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White Knob Historical Preservation Committee Background The White Knob Historical Preservation Committee was formed in 1999 when salvage interests threatened historic mining structures associated with the "Mine Hill" west of Mackay, Idaho. The "Mine Hill" is the site of the state's largest copper mines that flourished in the early part of the last century and an area endeared to the Mackay community. The area, made up mostly of land administered by the BLM and U.S. Forest service along with some private patented mining properties, has been heavily used for years by resident and visitor alike for hunting, sightseeing and recreating. The initial handful of alarmed citizens grew into the White Knob Historical Preservation Committee, a grass roots group made up of residents, city and county government officials, including members of the local historical society, and local representatives of the U.S. Forest service and the Bureau of Land Management. It is a chartered, incorporated, non-profit group with 501.3C status and an extension of the South Custer Historical Society located here in Mackay. It is an all volunteer group with no paid officers or employees. The Committee's original objective to stop salvage efforts was successful, however these efforts pointed out the need for a larger goal; the need for a preservation campaign to head off future salvage attempts and to reduce the ongoing pilfering of artifacts and vandalism at historic sites and structures by the visiting public. At the same time, the committee saw the opportunity to capitalize on the public's interest in Mackay's mining history and the "Mine Hill". It feels that promoting more visitations to the Mine Hill's sites will give a boost to the local economy. Since 2000, preserving and promoting the "Mine Hill" and its historic sites and structures, has been the committee's primary objective. The plan to accomplish preserving the area's history and mining heritage while at the same time increasing visitation to the area, wss based on the premise that once the visiting public is made aware of the historic significance of the sites (through comprehensive interpretive signing) and that the Mackay community really cares about its mining heritage (through committee efforts at site improvement and structure renovation), that they would gain a respect for the sites that will preclude vandalism or pilfering of artifacts.
The Committee's Promotion efforts included an idea for a designated, self-guided, interpretive public tour of the Mine Hill that would promote public visitation to these remaining sites and structures. And a full-color brochure of the Tour would be made up and made available throughout the community for visitors. What's been done? Since the year 2000 much has been accomplished. Through a combination of successful community fund raising, hundreds of hours of volunteer effort, and cost share grants from the BLM and Forest Service, the committee has constructed and erected over 25 interpretive and informational signs at over a dozen different historical sites. Thanks to the BLM, the old Shay mining railroad trestle was completely restored in 2002 and stabilization and partial restoration of (10) remaining aerial tramway towers was accomplished in 2005. Stabilization and partial restoration of two historic miner's cabins on Forest Service land was the focus of the Committee's attention in 2006 and 2007. The self-guided interpretive tour for visitors to the Mine Hill was implemented in 2004. A color brochure of "Mackay's Mine Hill Tour" was made available throughout the community and includes a map of the area, explanation of the several routes (depending on mode of transportation), and a brief write-up and description of all the historic points of interest. The nearly 20 miles of road and trail included in the tour are identified with directional/color coded roadside markers. The "Tour" has recently been incorporated into the Idaho State Parks & Recreation ATV trail system and is being given a great deal of support by the City of Mackay and the Lost Rivers Economic Development. Our preservation efforts and the "Tour" have received national and state recognition and been highlighted in the regional media.
