Unique Ghost Towns And Mountain Spots - free ebook by Caroline Bancroft

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Unique Ghost Towns And Mountain Spots

Caroline Bancroft

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Unique Ghost Towns and Mountain Spots

Unique Ghost Towns and Mountain Spots

Copyright 1961 by Caroline Bancroft. Seventh edition, 1973. All rights in this book are reserved. It may not be used for dramatic, radio, television, motion or talking picture purposes without written authorization. Johnson Publishing Co., Boulder, Colorado. D.K.P. 1960 Caroline Bancroft is a third generation Coloradan who began writing her first history for The Denver Post in 1928. Her long-standing interest in western history was inherited. Her pioneer grandfather, Dr. F. J. Bancroft, was a fo

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The Cover

The Cover

The Dumont boarding house in North Empire, unique for its ground-level dormer windows, was built about 1872 for miners working on the Benton lode, owned by John M. Dumont. In 1897, with a date still on the wall, it was bought by a Mrs. Bishop who painted the building a purplish blue. She operated it as a boarding house until about 1906 when she took over the Peck House (Hotel Splendide) in Empire. Still later, in the 1930’s, Waldemar Nelson lived in the “Blue House” and used one section as a mac

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THE ALICE POST OFFICE STILL STANDS

THE ALICE POST OFFICE STILL STANDS

George J. Bancroft, 1904; D.P.L. MAP High-resolution Map...

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⇐PLAN OF TOURS

⇐PLAN OF TOURS

Nevadaville is unique for many reasons. It was part of the historic 1859 “Pikes Peak or Bust” gold rush. In 1861 the town was larger than Denver. In 1863 one of Nevadaville’s mines, the Pat Casey (later the Ophir), was sold by its illiterate Irish owner in New York to Wall Street speculators for a fancy sum which started a boom in Gilpin County mines. Stock shares of Nevadaville’s mines were thus the first of Colorado corporations to be quoted on the “big board.” When John H. Gregory found the f

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NEVADAVILLE HAD THIRTEEN SALOONS

NEVADAVILLE HAD THIRTEEN SALOONS

This view looks northeast across Nevada Creek to the main street, which continues at the right on down to Central City and Denver. A. M. Thomas, 1900; D.P.L....

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CORNISH COTTAGES COVERED THIS SLOPE

CORNISH COTTAGES COVERED THIS SLOPE

The population of Nevadaville was twelve hundred in 1900 when the upper photo was taken. The Union Bakery wagon was delivering bread and pastries; an ore wagon was heading up toward Alps Hill, and a number of residents, both on this side of Nevada Creek and the other, were interested in the photographer’s work. In 1960 no one was around to be curious; the lower bridge was gone, but the slopes were the same. D.K.P., 1960 Nevadaville, similar to all gold camps in Colorado, had a renascence during

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AMERICAN CITY HUGS THE TREES

AMERICAN CITY HUGS THE TREES

The mill (which was built by a master carpenter of the German shipyards) was in ruins, but the Hotel del Monte (second in the trees) stood. On July 3, 1897, a newspaper called the Pine Cone began publication at Apex and carried frequent delightful items about American City. Captain E. M. Stedman, one of the principal stockholders, was also manager. On April 28, 1900, it reported that he was becoming an expert at “skeeing” since “he made the distance on Tuesday from his residence in American City

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KINGSTON IS IN TWO SECTIONS

KINGSTON IS IN TWO SECTIONS

Shown are the London boardinghouse, mill and mine (far right). More miners lived down in Secreto Gulch to the left of this high ridge. D.K.P., 1960 Alice was rich in gold—particularly placer gold. But oddly and uniquely, no one found these placers until long after other Clear Creek placers had been worked out. Apparently no prospector was thorough enough in his search on upper Fall River and its little tributary, Silver Creek, to make a strike during the placer excitements of 1859 and the early

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ALICE BOASTED OF ITS GLORY HOLE

ALICE BOASTED OF ITS GLORY HOLE

In 1911 two mills, the Anchor and Princess Alice, and six mining companies were operating when this view was taken. It looks southwest along the road that runs past the Glory Hole and eventually to the Loch Lomond Reservoir system, built and owned by G. J. Bancroft in the early 1900’s. The 1960 view of the Glory Hole shows three roads at upper right: two up to Yankee and St. Mary’s Glacier, and one off to Idaho Springs. D.K.P., 1960 George Wakely, circa 1868; D.P.L....

