Village of Pearce, Arizona 

~ Home of the Commonwealth Mine

Pearce is a mining ghost town named for Cornishman James Pearce, miner and cattleman, who discovered gold nearby at what became the Commonwealth Mine in 1894. The Pearce Post Office was established on March 6, 1896. The railroad station opened in 1903. By 1919, Pearce had a population of 1,500. The town declined in the 1930s and became almost a ghost town in the late 1940s when the mine closed for decades until reopened. Today, about a dozen houses are all that remain in this location. 

The Commonwealth Mine became one of Arizona's major silver producers. Over 1,000,000 tons of ore were produced from 1895 to 1942. There are about 20 miles of underground workings. The mine produced about $8 million worth of silver and $2.5 million in gold at a time when silver was priced around 50 cents an ounce, and gold was $20 an ounce.

Excerpt from Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pearce,_Arizona

Image of the Pearce Livery, courtesy Clive Bailey

E.A. Smith behind the wheel, circa 1900s

Click to enlarge

Photo courtesy Clive Bailey 

Pearce Common-Wealth Stock Certificate

Click to enlarge

Photo courtesy Clive Bailey 

Pearce  2nd concentrator

Click to enlarge

Photo courtesy Clive Bailey 

Pearce town looking toward mine

Click to enlarge

Photo courtesy Clive Bailey 

Pearce Depot

Click to enlarge

Photo courtesy Clive Bailey 

Pearce mine looking into town from above

Click to enlarge

Photo courtesy Clive Bailey 

Ball mill

Click to enlarge

Photo courtesy Clive Bailey 

Mule team pulling ore wagon in front of Barber ship, Hotel and other businesses. 

Click to enlarge

Photo courtesy Clive Bailey 

Pearce CC milla

Click to enlarge

Photo courtesy Clive Bailey 

Pearce old general store

Click to enlarge

Photo courtesy Clive Bailey 

Pearce Saloon Token

Click to enlarge

Photo courtesy Clive Bailey 

Pearce Dormitory

Click to enlarge

Photo courtesy Clive Bailey 

Pearce Doug's Place

Click to enlarge

Photo courtesy Clive Bailey/ Cochise County H.S.

Pearce Business Token, front

Click to enlarge

Photo courtesy Clive Bailey 

Pearce, Fritz Stanely

Click to enlarge

Photo courtesy Clive Bailey 

Pearce, First Train

Click to enlarge

Photo courtesy Clive Bailey 

Pearce Business Token, back

Click to enlarge

Photo courtesy Clive Bailey 

Pearce Wood School

Click to enlarge

Photo courtesy Clive Bailey 

Pearce Store with supply wagon

Click to enlarge

Photo courtesy Clive Bailey 

Pearce Mikken Photo 

Click to enlarge

Photo courtesy Clive Bailey 

Pearce, early 1900s

Click to enlarge

Photo courtesy Clive Bailey 

Pearce Palma Family

Click to enlarge

Photo courtesy Clive Bailey 

James Pearce and family, 1890's

Click to enlarge

Photo courtesy Clive Bailey 

Pearce Stamp Mill, 1909

Click to enlarge

Photo courtesy Clive Bailey