Reed Gold Mine

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The Reed Gold Mine is located in Cabarrus County, North Carolina, and is the site of the first documented gold find in the United States.

History

In 1799, Conrad Reed, the son of farmer and former Hessian soldier John Reed (né Johannes Reith), found a 17 pound yellow "rock" in Little Meadow Creek on the family farm in Cabarrus County, North Carolina. For three years, the rock served as a bulky doorstop. In 1802, a dishonest jeweler from Fayetteville identified the rock as a large gold nugget and bought it from the unwitting John Reed and Family for $3.50; the nugget's true value was, in all likelihood, over $3,000.

About 1803, John Reed organized a small gold mining operation. A 28 pound nugget was discovered not long afterward. Placer mining continued for a number of years, and underground mining began in 1831. John Reed died rich in 1845. Some years later, the American Civil War led activity at the mine to decrease. The last underground mining activity at the Reed occurred in 1912, and the last large nugget uncovered by placer mining was discovered in 1896.

Today, the mine is a state historic site and is open to the public. Visitors can tour a museum with extensive information about North Carolina gold mining, and can walk through several hundred feet of restored mine tunnels.

The Charlotte Mint was eventually founded in nearby Charlotte, North Carolina to handle the large amount of gold found in the region and state throughout the 19th century and into the early 20th.

John Reed

Johannes Reith a Hessen soldier from Raboldshausen, Germany served in Company C (Col. Friedrich von Porbeck) of the Garrison Regiment von Wissenbach. On June 21, 1782 he left his post outside of Savannah, Georgia and took with him his arms and equipment. He arrived in 'upper' Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, later Cabarrus and settled in the German community. He Anglicized his name to John Reed. Later he married Sarah Kiser, daughter of Peter Kiser and Fanny Garmon.

Further Information

American Society of Mechanical Engineers History & Heritage Landmarks Page

References

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Last updated on Tuesday March 11, 2008 at 09:55:07 PDT (GMT -0700)
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