Silver Mine Closing Jolts Kellogg Area

The Sunshine Mine, the nation’s largest silver mine, has been a mainstay in Kellogg, Idaho, for more than a century, providing jobs, driving the economy and helping the region earn the name Silver Valley.

But the area’s economy was dealt a serious blow last week when the mine closed, after years of low prices and foreign competition. Four days after the announcement, 130 miners were out of work.

“There’s a lot of depression and uncertainty about where we’re going next,” said Ken Poulson, a Sunshine mechanic. “Most people are wandering around. They knew it was coming, but it’s still a shock.”