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• <br /> <br />The Converse Mine was first worked by Frank Converse who received <br />title to the 40 acre tract on which the mine was located. The title <br />was issued as Coal Certificate Patent 2412. The mine was never developed <br />to any extent although Converse and his sons worked it until the First <br />World War. The operation was limited to supplying the local domestic <br />coal market and after WWI the mine was operated only on an occasional <br />basis. The last person to work the Converse was seemingly Frank Patoff who <br />operated i[ on a limited basis during the early 1930's. <br />The significance of the site is related to the intensive development of the <br />North Fork Valley of Delta County, Colorado, and is specifically related to <br />coal mining in that region. Coal mining had, and still has, a significant <br />impact on the North Fork Area. Although ranchers filed coal claims as early <br />as 1883 it was not until the coming of the railroad in 1902 that commercial <br />mining was feasible on a large scale. Major coal production started with <br />the Utah Fuel Company near Somerset in 1901. Other large producers in the <br />valley included [he Oliver and Bowie mines. <br />u <br />In addition to large commercial operations, many small mines were opened <br />in the North Fork. These were usually small locally owned operations <br />referred to as "wagon mines" or "gopher holes" worked by one family or a <br />small crew. They produced solely for the local domestic market with little <br />emphasis on commercial production. <br />The Converse has some significance as representing the small coal mines in <br />the North Fork Valley. However, natural forces have destroyed much of [he <br />mine and are expected to obliterate it completely unless steps are taken <br />to halt the process. <br />9• Major Bibliographical References: <br />Baker, Steven G. <br />1977 A Cultural Resource Survey For The Orchard Valley Mine, <br />Colorado Westmoreland, Inc., Paonia, Delta County, Colorado. <br />Ms. on file at Centuries Research, Inc., Montrose, Colorado. <br />Beebe, Lucius and Charles Glegg <br />1962 Rio Grande: Mainland of the Rockies. <br />Howell-North, Berkeley. <br />Hammond, Harold <br />1977 Paonia, Colorado. Interview. <br />Rockwell, Wilson M. <br />1975 Delta County, The Formative Years. Ms. on file a[ Paonia <br />Public Library. <br />• <br />2 <br />