The Hidden Wealth Beneath Aberdeen’s Streets
Prospectors discover mineral ochre deposits under the bluff, hinting at a future for local paint manufacturing.
The story, cleaned up
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Another mineral find was located last week by Messrs. R. T. Dabney and M. K. Horr, right in the heart of Aberdeen, consisting of a ledge of what proves to be good mineral ochre. They filed a claim extending along the bluff from the schoolhouse to the hospital. There are three colors—red, yellow, and blue—and experiments with them produce a good quality of mineral paint, which mixes readily with oil and presents a smooth appearance when applied with a brush. The indications are that this may prove very valuable.
“There are three colors—red, yellow, and blue—and experiments with them produce a good quality of mineral paint.”
This reflects the early industrial boosterism of Grays Harbor, where residents hoped to pivot from simple lumber extraction to a diversified manufacturing economy. Today, the 'bluff' area remains a defining feature of Aberdeen's geography, though it is now better known for residential stability than mineral exploration.
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