Encyclopedia Dubuque
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Affiliated with the Local History Network of the State Historical Society of Iowa, and the Iowa Museum Association.
AVENUE TOP MINING COMPANY
AVENUE TOP MINING COMPANY. The Avenue Top Mine produced LEAD ore up to 1880. In that year, two wagon loads of zinc ore were transported from the McNulty or "Avenue Top" mine to Benton, Wisconsin and sold for $16 a ton. This marked the beginning of ZINC mining at the site which lasted through 1907. (1) One of Dubuque's richest zinc producers, the Avenue Top Company was incorporated with $25,000 on January 19, 1906. Frank Coates, Sr. was the president. (2)
Ore from the Avenue Top was processed through a company operated concentrator near the downtown railroad yard and was smelted at Simpson's Furnace. When the mine closed due to financial problems, the mill was sold to the operators of the GOOSE HORN MINE.
Water proved a problem for the mine by 1909. By November, 1909 the mine had been closed for several months as pumps were used around the 14th of the month to dry up the mine as much as possible. A syndicate of New York investors were interested in the property as well as other mines in the area. Their intent was to buy all the mines and place them under one management. (3)
The purchase of the Avenue Top was controversial. Before the sale could be finalized, the taxes on the property, amounting to several hundred dollars had to be paid. Instead, a petition was filed with the city council asking that the taxes be cancelled. The petition was granted by the council, but vetoed by the mayor. The council then passed the cancellation over the veto.
The site of the Avenue Top Mine, located at what was later 1094 University Avenue was part of the S. M. Langworthy Addition, was sold as city property in 1926. (4) Dubuquer residents living in the area remember it took days and trucks filled with rock and other materials to fill the mine shaft before the site could be covered with dirt. (5)
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Source:
1. "Julien Dubuque and the Lead Mines," Dubuque Telegraph-Herald, May 15, 1923, p. 11
2. "Yesterdays," Telegraph Herald, April 19, 2005, p. 1
3. "Big Mining Deal is in Progress," Dubuque Telegraph-Herald, November 14, 1909, p. 4
4. "Notice of Sale of City Property," Telegraph-Herald, September 2, 1926, p. 15
5. Interview with Charlotte Ragnatz Kelly 1980