Category: History

30 Years Ago – January 28, 1983

  It took only a few seconds before Judge Winston Wolvington in District Court for the charges to be dismissed against Steven Lee Bradley. Bradley was charged with the first degree murder of David Harden Dockery whose body was found on Alps Hill October 27. Charges against Gilbert Orr, who was arrested along with Bradley, had been dismissed at the preliminary hearing in December. According to the district attorney, there is not enough evidence to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. The evidence and probable cause were based on personal statements from witnesses that incriminated Bradley and Orr. The problem arose when every one of the witnesses changed their testimonies and gave different stories after their initial statements.

They originally asked for $7.5 million, but they only received $11,524. After a day and a half of deliberation, the six-member jury returned a verdict in the case of Linda Millican and Nigel Clayton vs. Rick and Shirley Wolf and Bobby Dietz. The suit was brought after Millican’s and Clayton’s two-and-a-half-year-old daughter, April, was tragically killed when a vending machine in the Soda Saloon in Central City apparently fell on her on September 19, 1981. Jurors found the Wolfs, who owned the business, and Dietz, who owned the vending machine, guilty of negligence. The trial began January 19, in District Court, after a full day of searching for jurors. Twenty-five had been called but for various reasons the lawyers were unable to find six acceptable jurors, so the sheriff went out in the streets, local bars and restaurants, nabbing people, about 12, and taking them to the courtroom as prospective jurors, until a jury was finally impaneled.

The Henderson Mine near Empire, and the Climax Mine near Leadville, will remain closed indefinitely. About 2,000 employees are affected. They were to return to work April 4, after a six-month shutdown. Large molybdenum inventories and low sales forced the decision on AMAX.

The new material for the permanent repair to the Gilpin RE-1 gym roof, which suffered severe wind damage January 10, is on order from the manufacturer.

Over 50 people from various county, city and state road departments, along with several private contractors showed up Tuesday morning for a two-day snow-plowing demonstration featuring the Galion A600 All-Wheel Drive Motorgrader with a straight front plow and the International 530 Loader with a single plow. The event was hosted by the H.W. Moore Equipment Company. Making several passes the machines demonstrated their power and traction by plowing the road from Apex, sometimes in waist-deep snow, to the top of the hill near American City. Both machines suffered breaks to the boxed 3/8” steel framework, which anchored the plow hydraulics to the plow, when the blades caught on large rocks. However, the plows, with plenty of help from the crowd, were chained into position and the plowing continued. During a coffee break, one of the Galion’s operators demonstrated its ability to get five of its six wheels off the ground. Gilpin County Road Supervisor Bobby Clay said that although the road is now open, the county will not continue to plow it.

The cross country ski traffic up the Tolland road seems lighter this year, particularly judging from the number of stops made in Rollinsville.

John Myers of Golden, the executive vice president and cashier of Gilpin County Bank, became a $10,000 winner in the new state lottery Wednesday. His winning ticket was purchased at the grocery store in Black Hawk.

On December 31, 1982, Frank Gates retired from 50 years of service with the Central City Opera House Association. During those 50 years, “Pancho” did just about everything and anything connected with the Opera Festival and the historic properties. His artistic pursuits, in and out of the theater, have gained for him outstanding recognition and numerous awards. Gates, who has been painting since 1919, currently has an exhibit of recent paintings at the Mermaid Café. He said he will paint and do a little gardening.

Gilpin County was saddened to learn of the death of Luella R. Fritz on Tuesday of this week. She had been a resident of Black Hawk for many years.

Brian and Sue Adams are continuing to open their lake for ice skating at the times noted on the sign just at the entryway to the Blue Spruce acreage south of Rollinsville on Hwy 119.

The Booster Club, newly formed at Gilpin County School this year, is in the midst of its first membership drive. There is a reserved section at the home games for Booster Club members.

Black Hawk City Council announced: “After February 1, 1983, any dog found running loose without a tag may be subject to disposal.” The City offers free dog tags at City Hall.

