Bingham Canyon

If you grew up knowing the canyon, it is pronounced kang-yun.  Visiting my Aunt Naudyne, Uncle Walt, Celece and Lynnann was always a highlight of the summer.  I haven't been back for decades and today a flood of memories accompanied my visit to the copper mine.  

The same type of copper bracelet bought each summer,  a mine car, truck tire, the pit, mercury (the kid in school with the biggest stash was the coolest).

Amazing activities that were NOT ALLOWED, but participation therein was mass FUN!

• dissolve metal in "copper water" (toxic blue water that ran in secret locations)
• play on the railroad tracks and squish pennies
• swing over a cliff on the rope swing
• climb the 30 foot railroad tie retaining walls instead of using the ladder
• slide down the mine tailings
• ride without hands or helmets (not even invented) as fast as our bikes would go down the canyon, my cousin holding Shadow, the dog
• blow stuff up with firecrackers
• explore abandoned buildings (especially the Civic Center where local kids would rollerskate on the old basketball court and try not to fall through the gaping holes in the floor to levels below)
• swing on the gate of my cousin's white picket fence

Copper Hill and Downtown Bingham

Things that happened only in Bingham:

• waking to the sound and shaking of my aunt's little wooden white house when the trains passed at night
• hearing the emergency siren when there was a mine accident
• standing out of the way as my uncle, a volunteer firefighter, rushed to the rescue when the "fire phone" rang
• knowing that "on strike" was a very bad thing for families of miners
• clenching your jaws when Aunt Naudyne dug gravel out of wounds and applied a healthy dose of straight rubbing alcohol (crying was the ultimate shame)
• selling rocks to tourists (fool's gold was always a hit)
• slamming our goodies on the counter at Pete's and saying, "Charge it."
• coming home with hand-me-downs that were "store bought"
• visiting a lady with a huge salt and pepper shaker collection
• standing on the sidewalk and shouting at Eric's house to see if he could come out and play

Amazingly wonderful stuff at "The Copper Shop," where we hung out, but rarely purchased anything.