about 30 miles southwest of Green Valley and four miles from the Mexican border. The first strike of gold in this vein was in the late 1870's, and by the turn of the century Ruby had become the largest mining camp in the area. From 1934 until closure in 1940, the mine produced over $10,000,000 in lead, zinc and copper (and lesser amounts of gold and silver). In its heyday, Ruby employed more than 300 miners and there were approximately 1,200 people living in the town. When you arrive at Ruby, the first thing you do is check in with the caretaker. We all posed for a group shot. Bob is in the back with the arrow pointing at him and I'm in the first row. We had a large group for this excursion -- 11 car loads over mostly dirt roads.

Carl giving instructions of what we can do and see.

One of the old adobe buildings.

An old, old truck!

Looking out over some of the buildings still standing.

This was the only facilities! Almost made me back out of the trip when I heard there was only an out house!

Bob clowning around!

And by the old truck.

This is the old jail. Hopefully they didn't have to many detainees at one time it was very small.

The school which is being restored.

This outhouse was not for use. It was the outhouse for the school. The boys used the left side, the girls used the right side and the teachers used the middle. Thank God for modern plumbing!

The slippery slide behind the school. No OSHA here!

The sign below states that this was the guest house, Judges house and the courthouse! It is a very small building.

There is a small man-made lake.

With a beach which are the mine tailings.

So this is where we had our lunch before setting out for home.

Both Bob and I commented that it was one of those trips we are glad we went on, but been there done that!