The name Belcher Camp is rarely spoken of today, even in Ferry County. There were many more bonanza mining camps in the state during its boom town days but few were as unique as Belcher was. At its peak the population was only 72 souls and it wasn’t even a gold camp, its miners mind iron.

Belcher was located on upper Lambert Creek, ten miles northeast of Republic. Around 1897 a large body of high grade iron ore was discovered. By 1906 Belcher was a complete mining camp, with a population of around 60 or 75 souls. It had a post office, large bunkhouse for single miners, general store, five or six cabins, and a railroad.

Eventually the mine shut down, the camp was abandoned, and today there isn’t much left to mark its passing.