Caribel

Lily Smith

Ajax

Moberg

Stella

Anderson

Crowe

Inferno

Bitter Creek

Placer Creek

Black Copper Canyon

The Lily Smith name refers to several mines and claims located along Pioneer Creek a short distance from the town of Red River. Another term that is sometimes applied to these properties is the "Silver Tip Group."

Sometime in the early nineteen hundreds Mrs. L. M. (Lily) Smith came to Red River and acquired several claims in the lower part of Pioneer Canyon. Tradition holds that she was from New York, but there are no records to indicate exactly how or why she obtained these particular properties. Nevertheless, she remained in the area and worked the mines for a period of more than ten years. Mrs. Smith lived in the eastern end of Red River, but also had a cabin in Pioneer Canyon on one of her claims.

Later, most of these mines were reopened by Charles Young of League, Texas and R. T. Keeling of Leona, Texas.

The Smith Mines include:

The Dyke Tunnel - This is located 0.6 miles along the Pioneer Creek Road and was first mined in 1917. The adit (mine entrance) is found just off the road and the tunnel extends a couple of hundred feet. The timbers present today were put in place in 1948 when Young and Keeling reworked the mine. There are two small adits above and south of the main tunnel.

The Silver Tip Tunnel - This mine is located at 1. 1 miles on the east side of Pioneer Creek. There is a collapsed adit and a very large tailings pile, indicating extensive tunnels.

The New York Tunnel - This is also found east of the stream and just beyond the Silver Tip. There is a single collapsed adit and tailings pile.

The Rochester Tunnel -This mine was opened by Lily Smith in 1917 and was also later worked by Charles Young. It is located west of Pioneer Creek and beyond the New York. There are two caved adits.

The Hillside Tunnel - This property is located where the road crosses the stream and was the site of Mrs. Smith's cabin. The adit is found near to, and south, of the cabin.