MCMILLENVILLE

NAME: McMillenville
COUNTY: Gila
ROADS: 4WD
LEGAL INFO: T3N, R16E
CLIMATE: Mild winter, hot summer
BEST TIME TO VISIT: Anytime
COMMENTS: The Plaque marks the town. On US 60 north, mile 265 (Apache Junction to Springerville)
REMAINS: Nothing. UPDATE: The actual town site is about ½ mile north of where the marker used to be.  There will be a valley with a large concrete culvert running under the highway , just a ways up from that,  there is a gate on the west side (same side the marker was on)-  on the east side of the highway there are many foundations and on the west side, there are some larger foundations -   very, very thick brush and we also found cat tracks in a wash -  explore with care.  

McMillenville's post office was established November 12, 1877 and discontinued October 12, 1882. Legend has it this mine was discovered by accident. Charles McMillen had a hangover from the night before and while on a trip decided to get some shade and rest. His partner, Theodore (Dory) H. Harris was irate about having to stop and threw his pick on the ground. The chunk of rock that broke off was the start of the silver mine. Hounded by Apache's, the town of McMillenville had a rough time surviving and by 1885, the camp was deserted. Today there is nothing left but a plaque on the side of the road.

Addition: On the west side of the highway, shortly after mile 265, is a historic marker witch point the way to the ghost town McMillanville. When the Stonewall Jackson silver ore was discovered in 1874, McMillanville flowered in no time. But ore was empty quick and 10 years after was only one person left. Submitted by: Bobby Krause Zlatevski

 

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