In 2003 The Idaho State Historic Preservation Council awarded the Committee its Orchid Award for Cultural Heritage Preservation. In 2005 the Committee and its preservation project received the
Secretary of In 2006 the BLM chose to feature our Mine Hill preservation project and Mackay Mine Hill Tour on its national website www.blm.gov/heritage/adventures/menu/featured_site_id.html. On March 6, 2007, at the regular monthly meeting of the Mackay City Council, a motion was unanimously passed to designate and establish the White Knob Historical Preservation Committee, Inc. as the city's official body charged with initiating and leading historic preservation activities within the community. The Committee has accepted this role, and the Mayor and/or members of the City council will retain their permanent seats on this committee and the Committee will retain its very close ties to the South Custer County Historical Society. In July 2007, Mackay went on to gain national designation as a "Preserve America Community". The committee's partnership with local BLM and Forest Service offices and their committee representatives, has been invaluable. It was primarily the efforts of the local forest service office that thwarted the salvage threats in 1999. In addition, they have helped with funding for signs, supplied PIT volunteers for site inventories, and provided much welcome advice and expertise in a number of areas. The BLM was instrumental in designating the Mine Hill's old Shay railroad grade as a nationally listed "Community Millennium Trail". It was wholly responsible for the complete renovation of the historic Shay railroad trestle, the project of stabilizing and partially restoring the 10 remaining aerial mining tramway towers, and has provided grant funds for signing. For Mine Hill Tour Information Click on the following: Map, Site description, Brochure Much Left to be Done! But stabilization and restoration of some other sites and structures is badly needed. Plans are being developed and will be implemented depending on the availability of funding. Although the committee's partnership with the BLM and Forest Service remains invaluable, their grant monies may only be used on sites and structures on public land. Some of the most significant of the Mine Hill's sites and structures are located on private land and patented mining property and funding must be found elsewhere. The recent acquisition of Mackay's historic Smelter Site and its two historic structures is one the Committee is presently focusing on. This site is planned as a feature stop of Mackay's tourist-popular Mine Hill Tour and ATV route. A plan has been developed for its preservation, interpretation, and restoration of the two structures and grant funding is presently being sought.
Significant effort is also made to secure grants to further the objectives of the committee and the committee initiates and writes its own grant applications. As much of the Mine Hill, and many of the historic mining sites and structures, are on U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management property, we have worked very closely with these agencies to secure funding for historical preservation projects. With the help of Committee member agency representatives, we have been very successful in obtaining grant monies for interpretive signs and structure stabilization and restoration that are located within their specific areas. In addition, these representatives have been able to steer agency funds dedicated for historic preservation, to our Mine Hill preservation project. Such funding was obtained to restore a 100-year old mining railroad trestle, rededicated by the BLM in 2004, and the stabilization of a number of wooden towers in 2005, that were part of an ore-hauling aerial tramway system dating back to 1918. Some grant monies have also been received from private foundations and trusts at the state level dedicated to historic preservation. These funds are presently being used in the restoration of (2) historic log cabins on the Mine Hill. In nearly every case, all grant monies received have required a significant match in real dollars or in the form of volunteer labor, and/or donated equipment and services. The dedicated members of the Committee and interested volunteers expend hundreds of hours yearly in meeting these grant requirements in the form of physical labor, historical research, sign design, carpentry, travel time and expense, and use of donated tools and equipment. Contact Information The Committee is always looking for new members and volunteers to help with its many projects. Anyone interested in the preservation of Mackay's mining heritage and history and helping with the work of the Committee please call any of the Committee officers. Earl A. Lockie Chairman 588-3148 Oscar Wornek Business Park - Finding an Economic Balance The Oscar Wornek Business Park is located in a prime location at the entrance to the community and airport. Acreage has been set aside for other businesses to expand into an industrially zoned area. The Business Park will allow Mackay to retain/expand businesses and not lose jobs, momentum or growth. It will encourage new start up businesses and entice outside small businesses that will compliment Mackay and the surrounding area. The Oscar Wornek Business Park:
For More Information click here Current resident of the Business Park is Lost Rivers Economic Development Inc. (LRED). LRED supplies information to aid businesses and individuals in the valley. Funding for this project was provided through Idaho Department of Commerce Rural Development Block Grant, Economic Development Administration (EDA) and the City of Mackay. Myers/Anderson provided architecture; engineering was provided by Hedco. Mackay Designated A Preserve America Community by First Lady Laura Bush
Black Daisy Arts and Crafts Fair - August 7th and 8th 2010 We have moved! We are still in Mackay with great highway frontage and terrific parking. To see a map of the new location click HERE If you would like to reserve a booth please download this packet of information which includes our acceptability policy, registration form, and important information for vendors. Black Daisy Registration and Information Packet If you have any questions please call Cindy 208-588-3010 or email smyer@atcnet.net
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