Lisa Lorenz, daughter of Bill and Kay Lorenz of Black Hawk, has left for a semester abroad in Copenhagen, Denmark. She is a junior majoring in accounting at the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley.

Mini storage units are now available for rent in the north county. They are located just west of Rollinsville on Tolland Road.

60 Years Ago – January 30, 1953

  The “Virus” epidemic is riding rough-shod up and down the crooked little streets of Central City, and creeping into many of the homes. Today, the grade school students, those not already home with the “flu” – were dismissed until Thursday when it is hoped the epidemic will have run its course.

Old land marks continue to disappear from their accepted and designated spots along the horizon which forms the panorama which is Gilpin County. The little frame house which adjoins the Public Service substation was dismantled recently – everything came down, including the flag-pole. With each pass through Black Hawk, it seems there is a little less that remains standing of the “Fifties Mill.”

Another one of Russell Gulch’s earlier residents has gone. Funeral services were held Saturday afternoon for Wm. Joyce.

Noticed the sign on the Old Gold Store, owned and operated by Clyde Dunahay, has blown down under the pressure of the turbulent wind that has been howling about Central City this last week. It seems that that wind ought to quit blowing now that November has gone and passed.

On January 31, the Pick and Pan Square Dance Club will hold its last dance of the season. Ordinarily the club holds dances every other Saturday all through the winter months, but due to lack of attendance the club has to disband.

The pinnated grouse, or prairie chicken, is trying to stage a comeback, with the help of the nation and many states, including Colorado. The National Wildlife federation has announced creation of a national committee to formulate a long-range plan to preserve the prairie chicken and restore its dwindling numbers.

It is officially stated that the famous collection of gems and precious stones, the Russian crown jewels, is to be sold in foreign markets “To help stabilize the Russian rouble.”

In answer to many inquiries, Rae Laird, the owner and editor of this newspaper is still in Denver recuperating from an attack of pneumonia. Tommy Miller has offered George McClure his able assistance in getting the paper out on time and in reasonable shape.

90 Years Ago – January 26, 1923

  Passengers arriving on Tuesday morning’s train brought reports of extremely cold weather in Middle Park, just across the Gore range from Routt County. At Tabernash, the temperature Sunday night is said to have been 58 below zero, while in Steamboat Springs it did not go down quite to 23 below.

Mr. and Mrs. Harry Willis accompanied their son George to Denver on Friday morning where he underwent an x-ray examination to ascertain how badly the bones of his right arm were broken, and have the same attended to. He was playing basketball with companions Thursday evening and in his efforts to throw the ball, the bones of his right arm between the elbow and shoulder were fractured, caused by a muscular contraction.

Messrs. Jake Robeson, Joe Oxley, and William Woodward drove over from Idaho Springs Saturday by auto to discuss the old worn-out proposition of the consolidation of lower Clear Creek County with Gilpin County. They received very little encouragement for their scheme, but enjoyed themselves in meeting with our people.

It takes a wise person to know when to begin, when to stop, and what to say in between.

The “flu” has broken out in many parts of the country and appears to be increasing, and orders have been sent out from Washington to “let down the bars” to physicians who prescribe liquor to their patients, so as to overcome and control the disease. As far as we have been able to learn there has been no cases reported in the mountain districts, and we hope it will pass us by.

The Moffat Railroad has been tied up for a couple of weeks due to the burning of a bridge across Bull Creek, 25 miles west of Denver. The bridge was located between tunnels No. 2 and 3, a short distance west of Plainfield, was nearly 200 feet long, and spanned a gulch 100 feet deep, the sides of which were both steep and covered with loose rock, which made a transfer very difficult until a trail was constructed. Passengers and mail matter have been transferred at this point, and the company expects to have the bridge completed so that traffic can be resumed by the end of the day.

For the first time in history, three women are members of Congress this Wednesday.

In Apex: Thermometers 2 below on Sunday and 6 above on Monday. But during the day the weather has been fine for January, about the same as a January thaw.

