05/09/2024
HOW CHUCK CHASE GOT INTO Mining by Ed Hardt
Chuck went to Alaska in 1975. While there, he worked for a private contractor for $3.00 an hour.
He attended night school in Anchorage, Alaska, and became a geologist to better understand mineral resources. When he came back to Baker City, he and his father-in-law, Ed Dockweiler, spent a lot of time at Ed Dockweiler’s mine with Chuck’s wife, Mary Ellen and their children. Ed’s mine was located above the old town of Auburn.
Later on, Chuck worked at Bald Mt. Mine, about 10 miles west of Sumpter, Oregon, and the Silver King Mine on the Snake River. During this time, Chuck was gaining knowledge in underground mining.
Chuck joined the Eastern Oregon Mining Association in 1979 or early 1980. He served as President for a number of years and then he was appointed Executive Director, a very important position. Chuck worked extremely hard to keep mining alive. He made at least one trip to Washington DC to promote mining with Bill Mote, Director of Northwest Mining Association in Spokane, Washington at that time. Northwest mining Association is now known as the American Exploration & Mining Association.
Chuck Chase was very active in bringing Miner’s Jubilee back to Baker City. He was frequently attending Chamber of Commerce Meetings to ensure that Mining was kept the number one theme for Jubilee. Sadly, it seems we are not in that mind frame now. Chuck would be proud of any individuals who might take on the task to bring mining back as the number one resource in Baker County.
On a humorous note, Chuck along with others, thought we should have a Beer Drinking Contest during Miner’s Jubilee. Unbeknown to the contestants that signed up to participate, the rules were as follows: Drink one bottle of beer, crawl ten feet to a wall, and back to the starting line. Fastest time was the winner. The CATCH WAS THAT THERE WAS A NI**LE ON THE BOTTLE and you could not bite the ni**le. Imagine the CHAOS!!!! Those macho beer drinkers were so “T’d” off, that contest was never repeated.
Chuck was instrumental in organizing the Miner’s Jubilee panning contest in Baker City. Other areas have panning contests, but The Eastern Oregon Mining Association holds the Oregon State Panning contest each year. No other organization can claim this privilege.
When Ed Hardt told Ken Anderson about Chuck’s passing, Ken stated, “HE WAS A GOOD HAND.” Those of us that worked with Chuck, KNOW HE WAS A GOOD HAND and he will be missed.
