Skip to content

Birth of a Trail icon

A look back in Silver City history, Feb. 1, 1896. The first copper furnace came on line in Trail Creek Landing.
43746traildailytimesWEBTeck
The first copper furnace came on line 121 years ago today.

One hundred and twenty-one years ago today, on February 1, 1896, the first copper furnace came on line at Fritz Heinze’s B.C. Smelting and Refining Company at Trail Creek Landing. This event not only secured the production of copper for approximately 40 years and led to the Consolidated Mining and Smelting Company to build Canada’s first electrolytic copper refinery, but it also laid the foundation for Cominco, now known as Teck today. Pictured is the massive converter in the Copper Plant, circa 1914.

Photo courtesy of Teck