A fellow in Denver answered an advertisement in a sporting periodical offering to ship “steam cookers” to anybody in the United States who would send a dollar. He sent the dollar, and when the “cooker” arrived, it was a complete moonshine still, with all the extra parts carefully packed. A federal probe of the Chicago Company will probably result.

Fred Casagranda died at the home of his sister, in Denver, during the week.

Joe Casper is hauling a carload of ore from Russell Gulch to the cars in Central for shipment to Leadville.

The lot of high-grade mineral shipped from the Atlantic Mine, Hughesville, to the sampling works and concentrator in Idaho Springs last week, weighed 4,375 pounds, and brought back a check over all expenses of $1,132. There was very little gold and some lead values in the ore, but from the returns given, it will readily be seen that the ore carried over 500 ounces silver to the ton.

If some people had to live by their wits, they would never be born.

Blake Brothers commenced this morning to load another car of mill ore from the Wain Mine, for shipment to the Idaho Springs concentrator.

Funny things happen in this old world of ours’, and the latest comes from West Virginia, where a woman sues a shoe manufacturer for $5,000 for the loss of her toes. She was seated at an open gas fire to warm her feet, when the shoes exploded and her toes were so badly injured that they had to be amputated. The suit charged the manufacturer that he had used celluloid instead of leather in the inner lining of the shoe tip. With paper soles and celluloid tips now taking the place of leather in foot apparel, wonders never cease.

120 Years Ago – January 27, 1893

The number of marriage licenses granted by county clerk and recorder J. S. Updegraff during 1892 – leap year – numbers 56.

A short time ago several of the window-lights at the residence of Mr. Ed. L. Harris were broken after night, since which time City Marshal Kelleher, having his suspicions as to the guilty party, kept his weather eye open. On Tuesday evening there was a repetition of the same nature, only that the rocks were thrown through the skylight of Mr. Harris’ bedroom. The guilty party who proved to be a miner named Northey, was caught by Nightwatch Ede and landed in the cooler.

Born: In Central City, January 24, 1893, to the wife of Michael Connor, a son.

Born: In Central City, January 23, 1893, to the wife of William Keast, a daughter.

Born: In Central City, January 13, 1893, to the wife of Richard Williams, a son.

Died: In Black hawk, January 20, 1893, Charles D. Hicks, aged 60 years.

Irwin Mahon, president and manager of the Colorado State Bureau of Information, is here collating statistics relating to the mines of the county, which will be used at the World’s Fair in Chicago, where an office is to be opened for the express purpose of giving correct information regarding this industry, of every mining county in the state.

Mr. G. W. Hill last Monday was busily engaged in loading a car at Black Hawk with ore from his Hill Mine on the Mineral Farm. Some of the chunks of ore were so large that they required two men to put them from the wagon into the car. These were clear mineral.

An Austrian named Peter Conti, who is engaged as a trammer in the incline shaft on the Gregory Mine at Black Hawk, met with very serious injuries last Sunday afternoon about 3 o’clock. He had climbed up about 20 feet to an electric signal station and signaled for a loaded car to be hoisted. On getting down again, he made an attempt to step onto the steel wire rope, which was his custom, and ride up in front of the car. In some way or another he missed the rope and the car caught him, jamming him to one side, the car passing on up the incline. His back was badly bruised, as well as other portions of his body.

The reason given by several Central City bachelors for not marrying last year is they were too gallant to try to usurp the ladies’ prerogatory of proposing in leap year. Now they propose to go in and win.

The ice on Missouri Lakes was never better for harvesting for summer use than at the present time. It is very clear and of unusual thickness.

The Alice Mining & Milling Company was incorporated last Friday in Denver, with a capital stock of $5,000,000. The company will operate in Arapahoe, Clear Creek and Gilpin counties The principal seat of active operations will be at the head of Fall river, Clear Creek County, sixteen miles west of Idaho Springs. The company owns 876 acres of mineral land at the head of the river, including good placer ground as well as well-developed lodes of low grade gold ore.

