Kellogg, Idaho — Town Had to Replace Its Soil

Kellogg grew around one of the Silver Valley's great mining complexes.

The famous origin story involves Noah Kellogg's wandering jackass returning with traces of lead ore.

The details are disputed.

The mining was not.

Bunker Hill and surrounding operations produced lead, zinc and silver on an enormous scale.

Mines, mills, smelters and railroads defined the town, along with fierce labor conflict.

The same industry also contaminated soil, water and dust with lead and other metals.

When the Bunker Hill complex closed in the early 1980s, federal Superfund cleanup eventually reached residential yards, hillsides and waterways across the valley.

Kellogg had to reinvent itself while portions of the community were literally getting new soil.

Recreation supplied part of the answer.

Silver Mountain's gondola now carries visitors from town up the mountain for skiing and other activities.

For generations, workers went into the mountain to make Kellogg function.

Now visitors ride to the top of it.