[1] The history of mining in the Silver Bell Mountains is fairly convoluted, largely due to the dynamic nature of the copper business in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.

At this time in the American West, it was common for miners working in proximity to form self-governing "mining districts" in the absence of strong territorial authority.

[1] By the turn of the century, it must have become clear that consolidation was the best means of achieving profitability, and a partnership under two businessmen named Zeckendorf and Steinfeld managed to acquire a large group of claims in the district.

Formed by William Field Staunton, E. B. Gage, and Frank M. Murphy in May 1903, Imperial proceeded to systematically develop its operations in the district.

By September 1904, the Arizona Southern Railroad - a fully owned subsidiary of Imperial - was established, built, and operating between Red Rock and Silverbell.

E. Glen Baker, the most notable local entrepreneur, also opened a saloon in 1909, and later his ventures encompassed: general merchandise store, a billiard parlor and an auto stage.

Archival sources indicate that men did quit mining and railroad construction jobs and leave the district because they were not able to obtain good drinking water.

[1] A bad shaft fire and water difficulties at their Tombstone properties led to bankruptcy and forced Imperial to lease its holdings to Asarco in 1911.

Asarco began optioning Imperial claims in 1915, ultimately acquiring all of the company's assets - including the railroad and the smelter at Sasco - by 1919.

Although the Sasco smelter closed in 1919, after only about four years of renewed operation, the electrical plant continued to supply power to Silver Bell and the mines.

McEven spent the first few months of his time in Silverbell arresting, fining, and jailing "local desperadoes" for carrying concealed weapons.

[3] After a miner named Ramon Castro killed Gracio Manzo, he hid from the law for two weeks in an abandoned mine shaft.

Obtaining an ore car, upon which he hung a lamp, McEven pushed the bulletproof barrier ahead of him through the mine shaft until he cornered and captured Castro.

[3] Asarco fared better than the Silver Bell; the company continued to consolidate all of the major holdings in the district, including those once held by Oxide.

Copper prices continued to tank, the water and sewerage system in town was beginning to fail, and once-contemporary homes were falling into disrepair.

[4] In 1989, Asarco purchased the old BS&K Mine, which is located near the original Silverbell site, about a mile (1.6 km) east of the Silver Bell Cemetery in Ironwood Forest.