The Black Hawk girl who wore suspenders last summer now wears them as stocking-supporters.

The Union Pacific has adopted a new system for carrying freight into the mountains. Their former custom was to have two engines haul seven cars, but now three engines take up eleven cars, two engines do the hauling as far as the Forks of the Creek, the third following behind doing the pushing. The third then hauls the cars consigned to Black Hawk and Central from that place to the City of Quartz mills.

The Miller Brothers have housed their supply of ice for the summer’s use, amounting in the aggregate to over four hundred tons.

Black Hawk’s Marshal Backus reports that the flow of water from springs for the past week has fallen off considerable, and unless the near future brings snow suffering will surely result.

You’d scarce expect one of my age in merchandise to engage, and hope to get a paying trade, without the local paper’s aid.

  And yet I did that very thing; I opened up a store last spring-this month the sheriff took my stock and sold it from the auction block.

  Don’t view me with scornful eye, but simply say as I pass by, there goes a man who seems to think he has no use for printer’s ink.

There is a truth as broad as earth, and business men should know its worth; ‘tis simply this: The public buys its goods from those who advertise.

135 Years Ago – January 19, 1878

  The Liberty Pole, which has been standing in the Public Square in Black Hawk for about seven years, fell yesterday morning about 10 o’clock, the upper portion of the pole falling across the hindermost part of a quartz wagon to which a team of mules was attached. Fortunately no person was hurt nor any damage done.  The pole was much decayed, but the fall was directly caused by a stay of the railroad derrick. This pole, for about six years, stood on the north side of Selak Street, and was afterwards removed to the Public Square.

30 Years Ago – January 21, 1983

  The route over Rollins Pass, one of Colorado’s most scenic mountain passes, has been closed now for over three years and it looks like it will remain closed a while longer. The road was closed in 1979 because of a cave-in in the Needle’s Eye Tunnel, which is located in Boulder County about 13 miles north of East Portal on the pass road. Estimates of the costs of repairing the tunnel are around $100,000. However the tunnel is not the only thing keeping the road closed. An estimate to repair the two trestles located just west of the tunnel is about $1 million. When the tunnel collapsed, and the trestles were found to be unsafe, the Forest Service closed the road. Signs were posted, however people just tore them down, cleared the rock out of the tunnel and kept right on driving over the road through the tunnel and across the trestles. Next summer, the Forest Service plans to physically barricade the road with boulders and dirt. Just about everybody agrees that reopening Rollins Pass would be wonderful. However money to make the repairs has been unavailable. In the meantime, a group of four-wheel-drive enthusiasts has requested the use of the old wagon road over the pass. The problem with that, according to Gilpin County Engineer Hal Donnelly, is that about a quarter of a mile of the road, on a knife-edged ridge, shallowly covers a gas pipeline and “if somebody drags a differential across that pipeline, they’ll go way high.” The gas line was put in in the late 1960’s to bring gas to Dillon and Vail and carries 600 pounds of pressure. Johnson said any vehicle which accidentally broke the line would “take flying lessons.”

  Jim Russell is the new deputy district attorney assigned to Gilpin County. He said he expects there will be less plea bargaining now, more cases being filed, and more preparation time in the future in Gilpin County.

  Half of the last house at the top of Backus Street in Black Hawk was gutted by fire early yesterday morning. The fire was believed to start in a closet which was right behind the wood (cook) stove. The kitchen area is a total loss. The owner of the home, Sandy Meyers, was not home at the time of the fire. About six Black Hawk firemen were on the scene within eight minutes of receiving the call. The Central City Fire Department assisted, sending first the scat truck and later the pumper truck as well as extra men.

  Six children were injured in a one-car accident on Highway 119, six miles south of Black Hawk on Saturday evening, when the station wagon they were traveling in went off the left side of the road while passing another southbound vehicle. The car struck a guard rail, ripping off the left rear door of the car and skidding 142 feet across the road. Three of the children were ejected. All but one were treated and released from Lutheran Medical Center. The youngest, a two-year-old boy, remained in serious condition with a broken leg, punctured leg, broken pelvis, multiple bruises, internal injuries and a torn urethra. The driver has been charged with driving under the influence of alcohol and other charges.

