History

Timeline

The beginning

The rise ... 1894-1896

From Wikipedia:

During the 1890s hopes ran high at Monte Cristo. It was widely believed that the area would become the greatest lead-silver district in the Western Hemisphere.[2] Elaborate cable-bucket aerial tramways were built over Mystery Ridge for hauling ore to the town site, carrying as much as 230 tons every day. A five-level concentrator was completed in 1894 at the Monte Cristo townsite. Ore was shipped out via the newly completed railway, 42 miles long from Monte Cristo to Hartford. The boom peaked in 1894, at which time the town's population was well over 1,000. In 1895 there were 125 men employed in the mines with a monthly payroll of $10,500. Employment rose to 200 in 1896. Mining activity indirectly supported about 600 people.[2]

The year 1896 was prosperous but in November major flooding damaged or destroyed railroad tunnels and track. Mining output reached record levels in 1897 but again intense autumn floods devastated the region's infrastructure, the repair of which cut deeply into mining profits. Other problems such as metallic impurities at the Monte Cristo concentrator and the Everett smelter led to the boom collapsing. By 1900 most of the Monte Cristo miners had left for the new mining booms of the Klondike.[2]

And fall

  • 1892, 1896, 1897 ... Robe Canyon Rail Tunnels damaged. Keeping the railroad open cost far more than anticipated, aggravated by the syndicate’s decision to locate the grade too close to the river through Robe Canyon.

From historylink:

In November 1897, the worst flood known to date caused massive damage to the railroad, lower townsite, and downstream settlements. With no hope for fresh supplies, Monte Cristo was abandoned, its residents walking down the damaged tracks and remaining bridges to Granite Falls, carrying what they could and asking for shelter. Few returned. Frederick T. Gates took advantage of the disaster, rejecting needed railroad repairs until miners and businessmen agreed to sharply higher freight rates. When they balked, he kept access closed and forced them into bankruptcy. As a result, he gained total control of the major mines at Monte Cristo, forcing out minority stockholders.

    • 1913-1920 Boston-American Mining Company active, trying to intercept O&B vein

    • 1914 John Birney tries and fails to restore Rainey Mine

Quantity and quality of ore

Labor issues

Weather & choice of location for tunnels

Business squeeze-play

Giving up on Mining

    • 1917 United Companies concentrator burned and sold for scrap

    • 1920 New concentrator (Boston-American) abandoned

    • 1920 Christmas ... Avalanche on Toad Mt destroys exploratory mine at its base, and ends the last mining operation at MC.

In-between years Ghost Town Resort

1920-1980

Floods in the early 1930s and again in 1975 also caused extensive damage. Each of these events cut off access to Monte Cristo for time periods ranging from weeks to two-and-a-half years. By the 1930s Monte Cristo had become a ghost town.

Tourism replaced mining at the spectacular mountain location with its historic townsite located at the head of the South Fork Sauk River. After World War II, tourism flourished with various owners turning Monte Cristo into a resort destination.

From Historylink:

Following the collapse of the Boston-American venture, one of its investors, John Andrews, moved from his Illinois home, picked up much of the abandoned real estate, and turned the surviving hotel into a resort.

During the Depression and World War II years, however, business was lean or at a standstill, and Andrews sold out in 1951 to Del and Rosemary Wilkie. With the burst of postwar prosperity and automobile access via the new Mountain Loop Highway and connecting county road from Barlow Pass, the Wilkies put great effort into promoting their "ghost town" theme. With small cabins in the former railroad yards ( turned into a parking lot), a lunch counter and tiny museum in the resort/residence building (moved to the former Boston-American cookhouse), and cheap attractions such as "Slippery Sam" (a dummy lying in a board coffin), the seasonal business did well.

In 1963 and again in 1967 the basic Andrews properties were sold to successive corporations whose members attempted with limited success to create a financially successful destination resort. The first purchasers were a group headed by Ken Schilaty. The second, called Monte Cristo Resorts, Inc., was led by Dr. Colby Parks and comprised men with ties to the University of Washington Medical Center. Both discovered that the surrounding slopes were unsuitable for skiing, snow conditions were heavy and wet rather than powdery, and the tourist season essentially lasted only from Memorial Day to Labor Day, ending sharply with the autumn rains.

Road closed

Convened by David Cameron, a concerned group of property owners, hikers, climbers, those who loved the outdoors, and many with memories and ties to the old town, gathered a month later to form the Monte Cristo Preservation Association. After initial hesitation, then with the cooperation of county government, this private non-profit group restored limited access. They also influenced legislation creating the Henry M. Jackson Wilderness Area, which almost encircles and gives protection to the district. Through its volunteer efforts, the public continues to enjoy the spectacular setting of this historical region, including its ongoing road challenges.

In 1994 the association was successful in forming an alliance with the River Network and Trust for Public Lands for the latter to purchase the resort properties. Reimbursed by federal Land and Water Conservation Fund monies, the Trust turned over ownership to the U.S. Forest Service. Although hampered by continuing budget reductions, the agency and association have worked together to maintain the Wilkie-era cabins, create a townsite host program, maintain mountain trails, and carry out interpretation projects.

Thumbnail history of MC http://www.historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&File_Id=8404 (portions used above)

Skagit River Journal index of links for MC http://www.stumpranchonline.com/skagitjournal/Washington/Snohomish/Monte/MonteCristo-SaukSources.html

Skagit River Journal photos and introduction to MC http://www.stumpranchonline.com/skagitjournal/Washington/Snohomish/Monte/MonteCristo2-IntroPics.html

Skagit River Journal photos of Monte Cristo http://www.skagitriverjournal.com/SCounty/Shows/Meetings2.html

A history of Robe, and the Robe family http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~wasigs/robehist.htm

http://www.seattlepi.com/getaways/092597/mont25a.html

James Bedall & family http://www.stumpranchonline.com/skagitjournal/Upriver/Cascades/Sauk/BedalJames.html

Sam Strom, the count of Monte Cristo http://www.stumpranchonline.com/skagitjournal/Washington/Snohomish/Monte/StromSam1-Bio.html