top of page

Czar Change House

czar.jpg

Czar change house, Czar shaft and Queen tunnel circa 1918

      In 1918 what is now known as the Copper Queen Mine Building was constructed to be used as a change house for the Czar mine.  The building was based on a standardized design first used at the Sacramento mine. This effective design would later be used at most of the Bisbee mines and exported to the Burro mountain project at Tyrone New Mexico.

     The layout included a locker for each miner that held personal items, 2 hangers 1 for diggers (his work clothes) and 1 for clean clothes. The hangers were attached to ropes allowing the clothes to be raised to the building ceiling for more effective drying of wet diggers. A galvanized steel partition mounted to the ceiling separated each workers clothing. Benches were situated below the lockers to allow ease of changing.  Along the south wall showers and restrooms were located. The front of the building held offices for the Time Keepers and Foreman. Heat for the building was provided by steam pipes placed along the walls. Ventilation was through ceiling vents and a large number of windows.  

In the 1945 the building was taken over by the Phelps Dodge Mercantile Company to be used as a garage.

 In 1975 the City of Bisbee purchased the building to be used for a new venue known as the Queen Mine Tours.

Picture2.jpg

Image from 1919 safety engineering article

Picture3.jpg

Diagram of Czar change house

Picture4.jpg

Outside of Czar change house circa 1918

Picture5.jpg

Locker inside Czar change house circa 1918

Picture6.jpg

Showers inside Czar change house circa 1918

Picture7.jpg

Restrooms Czar change house circa 1918

Picture12.png

Czar headframe & Czar change house circa late 1960’

Picture13.jpg

Queen mine tour circa late 1970’ early 1980’s

Picture14.jpg

Queen Mine Tours Circa 1980’s

Picture9.jpg

Supervisor change room Dallas mine  2007

Picture11.jpg

Showers in supervisor change room Dallas mine 2007

Picture10.jpg

Clothes hanging Queen Mine tour display( lockers and hangers from Dallas mine)

References

Mills, C.E. 1958 notations from annual reports (Phelps Dodge) Corporation years 1909 to 1950 unpublished p.15 p.62

Richard Graeme IV 2010, pers. comm., 8 February

Richard Graeme III  2010, pers. comm., 2 February

Willis F Charles  “ Change House” Benefits Safety engineering  January 1919 Vol 37 No.1 pp. 9-11

bottom of page