Here’s a toast to an old Era. We’re using water from Champagne Creek for this toast, of course, because Champagne Creek was once called Era Creek. And Era was one of Idaho’s many short-lived ghost towns.
Era was southwest of Mackay, where prospectors discovered what would be called the Silver Horn Mine in 1885. At first, they just freighted the ore in wagons to a smelter in Hailey, but the lode justified its own 20-stamp dry crusher mill. The town quickly grew to 1200 people, serviced by about 15 crucial establishments not the least of which were saloons. For a couple of years, it was a bustling little burg, then the ore played out. Played out may not be the right term because it all but disappeared as if someone had turned off the silver spigot. The mill ceased operations in 1888. Everybody moved out rather quickly. So did the buildings, most of which were moved to or dismantled and reconstructed in the little town of Arco.
So, that Era, was a short one. It disappeared about as rapidly as the creek that carried its name.
Champagne Creek rises out of the timbered mountains and meanders through a pretty little valley with a steep bench on one side and a lava field on the other, then dives down into the thirsty lava to join other streams in the area, such as Lost River, in a geological sponge known as the Snake River Aquifer.
Era Creek became Champagne Creek after the demise of the town. To my eternal disappointment it is so named not because of its effervescent water, as Champagne Springs near Soda Springs is, but because a rancher named Champagne settled there.
Era was southwest of Mackay, where prospectors discovered what would be called the Silver Horn Mine in 1885. At first, they just freighted the ore in wagons to a smelter in Hailey, but the lode justified its own 20-stamp dry crusher mill. The town quickly grew to 1200 people, serviced by about 15 crucial establishments not the least of which were saloons. For a couple of years, it was a bustling little burg, then the ore played out. Played out may not be the right term because it all but disappeared as if someone had turned off the silver spigot. The mill ceased operations in 1888. Everybody moved out rather quickly. So did the buildings, most of which were moved to or dismantled and reconstructed in the little town of Arco.
So, that Era, was a short one. It disappeared about as rapidly as the creek that carried its name.
Champagne Creek rises out of the timbered mountains and meanders through a pretty little valley with a steep bench on one side and a lava field on the other, then dives down into the thirsty lava to join other streams in the area, such as Lost River, in a geological sponge known as the Snake River Aquifer.
Era Creek became Champagne Creek after the demise of the town. To my eternal disappointment it is so named not because of its effervescent water, as Champagne Springs near Soda Springs is, but because a rancher named Champagne settled there.
About all that remains of Era, Idaho is the substantial rock foundation of the short-lived crusher mill.
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