Idaho's Bunker Hill : the rise and fall of a great mining company, 1885-1981

For nearly a century, the Bunker Hill Company was one of the premier mining and smelting corporations in the United States. Located in Kellogg, Idaho, in the remote Coeur d'Alene region, Bunker Hill played a key role in the nation's industrial development. But at the same time it was the catalyst for unprecedented labor strife and environmental desecration. And today it is of one of the EPA's largest Superfund sites. In this richly detailed history, Katherine G. Aiken traces Bunker Hill's evolution from the discovery of the mine in 1885 to the company's closure in 1981. "For nearly a century, the Bunker Hill Company was one of the premier mining and smelting corporations in the United States. Located in Kellogg, Idaho, in the remote Coeur d'Alene region, Bunker Hill played a key role in the nation's industrial development. But at the same time it was the catalyst for unprecedented labor strife and environmental desecration. And today it is one of the EPA's largest Superfund sites. In this history, Katherine G. Aiken traces Bunker Hill's evolution from the discovery of the mine in 1885 to the company's closure in 1981." "Throughout the company's long history, Bunker Hill management was relentless in its pursuit of profit. This aggressive capitalism led to rapid expansion, technological innovation, and secure wages for employees. But success came at a price. Each time managers sought production increases, workers became restless and dissatisfied. The resulting labor-management conflicts were nothing short of legendary." "The history of Bunker Hill is also very much the story of the people who lived in Idaho's Silver Valley and worked for the company. Oftentimes a tale of strife, Bunker Hill's history is at the same time a story of cooperation, dedication, and ingenuity. People literally gave their lives for the production of lead, zinc, and silver. In the end, however, environmental destruction, aging facilities, and mineral shortages, as well as foreign competition, destroyed the company's economic viability." "Following closure of Bunker Hill, the company records were placed in the University of Idaho Library Special Collections. Rarely has such a complete corporate record been available for research. Taking full advantage of this resource, Aiken offers an in-depth profile that illustrates major trends in American corporate culture."--BOOK JACKET A richly detailed history traces the evolution of one of the premier mining and smelting corporations in the United States, from the discovery of the mine in 1885 to the company's closure in 1981, where it is now one of the EPA's largest Superfund sites.