The remains of Jordan lie to the west of Mono Lake at the base of Conway Summit. The Jordan Mining District was established in 1879. The Goleta Consolidated Mining Company constructed a 40 stamp mill and smelter at the base of Copper Mountain and soon a town stood around the mill. Originally named Copper Mountain, the name was changed to Jordan, with the establishment of a post office. The town consisted of saloons, a blacksmithy and several general stores. The mine closed in 1900 and the majority of the residents moved on. The post office closed in 1903.
The Pacific Power Company was founded in 1910 to provide electricity to local mining operations and towns. The Mill Creek Power Plant was built in 1911, supplying power to Bodie, Aurora, Lucky Boy and Rawhide. There were four cottages around the plant with eight residents.
Penstock feeding the modern hydroelectric plant.
(Photo Credit: Edison)
Hydroelectric power is clean, renewable and efficient. All that is required is a steady source of water and gravity. The high, steep hills above Jordan and abundant water from the Sierras must have seemed ideal to meet these demands. Electricity lifted the burdens of the local mining towns and must have been a welcome relief from many hardships. It was to come at a terrible cost.
SNOWSLIDES DEAL DEATH ON HEIGHTS: 3 Villages in Sierras Are Buried.
The Oregonian March 10, 1911
The winter of 1910-11 was particularly hard for the eastern Sierras. Nearby Lundy had two avalanches, Masonic had one and Golden Gate to the north had two avalanches. Nine miners lost their lives in avalanches, including the owner of Masonic.
At 12:01 am on the morning of March 7, 1911 an estimated 4 million tons of snow slid down Copper Mountain. The avalanche ripped a path 1/4 mile wide and a mile long directly toward the power plant. Equipment weighing tons was ripped from foundations and thrown 500 feet down the slope scattering generators, machinery, water pipes and debris.
Jordan’s neighboring towns had no idea what happened. Phone lines were downed by the snow storm and it was not unusual for residents to lose power in harsh Sierra winters. The next morning the storm broke and a nearby rancher snowshoed to the power plant and discovered the devastation.
Miraculously, there were two survivors. Rescue workers from Lee Vining and Bodie heard the whimpering of a dog coming from the wreckage of cabin #1, belonging to the plant engineer R.H. Mason. A steamer trunk had prevented the total collapse of a wall and created a shelter and air pocket for R.H’s wife Agnes and her dog. Agnes was taken to nearby Conway Ranch, then to the hospital in Bodie. She lost her leg to gangrene but survived.
Bodies of seven victims were recovered and moved to Mattley Ranch where they remained in a cold shed for several weeks until coffins could be obtained. Graves were dug on a slope overlooking the meadow where Jordan stood. A local priest officiated a funeral, attended by many of the valley residents.
Headstones are reclaimed marble from the power plant switchboard.
At the base of Copper Mountain is the site of Jordan and the power plant.
Concrete foundations, shattered porcelain pipes, a twisted penstock, broken insulators and debris are all that remain.
To the east of Jordan are more foundations and stairs that now lead nowhere.
To the west of the site is a modern hydroelectric power plant and a slag pile. This was the location of the Goleta Consolidated Mining Company mill and smelter.
On September 10, 2011 E Clampus Vitus dedicated a historical marker on US Highway 395, on the road to Jordan.
Jordan is an easy detour on the way to famous Bodie. We combined Jordan with Lundy, Munckton and Dog Town. If you visit during the summer, don’t forget to stop at the Mobil Gas Station! They have been voted by Sunset Magazine as one of the best gas stations on the west coast. You can enjoy buffalo meatloaf, pork chops or sashimi along with a nice glass of wine or beer at the Whoa Nellie Deli.
Visited 11-1-2020, 8-9-2020, 6-6-2004
References
- Edison: Avalanche Destroys the Jordan Power Plant
- Find a Grave: Jordon-Lundy 1911 Avalanche Victims Cemetery
- Gen Disasters: Lundy, Mono, and Jordan, CA Snowslides, Mar 1910
- Genealogy Trails: Avalanches
- Historical Marker Database: Avalanche of 1911
- Mitchell, Roger. High Sierra SUV Trails Volume 1, The East Side. Track and Trail Publications, 2002. Pages 121-124.
Stephen Knight says
Great historical background. I’ve been there twice. Got to go again. Thank you 😊
Tami says
Thanks Stephen, it’s an interesting side trip. There is so much in that area that gets overlooked by Bodie.