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NORTH EMPIRE CLUNG CLOSE TO THE MINES

NORTH EMPIRE CLUNG CLOSE TO THE MINES

The town was built on the side of Covode Mountain nearly opposite the Silver Mountain mining properties and equidistant between the two boardinghouse relics, the Dumont and the Conqueror. The 1960 shot of the Copper Cone (or Gold Fissure) mine was taken from approximately the same location, but looking north rather than east. The various levels of streets and a few foundations may still be seen through the trees. D.K.P., 1960 North Empire led a prosperous existence during the 1860’s and ’70’s bu

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THE CONQUEROR’S MINERS LIVED WELL

THE CONQUEROR’S MINERS LIVED WELL

The south wing of the Conqueror’s boardinghouse was built by W. S. Pryor in 1910. The original wing (at the right) dates from the 1870’s. Unfortunately, vandals have since burned down this picturesque relic. D.K.P., 1960 Waldorf is unique because, single-handed, it was caused and named by a mining magnate who built his own little railroad—the Argentine Central—to create the town. Edward John Wilcox was another of the many colorful characters Colorado has produced. He was full of quirks and idios

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WALDORF WAS A RAILROAD MINING TOWN

WALDORF WAS A RAILROAD MINING TOWN

The upper view was taken with a telescopic lens and shows the Vidler mill in the foreground, the track from Vidler tunnel and one of its ore cars to the right, a team of horses to the left, and at Waldorf proper, a railroad coach and a boxcar on a siding. In both photos the road around to the Santiago mine and its power line across the hill are prominent. The Argentine Pass horseback trail goes off to the left. D.K.P., 1960 The hut’s shiny newness makes Waldorf unique for still another reason—ou

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PRETTY SAINTS JOHN WAS SECLUDED

PRETTY SAINTS JOHN WAS SECLUDED

The superintendent’s house was in the best condition of buildings left standing in the former company town. Note fine smelter stack at right. D.K.P., 1960 Caribou’s fame lives on despite most of its buildings being gone because it had the richest silver mine of the Front Range and because bullion from Caribou formed a $12,000 walkway in April, 1873, for a President. This was at Central City when President U. S. Grant stepped from his stagecoach into the Teller House. Two mines, the Caribou and t

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WINDY CARIBOU NEARLY BLEW AWAY

WINDY CARIBOU NEARLY BLEW AWAY

In the 1870’s and early ’80’s Caribou grew to a population of nearly five hundred residents. It established law and order, built a Methodist church, opened a school, organized a Cornish band, instituted regular stage service to Central City, and added props to buildings in an effort to withstand the frequent gales. The above ably depicts the wind problem. The lower photo shows Caribou as it looked in 1960 from the same angle on Goat Hill. Arapaho Peak and Baldy are in the background. In the lowe

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WARD DELIGHTED SUNDAY EXCURSIONISTS

WARD DELIGHTED SUNDAY EXCURSIONISTS

In 1902 Ward had a population of three hundred fifty and advertised that it had six stamp mills in operation as well as good schools and churches. The Columbia Hotel opened that year on the street just below the charming Congregational Church (prominent on the hill). Just above the church on the highest street level was the railroad depot of the Denver, Boulder and Western, now a cafe on the Peak-to-Peak highway. D.K.P., 1960 Lulu City is the first of our ghost towns to carry the inevitable “cit

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LULU CITY BECAME A GHOST EVEN BY 1889

LULU CITY BECAME A GHOST EVEN BY 1889

Impossible to imagine now: When the town was platted in a park at 9,400 feet altitude, it had one hundred numbered blocks and nineteen streets. The Forest Service and National Parks System have no regard for history and are letting all the nineteenth-century buildings within their boundaries deteriorate as fast as possible. The two high mountains in the background are Lulu and Neota, and the cut is the Grand Ditch. D.K.P., 1960 One of the few remaining sights in Lulu City is this unusual device

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BEAR TRAP

BEAR TRAP

D.K.P., 1960 His prophecy has come true in full measure—only you can’t see the hotel at all! If you count carefully, you can discover the foundations of twenty-three buildings in the main part of town. Some five hundred feet farther north, there is a lone remote ruin in a grove on a point jutting west. This belonged to the town prostitute. Lulu City’s most distinctive relic is at the southern entrance to town—a former bear trap which gives Lulu City its uniqueness today. The town also had unique

