The History of Superstition Mountain Treasure Hunters
Fred and Elaine Schrader, the co-founders of SMTH, and the mining supply store formerly known as ProMack
South, started their life together back in 1983. They dredged for gold in the rivers of the Northwest and
California, then started desert prospecting soon after that, doing dry washing and panning in the Southwest. In
1987, they relocated to Apache Junction. As where they operated a mining supply store for partner Dave McCracken, President and CEO of the
New 49'ers Mining Club and CEO of ProMack Mining Supplies Headquarters back in Northern California. Eventually, the
Schrader's
struck out on their own, buying out the southern branch of the business, and then starting the new Club.
Superstition Mountain Treasure Hunters began as an idea in the mind of a dedicated miner and prospector. Back in 1990, Fred and Elaine
Schrader, then the owners of ProMack South Mining Supplies in Apache Junction,
AZ were approached by one of their loyal customers and friends
with this idea. His suggestion, actually more of a plea, was that they organize a Club with it's Headquarters at their store so that others like
him would have a meeting place to share their knowledge with each other. Fred and Elaine took this idea and expounded on it, and turned it
into reality with the beginning of 'The Superstition Mountain Treasure Hinters Club'. The membership was modest at first, but quickly
grew and flourished due to the commonality of the theme, which was: Friendly Miners Helping Miners.
Once a month, the Schrader's moved aside all the counters and displays in the front sales room, and voila! It became a meeting hall. Word
spread about this enthusiastic group of prospectors and their meetings, and the Club started signing up members from all parts of the country
who had escaped the cold harsh weather back home to winter in the friendlier climate in Apache Junction.
The group would get together once or twice a month to go out to places one or the other members had explored and found promising for finding
gold. Eventually, some legal placer mining claims were filed by some of these members, and they gave the club permission to use them whenever
they wished. So, now , instead of just getting together and talking about finding gold, the members were going out and looking for and finding
gold. They used many different methods of mining on a small scale, and as new members joined them, they shared their methods with them.
thus, the group grew and learned, and as they grew the word spread, and they continued to grow.
Fred Schrader was murdered in 1992 while they were camping on some desert land near the town of Apache Junction. This was a pointed lesson
in the warning that people are still being killed over disputes regarding gold, or gold claims. Although they were not mining or prospecting
on this land, the miner who shot Fred believed that they were standing in the way of his desire to mine the area. This left Elaine alone to
continue their dreams for the business and the club.
Elaine was very active in the community, as a member of the local Chamber of Commerce, volunteering to take part in community activities which
involved local schools, and other groups. She also taught classes in different aspects of prospecting and mining at the local community college
in Conjunction with the Parks and Recreation Programs.
As part of the Club's endeavors, an annual hunt was organized, with the first hint being held in 1989. this hunt was originally called the SMTH
Hunt, but after Fred's death, the Club voted unanimously to change the name to the 'Fred Schrader Memorial Hunt'. The hunt continued this way
until 2003. The first hunt had about 28 entries and about $200 in prizes. The 2005 Hunt boasted over 200 entries with over $20,000 in gold,
coins and prizes being awarded. The 2006 Hunt was again very successful. with a like amount of entries and prize packages.
Failing health forced Elaine to sell the business in 2000, but she continued to hold onto the Club, relying on volunteer help to carry it
forward. Prior to her death in May, 2003 Elaine passed on her leadership role as President and CEO to two of her closest friends, Ted and
Martha Montague, who were members of SMTH. They continued to pursue the original dream that she and Fred shared for the Club, which were;
finding gold, adventure and the treasure of friends who share the same goals. The Club has continued to grow and prosper, gaining in both members
and available mining claims. The Club has continued to sponsor the annual hunt with one change, it
is now known as the 'Fred & Elaine Schrader
Memorial Hunt', and is now planning the 18th annual hint for February, 2007.
This information is provided by Martha Montague, a friend of the Schrader's since 1987, and is intended solely for the reading pleasure
of those who visit this Website, and those who knew and loved the Schrader's, as she and her husband, Ted did. This is dedicated to the wealth
of friends, whose worth is valued greater than the gold that we seek.
![[Most Recent Quotes from www.kitco.com]](http://www.kitconet.com/charts/metals/gold/t24_au_en_usoz_2.gif)
![[Most Recent Quotes from www.kitco.com]](http://www.kitconet.com/charts/metals/silver/t24_ag_en_usoz_2.gif)
