Owens Mine was Largest Producer in Julian Area

Vicinity of the Owens Mine as it appears today, near Angels Landing.

By Amber Ward

The Owens Mine was registered on March 11, 1870 by four men: James Kelly, J. E. Pember, Barney Owens and Frank Murphy. The Owens Ledge, (where the quartz is initially exposed from the mountain), is located northwest of the Washington Mine, just north of Julian's townsite. What makes the Owens Mine stand out is that, during the course of its lifetime, it produced a total of $450,000. This makes it the largest producing mine in the immediate Julian area. Although, the mine does tie for fourth place with the Helvetia Mine, located in the Kentwood/ Whispering Pines area, it is considered the fourth richest mine in all of the Cuyamacas.

The Owens Mine once had a 10-stamp mill which was typical of a large mine. The only way into the mine was down a 270- foot shaft inside of an ore bucket. Much like the other mines in Julian, it was dug entirely by hand with pick and shovel. The surface ore was very rich and returned a hefty profit for its first stockholders. Later, stockholders were required to pay mine assessments (maintenance and improvements), but they refused to put their money earned back into the mine. They must have known that the mine had already seen its glory days.

By 1873, only three years after its discovery, production declined. Kelly, who spearheaded the mine's development, was the first to start selling off his holdings. He

may have had some inside information or simply just good intuition, but he took his money and bought some 4,000 acres west of North Peak, later known as the Anahuac Ranch.

The Owens Mine was not worked again until 1884, and then sold to a San Francisco banker in 1886. H. J. Booth paid $40,000 for the mine. The price was considered low because of the mines' decline in status. He made several improvements, but to no avail. The mine turned out to be a poor investment for Booth.

The Owens Mine was worked intermittently between 1890 and 1910. A strange thing happened in 1904. It was reported that 13,000 ounces of silver and 104,000 pounds of copper were extracted from the mine. These metals are extremely unusual for the Julian district. There was silver and copper mined in the K. Q. Ranch area, but not so close to town.

The Owens Mine proved to be full of surprises. It began with a bang, lay idle for years and then beared its unusual metals. Yet, like many of Julian's mines, the entrance to the Owens Mine was bulldozed closed in 1960. That was the end of Owens Mine.

Photo By Amber Ward