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CHRISTMAS TREES CHOSE CABINS FOR BOXES

CHRISTMAS TREES CHOSE CABINS FOR BOXES

A quaint sight and a complete fulfillment of the old prospector’s prophecy are these spruce trees growing inside former residences. D.K.P., 1960 Hahns Peak is the lowest in altitude of our selected towns—8,163 feet—and the farthest north—almost to the Wyoming line. It is now solely a summer resort, but a summer resort fully conscious of its mining history. Two monuments fill a grassy plot in its main street. One is a large hose nozzle which bears a plaque commemorating the work that the “little

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HAHNS PEAK COMMEMORATES ITS FOUNDER

HAHNS PEAK COMMEMORATES ITS FOUNDER

The store at the left is labeled C. E. Blackburn, General Merchandise. Blackburn was in business there during 1902 and ’03. In 1904 he was also postmaster. Previously the same building had held the bank. The large building in the center of the photograph (with two windows facing this way) was the Larson Hotel. The three-roofed building was the courthouse. It obscures the jail which stood behind it in 1898, in a direct line with Hahns Peak. On a night that was twenty-eight degrees below zero, Lan

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FULFORD HAD AN UPPER AND LOWER TOWN

FULFORD HAD AN UPPER AND LOWER TOWN

The Lanning Hotel and the Daggett Store may easily be located in both the “then” and “now” shots. In the upper photo New York Mountain (with two elevations) is in the background. White Quail Creek may be seen running down its sides to join Nolan Creek whose banks show in the foreground, this side of Lower Fulford. The road which connected the two towns crosses the hill behind the prominent hotel and store. D.K.P., 1960 The two friends greeted each other enthusiastically at the Lanning Hotel (whi

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UPPER FULFORD HAD A STURDY ASSAY OFFICE

UPPER FULFORD HAD A STURDY ASSAY OFFICE

The original assay office (right), just a few steps from White Quail Creek, supported an enormous ridge pole which in turn held a sod roof. D.K.P., 1960 He was never seen alive again. The next day, when the skis were in good order, the friend followed Fulford’s tracks with no difficulty until beyond Bowman Gulch. Then evidence of an enormous snowslide came into view, and the footsteps went no farther. The friend retraced his path and enlisted the help of one hundred men to plumb the depths of th

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CRYSTAL CITY USED SPARKLING WATER POWER

CRYSTAL CITY USED SPARKLING WATER POWER

Robert Symonds, 1954 Crystal City had its beginnings in 1880 when prospectors, working north from Gunnison through Gothic and Schofield, drifted down the south fork of the Crystal River. They found outcroppings of transparent quartz shot with crystallite and called the river and their little settlement, Crystal. From that year until 1885, about seven good silver mines were opened up in the surrounding mountains, notably the Lead King in Lead King Basin, the Inez, the Harrison Farley, the Catalpa

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LENADO BEGAN AS A SILVER CAMP

LENADO BEGAN AS A SILVER CAMP

At the time geologist Spurr took the upper photo he remarked that Lenado was in a rather dilapidated condition, having been badly affected by the Silver Panic. His picture was taken from above the Leadville mine, both higher and farther to the left than the 1960 shot. The latter shows the dump of the Aspen Contact mine, the original old barn for the mine mules and one of the old houses dating from the 1880’s. D.K.P., 1960 D.K.P., 1960...

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LENADO’S NAME MEANS “WOODED”

LENADO’S NAME MEANS “WOODED”

A busy sawmill has saved the town from death in full prophecy of the unknown man who gave it a Spanish name (pronounced Len-yah-do). When the need for strategic metals waned, Lenado folded again. In 1935 Jack Flogaus opened up the sawmill to run continuously thereafter. In the summer of 1960 he employed thirty-three men, five of whose families stayed the year round and ten of whose families were summer residents. The cutting of lumber was done on U. S. Forest Service land on Larkspur Mountain an

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ASHCROFT WAS A BIGGER TOWN THAN ASPEN

