Czar Change House
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.
Image from 1919 safety engineering article
Diagram of Czar change house
Outside of Czar change house circa 1918
Locker inside Czar change house circa 1918
Showers inside Czar change house circa 1918
Restrooms Czar change house circa 1918
Czar headframe & Czar change house circa late 1960’
Queen mine tour circa late 1970’ early 1980’s
Queen Mine Tours Circa 1980’s
Supervisor change room Dallas mine 2007
Showers in supervisor change room Dallas mine 2007
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Mills, C.E. 1958 notations from annual reports (Phelps Dodge) Corporation years 1909 to 1950 unpublished p.15 p.62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