Published October 11, 2022, for State 48 A2Z
Globe, Arizona was built from a mining camp that was located at Romboz Peak, a few miles north of present-day Globe. When silver was found a few miles south, the camp was relocated in 1875 to where the city sits today. The town of Globe was formed a year later and named after a globe-shaped piece of high-grade silver found there. However, it wasn’t silver that built the town’s economy.
While silver was the initial reason for relocating the mining camp southward it was actually copper, which was found below the silver, that built the town of Globe, one of Arizona’s oldest mining communities. Silver mining operations in Globe didn’t pan out (no pun intended) as hoped when the town relocated there and, in the late 1880s, the outcroppings denied any additional major silver yields.
Miners always knew about the copper that was under the silver but deemed it to be of insignificant interest or value. That was before telegraph, electrical, and telephone lines started being run throughout the country. This created a huge demand for copper and copper mining districts throughout Arizona benefitted from this technological advancement, and Globe was one of them.
There were several small mines operating in the Globe area in the 1870s that had already started producing copper ore. Then, somewhere around 1880, the Old Dominion Copper Company was formed and its effect on the town of Globe was meteoric, to say the least. Both Globe and its sister city, Miami, had mills and smelters that not only processed ore for the large mine but for small ones as well. Then came the terrible 90s.
Mining operations were going full-tilt boogie in Globe into the late 1880s but, in 1891, a flood spread through the town destroying many homes and businesses. Just as Globe was recovering from that flood, a second, equally damaging flood hit the town a mere two years later. By, 1899, the Old Dominion Mine started experiencing problems with water seepage and pumps had to be installed.
Out of great adversity comes great triumph and, by the early 1990s, the mine was considered to have the best and newest copper facilities in the country. Part of Old Dominion’s success was that they had installed an aerial tram to transport raw ore from small mines to the smelter in town. The addition of six new smelters in town benefitted Old Dominion and translated to up to two million pounds of copper being shipped by train monthly.
Over the next couple of decades, Globe would continue to face adversities with floods, fires, and numerous underground accidents. To further add to the town’s woes, a miner strike in 1917 divided the town between the miners, owners, and residents. In fact, the situation was so bad that four companies of federal troops were sent in to set up camp in Globe and try to ease the tensions. In 1919, a settlement had been reached between the miners and the owners, and Old Dominion boasted a total of 1,500 people on its payroll.
However, over the next decade or so, the mine’s owners were not completing necessary repairs and maintenance to the mine. Add to that the water damage and decreasing copper prices and you have a recipe for disaster. After several years with a reduced labor force and reduced profits because of the above issues, the Old Dominion Mine ceased operations on October 14, 1931, and its equipment was sold to other mines, as the owners were unable to repay the mine’s loan from the Dodge-Phelps Corporation.
Over the life of the Old Dominion Mine, a total of 800-million pounds of copper was produced at a total revenue of $134 million.
Globe has also played a role in Arizona history beyond mining. Arizona's first female Governor was Rose Mofford who served as the leader of the state from 1988-91. Mofford was born in Globe and served in various positions in State government. Additionally, it has been a legend around town that Big Nose Kate, of Tombstone fame, had a brothel in town for a bit following the infamous gunfight near the OK Corral, although there are no records to indicate the legend’s validity. Following the notorious fight, those who survived the 30-second battle were never looked at the same again and they all eventually made their way to other towns not long after that infamous day.
Another amazing accomplishment out of Globe and one that help boost the Suffragette movement was the story of Sarah Herring Sorin, who was born in 1861 in New York City. She moved to Arizona in 1878 when her father, a lawyer in New York City, traveled to Arizona to settle a family member’s estate and decided to stay. Sarah joined him in Tombstone a couple of years later. Sarah would then study in her father’s law office before being admitted to practice law in Cochise County District Court in November 1892. Sarah would then marry local miner and rancher, Thomas Sorin, in 1898.
Eventually, both Sorin and her father moved their law firm from Tombstone to Tucson and remained there until her father’s passing in 1912. Sorin would make history for the first time on April 14, 1906, when she became just the 25th woman to practice before the Supreme Court although it was at her father’s side. Following Herring's passing, Sorin moved to Globe, Arizona and, on November 5, 1913, accomplished what most thought impossible in that year and era when she became the very first woman ever to appear and argue a case in front of the Supreme Court unaccompanied by a male attorney. Soring represented the United Globe Mines in their court battle to establish claims for the Big Johnny and O’ Dougherty against James Work. She not only argued the case for the mining company but won it as well, solidifying her spot in American and Old West history.
Globe today, retains its old west day charm, with many historic buildings surviving still today. These include, but are not limited to, the 1906 Courthouse, 1910 Sheriff’s Office and Jail, and the 1916 Train Depot, in addition to numerous buildings in its historic section of town.
When planning your visit to Globe, you will want to see the historic buildings and district listed above in addition to visiting places such as Besh Ba Gowah Archeological Park, Seneca Lake, Old Dominion Historic Mine Park (currently closed at the time of this article but is expecting to reopen soon), Gila County Historical Museum, or maybe take a drive along the Salt River Canyon Scenic Drive.
Other historical buildings to see in Globe include, Drift Inn Saloon (operating since 1902), Elks Lodge Building (built 1910), Murphy Hotel (formerly Tonto Hotel and closed), Woolworth Building (built 1916), Globe Theater (originally built 1917), Holy Angels Catholic Church (built 1917), and more.
Globe is about 90-minutes east of Phoenix and is easy to reach using US-60 Highway. To learn more about Globe visit their page at www.discovergilacounty.com/globe. Look for blog articles on the 1910 Sheriff’s Office and Jail and the 1906 Courthouse in the coming weeks.
That’ll wrap things up for this week. As always, thanks for reading, stay safe, and happy travels. Be sure to like and follow us on social media (links below), share our blog posts, and feel free to give us your feedback. We’d love to hear from you. Peace!
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