ASHCROFT WAS A BIGGER TOWN THAN ASPEN

Ashcroft had two outlets; one over the passes, Taylor and Cottonwood, to Buena Vista’s railhead, the other over Pearl Pass to Crested Butte. Franz Berko, 1958 Independence is the town of many names—and yet it never had an official post office of “Independence!” It happened this way: the camp was started in the spring of 1879 by a group of prospectors from Leadville, headed by Billy Belden. They found an excellent gold placer at the head of the Roaring Fork and settled down to mine. They called t

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INDEPENDENCE LIES BESIDE THE HIGHWAY

INDEPENDENCE LIES BESIDE THE HIGHWAY

This, the easiest ghost town to see, is viewable from a parked car and presents a host of interesting shots for the artistic photographer. Franz Berko, 1957 The Little Jonny was probably Leadville’s richest mine. Properties such as the Robert E. Lee made more fantastic shipments—during a seventeen-hour stretch in January, 1880, some $118,500 was extracted—and others such as the Tabors’ Matchless have had more publicity. But the Little Jonny was rare in being both a gold and silver mine in a pred

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THE “UNSINKABLE” MRS. BROWN LIVED HERE

THE “UNSINKABLE” MRS. BROWN LIVED HERE

Stumptown lies in South Evans Gulch, east of Leadville. It was the place where Maggie Tobin Brown lived as the bride of Jim Brown, manager of the Little Jonny mine. It is also where she is supposed to have lost a fortune by hiding paper money in a stove and having it burned. The upper photo looks west toward the Sawatch Range past the Ollie Reed mine; the lower, toward Mosquito Pass and the burro race trail. D.K.P., 1960 Buckskin Joe and Leavick are the principal trips here although Como and Mud

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DID “SILVERHEELS” DANCE HERE IN THE 1860’S?

DID “SILVERHEELS” DANCE HERE IN THE 1860’S?

Buckskin Joe was the mining camp that created one of the most delightful Colorado legends. Silverheels was a beautiful dancehall girl who stayed to nurse the miners during a smallpox epidemic after all the other women fled. Later, when the miners raised a purse to reward her, she could not be found. Smallpox had attacked and ravaged her beauty; so she disappeared. In memory, Mount Silverheels was named for her. D.K.P., 1960 D.K.P., 1960...

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RAILROAD GHOSTS HAUNT SOUTH PARK

RAILROAD GHOSTS HAUNT SOUTH PARK

At Mudsill the wye of the Denver, South Park and Hilltop narrow gauge is all that remains of a small camp created by the activities of the Mudsill mine. Below is the sad, abandoned D.S.P. &amp; P. roundhouse at Como. Michael Davis, 1960 D.K.P., 1960...

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THE PARK’S MINING GHOSTS ARE MANY

THE PARK’S MINING GHOSTS ARE MANY

The Leavick terminus of the Last Chance and Hilltop mines’ tramway was at the above mill. Ore buckets swung in the second story (right), emptied and back along the towers. Below is an arastra in Buckskin Creek. D.K.P., 1960 Next to Leadville, the Cripple Creek district has the most fascination for the preterist. It had the most fabulous gold production of any camp in Colorado—nay, in the United States. According to historian Marshall Sprague, the district created twenty-eight millionaires as a m

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ALTMAN CLAIMED TO BE THE HIGHEST TOWN

ALTMAN CLAIMED TO BE THE HIGHEST TOWN

Altman was platted by Sam Altman in 1893 on the short saddle between Bull Hill and Bull Cliff and soon had a population of fifteen hundred (including Midway a hamlet to the northwest). Its altitude was 10,620 feet. It claimed to be the highest incorporated town in the world and probably was, in North America. Both upper and lower shots were taken near the crest of Bull Hill with Pikes Peak looming in the background. Bull Hill was the scene of one of the early skirmishes of labor-capital battles

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THE CRIPPLE CREEK DISTRICT HAS MORE GHOSTS

THE CRIPPLE CREEK DISTRICT HAS MORE GHOSTS

Goldfield was platted in January, 1895, and had a population of thirty-five hundred. It served rather as a suburb to Victor but did build a few substantial buildings, including this fire house. Its quaint engine has been removed to Victor for display. The Bull Hill station (below) is a reminder of three railroads that formerly served Cripple Creek and also of the Independence station blown up by Harry Orchard, 1904. D.K.P., 1960 Two interesting mountain spots may be seen in this locality. Rosita

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ROSITA’S HANDSOMEST HOUSE LIVED ON

ROSITA’S HANDSOMEST HOUSE LIVED ON

In the 1890 photo the ornate two-story house (seen below) stood at the righthand end of the main street, facing this way. In 1960 the house next was gone except for some lumber on the ground; the third house still stood. The mansion bore a sign Post Office which was tacked up in 1957 during the filming of Saddle the Wind , a movie that starred Robert Taylor and used Rosita for atmosphere. Both are now gone. D.K.P., 1960 L. C. McClure, 1900-1909; D.P.L....

