In 1799, Conrad Reed, the son of farmer and former Hessian soldier John Reed (né Johannes Reidt) born June 6, 1757, found a 17-pound yellow "rock" in Little Meadow Creek on the family farm in Cabarrus County, North Carolina.[3]: 11 For three years, the rock served as a bulky doorstop. In 1802, a jeweler from Fayetteville identified the rock as a large gold nugget. He told John Reed to name his price. Reed, not understanding the true value of gold, asked for what he thought was the hefty price of $3.50, or a week's worth of wages. The large nugget's true value was around $3,600.
About 1803, John Reed organized a small gold mining operation. Soon afterward a slave named Peter found a 28-pound nugget.[2] Reed continued with placer mining for a number of years. In 1831 he began underground mining. John Reed died at age 88 on May 28, 1845, rich from the gold found on his property.
Some years later, the American Civil War decreased mining activity because of labor and resources being pulled into the war. The last large nugget uncovered by placer mining was discovered in 1896. The last underground mining took place at the Reed Mine in 1912. To handle the large amount of gold found in the region and state from the 19th into the early 20th century, the Charlotte Mint was built in nearby Charlotte, North Carolina.[2][4]
Today, the Reed Mine is a state historic site that belongs to the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources and open to the public. Visitors can tour a museum with extensive displays about North Carolina gold mining. In addition, they can explore several hundred feet of restored gold mine tunnels.
Johannes Reith, a Hessian soldier from Raboldshausen, Germany, served during the American Revolution in Company C (Col. Friedrich von Porbeck) of the Garrison Regiment von Wissenbach. On June 21, 1782 he deserted his post outside Savannah, Georgia and took his arms and equipment. He left the British army and came to settle in the lower part of North Carolina.
He went to 'upper' Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, later Cabarrus County, where he settled in the ethnic German community. He Anglicized his name to John Reed. Later he married Sarah Kiser, daughter of Peter Kiser and Fanny Garmon.
reed, gold, mine, located, midland, cabarrus, county, north, carolina, site, first, documented, commercial, gold, find, united, states, been, designated, national, historic, landmark, because, importance, listed, national, register, historic, placesu, national. The Reed Gold Mine is located in Midland Cabarrus County North Carolina and is the site of the first documented commercial gold find in the United States 2 It has been designated a National Historic Landmark because of its importance and listed on the National Register of Historic PlacesReed Gold MineU S National Register of Historic PlacesU S National Historic Landmark DistrictShow map of North CarolinaShow map of the United StatesNearest cityConcord North CarolinaBuilt1799NRHP reference No 66000587 1 Added to NRHPOctober 15 1966 Contents 1 History 2 About John Reed 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksHistory editIn 1799 Conrad Reed the son of farmer and former Hessian soldier John Reed ne Johannes Reidt born June 6 1757 found a 17 pound yellow rock in Little Meadow Creek on the family farm in Cabarrus County North Carolina 3 11 For three years the rock served as a bulky doorstop In 1802 a jeweler from Fayetteville identified the rock as a large gold nugget He told John Reed to name his price Reed not understanding the true value of gold asked for what he thought was the hefty price of 3 50 or a week s worth of wages The large nugget s true value was around 3 600 About 1803 John Reed organized a small gold mining operation Soon afterward a slave named Peter found a 28 pound nugget 2 Reed continued with placer mining for a number of years In 1831 he began underground mining John Reed died at age 88 on May 28 1845 rich from the gold found on his property Some years later the American Civil War decreased mining activity because of labor and resources being pulled into the war The last large nugget uncovered by placer mining was discovered in 1896 The last underground mining took place at the Reed Mine in 1912 To handle the large amount of gold found in the region and state from the 19th into the early 20th century the Charlotte Mint was built in nearby Charlotte North Carolina 2 4 Today the Reed Mine is a state historic site that belongs to the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources and open to the public Visitors can tour a museum with extensive displays about North Carolina gold mining In addition they can explore several hundred feet of restored gold mine tunnels About John Reed editThis section does not cite any sources Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed March 2013 Learn how and when to remove this template message nbsp Panning for gold at the mine Johannes Reith a Hessian soldier from Raboldshausen Germany served during the American Revolution in Company C Col Friedrich von Porbeck of the Garrison Regiment von Wissenbach On June 21 1782 he deserted his post outside Savannah Georgia and took his arms and equipment He left the British army and came to settle in the lower part of North Carolina He went to upper Mecklenburg County North Carolina later Cabarrus County where he settled in the ethnic German community He Anglicized his name to John Reed Later he married Sarah Kiser daughter of Peter Kiser and Fanny Garmon See also editCarolina Gold Rush Georgia Gold Rush List of National Historic Landmarks in North Carolina National Register of Historic Places listings in Cabarrus County North CarolinaReferences edit National Register Information System National Register of Historic Places National Park Service November 2 2013 a b c Reed Gold Mine North Carolina Historic Sites Retrieved December 19 2006 Williams David 1993 The Georgia Gold Rush Twenty Niners Cherokees and Gold Fever Columbia University of South Carolina Press ISBN 1570030529 Antebellum Gold Mining 1820 1860 North Carolina History Project Retrieved December 19 2006 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Reed Gold Mine Reed Gold Mine official site American Society of Mechanical Engineers History amp Heritage Landmarks Page 35 17 08 N 80 28 12 W 35 28542 N 80 46996 W 35 28542 80 46996 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Reed Gold Mine amp oldid 1169399792, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
