HOME | BOOSTER | CEMETERIES | EDUCATION
| GHOST TOWNS
| HEADSTONE
MINOTTO
| PICTURES
| ROADS
| JACK SWILLING
| TEN DAY TRAMPS
Internet Presentation
Version 011708
Support APCRP, become a Booster: Click Here
Only structure
remaining in downtown
Photo Courtesy: Bonnie Helten
In the beginning town sites by the name of Marion and McCormick which were named after an editor and ex-governor were first platted. No growth came to either town site as the most structure’s that was ever built numbered one in each community.
A member of the famous Joseph Walker party, one Charles Taylor recorded several claims. By May 21, 1875 had his own ranch and had taken up residence on Minnehaha Creek in the Minnehaha Flat area. It is believed the name Minnehaha was derived from a mine by the same name.
The Minnehaha Flats area got its start with the mining boom at the Tiger Mining District in 1981.This approximately two mile length of roadway was referred to as the Minnehaha Flat’s. Comprising the ghost towns of Shelley to the North, Minnehaha Flat, Lapham then Minnehaha to the South. Numerous mines dot the landscape with the most visible today is the Button Mine.
Route from ghost town of Wagoner to Lapham
WARNING: SMALL, 4 wheel drive vehicle road in 2008 – each storm will change the road conditions. CJ-5 size vehicles are fine anything large may sacrifice body parts.
There is a well here which would suggest it was an important town in its day. The one remaining structure is approximately 10’ X 20’, at first it looks to be a residence but on closer examination it would have more likely been a mercantile with a Post Office or restaurant with the rows of two shelving on the outside walls.
Living quarters or kitchen, we speculate were in the rear of the structure. There may or may not have been a second floor but would have been for very short people or sleeping space, no higher than 3’.
There are remains of mining equipment strewn and abandoned on and near the property. We found no adits, or shafts with any depth and no open pit mining – maybe everything was placer mining at this town.
One road climbs the hill behind the old structure. Walking up this incline we discovered a potential adit but looked to be abandoned shortly after they started digging. However there was from to 10 to 15 adult male graves on the plateau at the summit. Curious there was a fiberglass 4’X8’ container that we have no idea what it was used for but unanimous speculation it may have been a stock feeding trough, but this is open for debate as well.
L-R: Mary Ann Wunderlin, Neal Du Shane marking grave, Kevin Hart
Photo Courtesy: Bonnie Helten
Kevin yelled up the hill “I found the Cemetery”, the three
of us walked back down and on both sides of this incline road we found graves.
Few female graves but the majority was adult male graves. Probably miners or
travelers graves, as Lapham was on the main road from
Only identifiable
grave at
Could this be Mr. Lapham the Teamster?
Photo courtesy: Kevin Hart
After reaching the area where Kevin Hart had found the
grave, our research indeed found this to be the main
Be cautious as there is a deep well along side the road that is very dangerous.
Please leave Historic Lapham as you found it, take only pictures and memories.
Internet Presentation
Version 011708
WebMaster: Neal Du Shane
Copyright
©2003-2007 Neal Du Shane
All rights reserved. Information contained within this website may be used
for personal family history purposes, but not for financial profit of any kind.
All contents of this website are willed to the American Pioneer & Cemetery
Research Project (APCRP).
HOME | BOOSTER | CEMETERIES | EDUCATION
| GHOST TOWNS
| HEADSTONE
MINOTTO
| PICTURES
| ROADS
| JACK SWILLING
| TEN DAY TRAMPS