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SILVER CLIFF CHOSE A MAGNIFICENT BACKDROP

SILVER CLIFF CHOSE A MAGNIFICENT BACKDROP

Silver Cliff boomed in 1879 to such an extent that it rivaled Leadville for a decade. For a short period it was the third largest town in Colorado and it has never been a true ghost town, although much fallen from its former opulence. What has never changed is the view from the silver cliff, facing the town, across the Wet Mountain Valley to the spectacular reddish Sangre de Cristo Range (Blood of Christ in Spanish). D.K.P., 1960 Turret was a gold camp that was discovered very late—in 1897—and e

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TURRET FACED THE COLLEGIATE RANGE

TURRET FACED THE COLLEGIATE RANGE

The cliffs which gave Turret its name are to the rear of the photographer in both shots. These photos look across the Arkansas Valley to Shavano and Antero Peaks. When the 1902 picture was taken, Turret had a population of one hundred ninety-five and was reached by stage from Salida. Note the residences on the hill at the far end of the main street where the 1960 shot caught a sod roof and amateur chimney. D.K.P., 1960 “When I went to Turret in 1932 to operate a mine, there were thirty-seven inh

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BONANZA

BONANZA

Bonanza City was actually no bonanza. It had many mines and quantities of low-grade ore which supplied some good fortunes but no millions. It spread for over a mile along Kerber Creek and absorbed an early rival, Kerber City. D.K.P., 1960...

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KERBER CREEK IGNORES THE GLORIOUS PAST

KERBER CREEK IGNORES THE GLORIOUS PAST

The 1960 shot was at the upper end of Bonanza and depicts the farthest house in town, opposite a well and the Wheel of Fortune mine dump. A drive up Chalk Creek around the south side of Mt. Princeton and past the Chalk Cliffs (as famed in their way as those of Dover) will bring you to St. Elmo. This mining camp was located first as Forest City in December, 1880, but shortly after received a post office under the name of St. Elmo. Its main reason for existence was the Mary Murphy mine which had b

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SAINT ELMO HAD A CLIFTON HOTEL

SAINT ELMO HAD A CLIFTON HOTEL

The upper view shows one of the two main blocks that was destroyed by fire in 1890. The Clifton Hotel was the large white building in the center of the upper view. The white building at the right was a saloon—note bartenders with white aprons and man holding a beer keg. In the original picture, the stage road to Tin Cup Pass can just be discerned, wending its way up through the timber at far left. D.K.P., 1960 During its heyday St. Elmo was a little hub, having in addition to its railroad, toll

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WINFIELD

WINFIELD

The Clear Creek district of Chaffee County had seven mining camps rivaling each other in 1881. Only two survived, Vicksburg and Winfield. Today both have been changed into summer resorts where fishing is the principal sport and main attraction. Tin Cup was “a wild ’un.” Probably Creede, Leadville and Tin Cup attained the worst reputations (and rightfully) of Colorado’s many mining camps. Tin Cup was particularly hard on marshals. The first two officeholders were weak and completely under control

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TIN CUP’S TOWN HALL LOOKS CHURCHLY

TIN CUP’S TOWN HALL LOOKS CHURCHLY

During Tin Cup’s revival a Town Hall was erected in 1906 and used for a variety of community affairs. The Town Hall was renovated and re-painted in 1950 by the Civic Association. Tin Cup had no church. Bryant McFadden, 1960 Frank Hall, one of Colorado’s most eminent historians, says in Volume IV of his comprehensive work that the surface ores were high grade silver, ranging from 114 to 600 ounces of silver per ton, and that all had admixtures of gold. In addition there were some excellent placer

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GOTHIC HAS TURNED FROM MINES TO PLANTS

