Clemens & Coppereid
(White Cloud City)
Although copper ore was first discovered in 1868 by Frederick Smith and Maj. B.B. Bee, the White Cloud District wasn't organized until the following year due to confrontation with Paiutes. John C. Fall of Unionville was the first to do work in the district in the early 1870s. A camp of around forty called White Cloud City came into being during that decade, and a townsite was even platted, but the mines weren't profitable and the fledgling camp was soon abandoned.
By 1892, the White Cloud Copper Mining Company of New York took over the claims and began construction of a new 30-ton smelter at the mouth of White Cloud Canyon. A camp of 35 called Clemens was formed, taking its name from Ernest V. Clemens, owner and manager of the White Cloud Company. The smelter was started up in April 1893, and a 3790-foot tramway was completed around the same time by the California Wire Works. A year later, the White Cloud Railroad was proposed, with plans for a connection to the Central Pacific either at Lovelock or at Wadsworth by way of Stillwater and St. Clair. The railroad was never realized and the mines were closed before the end of 1894; by February 1895 only the postmaster remained at Clemens.
In May 1906, John T. Reid incorporated the Nevada United Mining Company and took over the former White Cloud Company holdings. A new camp, this time called Coppereid, came into being adjacent to the mine with a steam hoisting plant, compressor, and several buildings. By 1908, there were even talks of a railroad spur to Parran, but that never materialized. This development lasted until 1912, during which time it was plagued by outpours of water from the main adit. A final attempt to work the mine at Coppereid occured from 1948 until 1952, when nearly $10,000 was recovered, but a flash flood caused by the same waters from the main adit brought any work in the canyon to a close when it washed down the equipment and washed out the road.
There are two sites at White Cloud Canyon, often erroneously referred to as 'Lower' and 'Upper' Coppereid. At the lower site, which is more accurately the site of old Clemens, stone ruins of the smelter and two cabins remain. At the upper site, which is the site of Coppereid proper, water still flows from the main adit, and scant else remains of the camp.