  Officer Daniel Boone was appointed as a full-time Central City police officer on January 10. He takes the position which became available upon the resignation of Vicki Banyai.

  County Court Judge Andrew Krodshen swore in five elected county officials Monday morning: Don Diltz (Commissioner, District Two), Judy Smith (Clerk and Recorder), Glenda Allen (Assessor), Leslie Williams (Coroner) and Rosetta Anderle (Sheriff).

  The Central City Business Association gives its enthusiastic approval to a public restroom program, and offers its total support, whether it be mental, physical or financial to the City of Central government.

  A chimney fire at Michael and Martha Hall’s residence in Lakeview damaged a wall, the ceiling and rafters, doing an estimated $1,000 worth of damage. High Country Fire Department responded with six men and two trucks.

  After an executive session, the Gilpin RE-1 School Board announced their consensus to accept the Gibbins children as non-resident students, based on certain restrictions. A policy amendment will be drawn up, allowing acceptance of non-resident students, contingent upon space availability, and will include a variance clause on tuition payments, based on financial need.  The family’s three children had been long-standing students of Gilpin RE-1, but were asked to leave when it was learned that the family’s new house is located in Clear Creek County. Their property, located in Peck Gulch, straddles the two school districts’ boundary line, but is closer and more accessible to Gilpin than Clear Creek. Superintendent Fred Meyers said the effort made by the children to get to school last semester was commendable, considering the significant weather and climate conditions they are faced with where they live-about one mile past Pisgah Lake off the Columbine Campground road, which is not maintained. The students must walk 3.6 miles to the Boodle Mine or 1.8 miles cross country to Apex Road to catch the school bus. The walk to a Clear Creek bus is five miles down to Fall River Road over a significant decline. Tuition will be waived for the Gibbins children for the remainder of the current school year.

  Odds are, somebody’s going to win $10,000 next week. (Colorado Lottery)

60 Years Ago – January 23, 1953

  According to many of the members of the Assembly, if there is to be a general increase in the salaries of state employees the members of the Legislature are going to share in the raises. At present they get $2,400 for the two years. There is a movement to increase the total paid them to $3,600 for the two years.

  A blizzard is howling ominously outside tonight – an old-fashioned, honest-to-goodness blizzard, with gusty winds, and a soft blanket of freshly fallen snow, which is being plastered against trees and buildings like crystal stucco.

  The Republicans have spent something over $700,000 for Eisenhower’s Inaugural celebration – a tidy little sum to invest in an exchange of titles – from General to President – from five stars to forty-eight stars.

  It seems that almost everyone is sick in bed with the flue, a virus infection of the broncular tubes or has pneumonia.

  You have to be married, girls, if you are going to compete in the pancake flipping race in Idaho Springs February 14^th. And you have to wear skirts, something of the type of dress worn by a housewife, plus a head scarf and an apron. Ordinary street shoes will be worn and low heels will be permitted although not running spikes. The length of the race course is 415 yards, down Miner Street, starting at the high school corner and continuing east to a point approximately opposite the old C & S railroad train. Each contestant will be furnished with a skillet, or she may bring her own, and she will be supplied with pancakes, and she must flip the pancakes as she runs. If the contestant drops a pancake, she may recover it and continue with no penalty.

  News is scarce this week, but Russell Gulch is still on the map even if the wind still blows.

  Gold receipts hit a postwar high and silver receipts reached an all-time high at the Denver Mint last year. Officials of the Denver Mint said that 1952 receipts of gold, $805,918 ounces worth $28,207,121 were the highest since the $47,500,000 total of 1942. Receipts of silver amounted to 2, 459,674 ounces worth $2,225,018. The largest previous receipts came to $1,700,000 in 1933.

  Nearly one million dollars has been paid to small mine operators in uranium production bonuses in the Colorado plateau during the last two years.