GOTHIC HAS TURNED FROM MINES TO PLANTS

Garwood Judd, variously known as “The Man Who Stayed” and “Mayor of Gothic,” lived off and on in the Town Hall until his death in 1930. Capitol City is unique for two reasons—the odd spelling of its name and the sad ruin of one man’s dream to have his town the capital of Colorado. He was George S. Lee, a mill and smelter operator. Frank Fossett wrote in 1880 in his Colorado that Capitol City was located at the junction of the two forks of Henson Creek, nine miles west of Lake City, in a park mos

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THE GRANDEUR OF CAPITOL CITY IS DUST

THE GRANDEUR OF CAPITOL CITY IS DUST

The elaborate layout of George S. Lee was depicted in Frank Fossett’s 1880 publication. The outlying barns, pastures and corrals are now gone. It is evident from this sketch that the course of Henson Creek must have been at the southern limit of Capitol Park. Today Henson Creek is flowing so close to the mansion that it is about to undermine the foundation. The 1960 view looks up the valley toward Rose’s Cabin. D.K.P., 1960 The Ute-Ulay is now part of the holdings of the powerful Newmont Mining

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CARSON SNUGGLES AGAINST THE DIVIDE

CARSON SNUGGLES AGAINST THE DIVIDE

This section of the town lies on the Pacific slope side of the divide and is in much better condition than the camp on the Atlantic side. Bachelor’s beginnings followed the silver rush to the Creede area in the autumn of 1890. The town was heralded by an amusing paragraph in the Creede Candle for January 21, 1892, which ran: “The latest townsite excitement is in a park on Bachelor Hill, around the Last Chance boarding house. Two saloons and a female seminary are already in operation and other bu

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BACHELOR WAS FULL OF BRAWLING “BATCHERS”

BACHELOR WAS FULL OF BRAWLING “BATCHERS”

The mining camp was already declining when this picture was taken. Its population had fallen from twelve hundred to one hundred and fifty. Still Bachelor hung on as a town after that for a number of years. But the winters were so harsh, and transportation over the two-and-a-half mile road that climbed nearly two thousand feet up was so difficult that in the ’teens the last residents gave up. They moved down to Creede. In 1960 there were only three cabins left standing on what was formerly Bachel

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MAIN STREET

MAIN STREET

This photo was taken fairly late in the afternoon and shows what is left of the main street—just a few timbers of the boardwalk. No matter what time of day you are in Bachelor you run the danger of bad weather. Lonny Rogers, 1960...

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REMNANTS

REMNANTS

These two houses used to ornament the residential street which ran parallel to the main street. The one in the rear has a covered walkway to the attached privy, a porch to the well, finely mortised and plastered walls and real flooring. The population was between five hundred and one thousand, and cabins were going up fast. On September 24, the Spar City Spark started publication, and on October 29 a preliminary meeting of the town council was held. Six grocery stores, two restaurants, three liv

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ODD GRAVE

ODD GRAVE

In this quiet, pretty spot three bodies are said to lie, buried on top of each other as the result of an early tragedy. In the woods off to the left, or east, the old dump of the Last Chance mine shows alternating hues of amethysts and gold. O. W. Longwood, 1960...

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SPAR CITY HAS A CHARMING MAIN STREET

SPAR CITY HAS A CHARMING MAIN STREET

These views are both taken looking north toward the continental divide. The old hotel may plainly be seen as the only two-story structure of the group. Many of these original cabins have been added to but the members of the club are required to keep the additions in the style of the original architecture. The lower photo shows one of the three fishing and boating ponds and a pony for the children, curious and alert. O. W. Longwood, 1960 O. W. Longwood, 1960...

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ITS OLD HOTEL AND JAIL ARE CHERISHED

ITS OLD HOTEL AND JAIL ARE CHERISHED

The main street was actually named North Street. The Spar City Spark for May 27, 1893 reported that the Free Coinage Hotel was being built and would have furniture from Denver. When it was changed into a Community Hall, bedroom doors on the second floor were removed which read “Rose—$1.00; Marie—$1.50; Ruth—$3.00,” etc. The owner of the old jail has kept its original bars intact over one of the windows. O. W. Longwood, 1960 Summitville was next to the earliest of the San Juan mining camps. Yet g

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NINETY-YEAR-OLD SUMMITVILLE WON’T DIE

