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Collection: Directories and Documents > Pamphlets

Empire Mine State Historic Park (PH 8-12)(June 1976) (12 pages)

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EMPIRE COTTAGE RETURNING FROM WORK IN SOUTH AFRICAN GOLD MINES (1893-1896), STARR WAS PERSUADED BY BOURN TO RETURN TO THE EMPIRE MINE AND TAKE COMMAND. AGAIN, SYSTEMATIC UNDERGROUND DEVELOPMENT AND EXTENSIVE REMODELING OF THE SURFACE WORKS BROUGHT PROSPERITY AND SUCCESS TO THE EMPIRE MINE ONCE MORE. THIS PROSPERITY PERMITTED WILLIAM B. BOURN, JR. TO BUILD THE MAGNIFICENT STONE AND BRICK "EMPIRE COTTAGE" CCIRCA 1896).. DESIGNED BY NOTED SAN FRANCISCO ARCHITECT, WILLIS POLK, THE “EMPIRE COTTAGE" BOASTS OF A LARGE LIVING AND DINING ROOM DOWNSTAIRS, FOUR UPSTAIRS BEDROOMS, KITCHEN AREA AND MAIDS QUARTERS ALL CONSTRUCTED OF NATIVE REDWOOD. THE SURROUNDING 12 ACRES OF GROUNDS, LAWNS, EXOTIC PLANTS AND TREES, POOLS AND ARTIFICIAL LAKE GAVE THE APPEARANCE OF A CITY PARK RATHER THAN THE HEADQUARTERS OF A VAST MINING COMPLEX. ALSO DESIGNED BY ARCHITECT POLK WERE THE MINE OFFICE BUILDING, "THE OPHIR COTTAGE" OR SUPERINTENDENT GEORGE STARR'S HOME CITS FOUNDATION IS STILL VISIBLE AFTER A FIRE IN THE 1930'S) AND THE UNUSUAL COUNTRY CLUBHOUSE OF "THE EMPIRE CLUB"! CCIRCA 1905). THE CLUBHOUSE ORIGINALLY CONTAINED A BOWLING ALLEY, BILLIARD TABLES, DANCE FLOOR, COOKING FACILITIES AND TENNIS COURT FOR THE USE OF THE EMPIRE MINE MANAGEMENT. ALL THIS WAS INDEED THE MOST LUXURIOUS PERIOD OF THE EMPIRE'S HISTORY.