SilverReef

Silver Reef is situated in
Washington County, eighteen miles
northeast of St. George. Its
elevation is 4,000 feet above sea
level. It once was a bustling mining
town, and there are many folklore
stories concerning the founding of
the town. Silver was discovered by
John Kemple in spring of 1866 in a
rock formation to the west of Silver
Reef. However, unable to find the
source of the silver vein, Kemple
moved to Nevada. In 1874 he
returned and set up the Harrisburg
Mining District. Kemple went on to
locate many claims; however,
none were ever developed.

By 1875 there was a furry of
prospecting in the area. News of
silver ore in the local sandstone
rock drew the attention of the
Walker brothers, Salt Lake City
bankers. They grubstaked a noted
prospector, William T. Barbee. By
late 1875, twenty-one potentially
rich claims were staked, and
Barbee set up a town called
Bonanza City.

Although there was a small cluster
of business operations in Bonanza
City, property values were high.
Miners, finding land cheaper to the
north, set up a tent city on a rocky
section of land known as the
"Rockpile."

Bart Anderson