NINETY-YEAR-OLD SUMMITVILLE WON’T DIE

Nearly ten million dollars have been extracted from its mines, which cover seven hundred-odd acres and stem from four main veins—the Tewksbury, Hidden, Copper and Little Annie. In 1960 the property was three-fourths owned by Mrs. George Garrey of Denver (daughter of A. E. Reynolds) and one-fourth by B. T. Poxon of Creede, and was leased to Jack Rigg whose crew commuted from the San Luis Valley. Jack Rigg, 1960 Eureka is the oldest of the San Juan camps, dating from 1860. That was the summer of t

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THE SUNNYSIDE WAS EUREKA’S MAINSTAY

THE SUNNYSIDE WAS EUREKA’S MAINSTAY

The Sunnyside mine and mill were served by one of Otto Mears’ three little railroads, the Silverton Northern. Gladstone, a similar mining camp to the west of Eureka and now also a ghost town, was served by its own railroad. The tall building at the right of both photos is the jail from which all the bars and bolts have recently been vandalized. The road that crosses below the dump at the right leads up to Animas Forks. Joseph Collier, circa 1878; D.P.L. D.K.P., 1960...

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EVALYN WALSH McLEAN DID NOT SLEEP HERE

EVALYN WALSH McLEAN DID NOT SLEEP HERE

On these two pages the usual order of the “then” photo at the top of the page and the “now” photo at the bottom of the page has not been adhered to because of the size of the pictures. Eureka is at the top of both pages and Animas Forks at the bottom. Evalyn Walsh McLean testified in her book Father Struck It Rich that she was born in Denver on August 1, 1886 (see page 3 ). The local legend is quite erroneous. D.K.P., 1960 On the way over Red Mountain Pass two unusual ghost towns may be seen by

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THE NATIONAL BELLE MARKS RED MOUNTAIN

THE NATIONAL BELLE MARKS RED MOUNTAIN

The upper photo was taken before the Silverton Railroad reached Red Mountain in 1888. The National Belle was already in profitable operation as can be seen from the size of the dump. In 1960 nothing remained of the town, and only the shaft house was standing. If you are traveling by jeep, there is a most picturesque alternate road into Red Mountain which leads out of the valley around the ridge to the right. D.K.P., 1960 T. M. McKee, 1886; D.P.L....

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IRONTON WAS THE RAILROAD TERMINUS

IRONTON WAS THE RAILROAD TERMINUS

It was here that passengers on the Silverton Railroad transferred to a four-horse stage to continue their journey to Ouray. Actually the Silverton Railroad was later extended some two miles farther down the creek to Albany Gulch to pick up ore although Ironton was considered the real terminus. The railroad grade may be seen as it circles in the heavy timber at the left beyond this log cabin and to the town at right. D.K.P., 1960 Pandora, two miles east of Telluride, was settled around 1881 and w

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PANDORA’S SETTING IS SUPERB

PANDORA’S SETTING IS SUPERB

In 1902 the population of Pandora was one hundred. Whatever its size, no town in Colorado can match its magnificent backdrop and jeep trail. Jack Rigg, 1960...

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MINING GHOSTS OF THE STORIED SAN JUANS

MINING GHOSTS OF THE STORIED SAN JUANS

In saying farewell to the unique high-country places, you are left with many dramatic memories other than of towns alone. There are shaft houses or portal-houses like that of the Copper Vein mine at Summitville which provided Thomas M. Bowen with wealth to defeat Horace Tabor in his bid for the seven-year term for U.S. senator; or aerial tramways like the Tabasco mine’s crossing Cinnamon Pass to its mill. D.K.P., 1960...

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L’Envoi

L’Envoi

If you have read this far, we hope that you have attempted one or more of the short trips. Perhaps you have done the whole suggested tour around Colorado and seen all forty-two of our selections. Whichever you have attempted, you must have come away awe-struck by the prodigious energy and enterprise of the pioneers. Their feats of transportation over villainous terrain, and of building shaft houses, dwellings and even towns on the face of cliffs or at the top of mountains, were so herculean as t

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For Research Aid:

For Research Aid:

As in all of my historical work, I want to thank the alert and unusual staff of the Western History Department of the Denver Public Library—Alys Freeze, Opal Harber, Katherine Hawkins, Mary Hanley and James Davis—who have been known to find needles in haystacks. At the Colorado State Museum, Agnes Wright Spring and Laura Ekstrom are always generous; as is Lorena Jones at The Denver Post . The Lake City area was made informative and hospitable by the Joel Swanks and the Lowell Swansons. Hahns Pea

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For Proofreading:

For Proofreading:

Mrs. Bryant McFadden and Beatrice Jordan have kindly helped with the search for typographical errors and have made suggestions about style....

