The Battle for Bisbee: A town frozen in the past braces for an assault by the tides of change

Bisbee, Arizona: Bisbee is so much more than just a quaint American town, it's a quaint American town that's a window into the past. Over the decades, the town the lies 90 miles South East of Tuscon, has steadfastly refused to change its facade, and that decision has stood it in good stead as it's drawn in tourist dollars. But now, time may be catching up to the town that refused to change.

Freeport-McMoRan, the mining giant that owns most of the town's property, has said it will not renew leases for local businesses next year. And that is bad news for places like Erie Street, in Bisbee’s Lowell District. The street has been described as a “living museum” by residents and visitors. Once a bustling hub tied to the copper mining industry, the street has become one of Arizona’s most photographed locations. The vintage cars parked along the curb, many belonging to local advocate Jay Allen, have drawn tourists from around the world.

“I remember when this place was booming,” Allen told 12 News. “When the mines pulled out around 1974, I watched it die the slowest death you can imagine.”

Freeport-McMoRan's reasoning for not renewing the leases is the aging building conditions and the geological risks associated with the proximity to an open-pit mining site.

Determined to preserve Erie Street’s charm, Allen is rallying support from Cochise County officials and collecting signatures to petition Freeport-McMoRan’s CEO. The hope is that the company will reconsider its decision or sell the buildings to local businesses willing to assume full liability for the properties.

A brief history of Bisbee

Bisbee was founded in 1880 as a copper, gold, and silver mining town. It quickly became one of the most prosperous mining communities in the US during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The town earned the nickname 'Queen of the Copper Camps' due to its prolific copper production and thriving community.

Mining operations largely ceased by the mid-20th century. The town saw a revival in the 1970s as artists, retirees, and counter-culture enthusiasts moved in, attracted by its historic charm and affordable living.