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For Photographs:

For Photographs:

We, Dan Peterson and I, are especially indebted to Jim Davis of the Western History Department of the Denver Public Library, and Lorena Jones of The Denver Post for running down historic photos of our special ghost towns. When Dan Peterson was unable to go personally for contemporary shots, numerous other friends helped with picture-taking or with transportation for research. Ed Hargraves of Creede loaned his jeep five times for the trip to Bachelor where the weather was continuously uncooperati

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(See back cover for prices) GULCH OF GOLD

(See back cover for prices) GULCH OF GOLD

A fictionized history, reading like a novel but of the soundest research picturing the stories of colorful characters who started the state in Central City. Over 100 photos and maps. Hard cover book. $6.85 prepaid....

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COLORFUL COLORADO: ITS DRAMATIC HISTORY

COLORFUL COLORADO: ITS DRAMATIC HISTORY

The whole magnificent sweep of the state’s history in a sprightly condensation, with 111 photos (31 in color). Paperback. $2.00....

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SILVER QUEEN: THE FABULOUS STORY OF BABY DOE TABOR

SILVER QUEEN: THE FABULOUS STORY OF BABY DOE TABOR

Her love affair caused a sensational triangle and a national scandal in the ’Eighties. Illustrated. $1.50....

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AUGUSTA TABOR: HER SIDE OF THE SCANDAL

AUGUSTA TABOR: HER SIDE OF THE SCANDAL

The infamous quarrel of the 1880’s is told from the viewpoint of the outspoken first wife. Illustrated. 75¢....

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TABOR’S MATCHLESS MINE AND LUSTY LEADVILLE

TABOR’S MATCHLESS MINE AND LUSTY LEADVILLE

Colorado’s most publicized mine was just one facet of the extraordinary history of the lusty camp where it operated. Illustrated. 75¢....

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THE UNSINKABLE MRS. BROWN

THE UNSINKABLE MRS. BROWN

The rollicking story of an ignorant Leadville waitress who reached the top of Newport society as a Titanic heroine. Illustrated. $1.25....

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FAMOUS ASPEN

FAMOUS ASPEN

Today the silver-studded slopes of an early day bonanza town have turned into a scenic summer and ski resort. Illustrated. $1.50....

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HISTORIC CENTRAL CITY

HISTORIC CENTRAL CITY

Colorado’s first big gold camp lived to become a Summer Opera and Play Festival town. Illustrated. 85¢....

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DENVER’S LIVELY PAST

DENVER’S LIVELY PAST

A wild frontier town, built on a jumped claim and promoting a red-light district, became a popular tourist spot. Illustrated. $1.00....

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THE BROWN PALACE IN DENVER

THE BROWN PALACE IN DENVER

No hotel had more turn-of-the-century glamor, nor has seen such plush love-affairs, murders and bizarre doings. Illustrated. 75¢....

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SIX RACY MADAMS OF COLORADO

SIX RACY MADAMS OF COLORADO

Biographies of six “ladies of pleasure” (whose parlor houses were scandalous ornaments to the state) make amusing reading. Illustrated. $1.50....

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COLORADO’S LOST GOLD MINES AND BURIED TREASURE

COLORADO’S LOST GOLD MINES AND BURIED TREASURE

Thirty fabulous tales, which will inspire the reader to go search with a spade, enliven the state’s past. Illustrated. $1.25....

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ESTES PARK AND GRAND LAKE

ESTES PARK AND GRAND LAKE

The romantic history of the two scenic Trail Ridge Country towns, told with warmth. Illustrated. $2.00....

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TWO BURROS OF FAIRPLAY

TWO BURROS OF FAIRPLAY

The charming true story behind two burro monuments, told primarily for junior-high level. Illustrated. $1.00. ( Add 20 cents for mailing one copy; 30 cents for more than one ) JOHNSON PUBLISHING COMPANY 839 Pearl Street, Boulder, Colorado 80302...

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