  Mr. R. L. Laird, the proprietor and editor of this antique newspaper, had to go back down to Denver the first of the week with pneumonia. That is the reason for this paper being in such sad shape this week with a hundred and one mistakes. Please don’t write in canceling your subscription because the boss will be back to get things back to normal.

90 Years Ago – January 19, 1923

  Central City Marshal, Street & Water Commissioner Gray, reports the city water supply as excellent; that all matters are in good shape; that a difference exists between himself and the mayor as to boys using the sidewalks of the city for roller skating, that he had forbidden the boys doing so, and felt that he had the support of the citizens in so doing.

  At the Central City Council meeting on January 11^th, the City fathers ordered that all boys and girls be stopped from using the sidewalks of the city for purposes of roller skating, wagon coasting and sleigh riding. A room in the Harris block on Main Street, is to be fitted up for the convenience of the boys and girls for roller skating, basketball, etc.

  Two fine pieces of ore are on exhibition in the window of the drug store in this city, one from the property being worked by Earl Dickerson in the Perigo section, and the other from development work being done in the northern section of the county by the Gold Lodge Mining Company.

  Keep your thoughts to yourself and you won’t lose them.

  The first capture in the sensational $200,000 currency robbery at the Denver Mint, in which four desperadoes on Dec. 18 held up and robbed a United States Federal Reserve truck, killing Charles T. Linton of the reserve bank guard, was made by the police on Sunday night. But it was that of a dead man, crouched in the front seat of a Buick automobile found abandoned in a garage at 1631 Gilpin Street, with a bullet hole thru the left hand and another thru the heart.

  Golden Transcript: One of the peculiar happenings incidental to the terrific wind storms, which prevailed in this section last week and this was the starting up of the fire in the old White Ash Mine dump, at the western end of Twelfth Street. It has been thirty-six years since this mine was closed by the disaster which cost the lives of several men. For years after the mine was closed the huge culm piles continued to send forth clouds of smoke, but no one had any idea that there was any vestige of fire left after all these years. The continuous wind fanned the fire back to life, and on two or three spots on the big dump, sparks were seen flying.

  A river is just like our experience in life. The farther it goes, the wider it gets.

  It would seem School District No.1, Central City, intends to inaugurate an air service to transport pupils from District No. 6, which they have just consolidated, since there is no public highway for a vehicle transportation line. Great business ideals to have the pupils come from Wide Awake and Hughesville past the Quartz Valley school house, where the pupils legally belong. If the air service is a success, we better have the Government inaugurate a mail service from Black Hawk to Apex during the winter months, to save the expense of keeping our roads clear of snowdrifts.

  The move of the French government officials in marching into Germany has already resulted in serious trouble, and several Germans have been killed, and many wounded. This is the start of trouble which is sure to bring on another war between these two nations, and if it does come, America will take no hand in it.

  John Gilliikson is tearing down the old State Ore sampling works, just below the Black Hawk depot, and is hauling the lumber to his ranch to be used in building sheds and other buildings.

  The contractors will finish their work on the flume in Black Hawk by Saturday evening, and as soon as Marshal Klais is able to secure timber and lumber, the top will be covered and furnish a good sidewalk again.

  Mr. Cavnah shipped a car of second class ore from the Atlantic Mine at Hughesville, to the concentrator at Idaho Springs last Monday, and a third-cord wagon-load of first class to the sampling works at the same place.

  Mr. Eugene Perley shipped a carload of high grade silver ore from the Black Jack Mine to the smelter at Leadville last week.

  If it is true that the good die young it is not to be wondered at that this is a sinful old world. Nobody is hankering to be bumped off.

120 Years Ago – January 20, 1893

  There is no means of measuring the depth of misery felt by the man who suddenly realizes that he has given away the good cigar out of his other pocket.

  The surplus Mormon wives who are to be unsealed had better husband their resources for a rainy day.

  There is a desire on the part of citizens of Russell Gulch to have increased mail facilities, in so far as a daily service and have drawn up a petition which will be forwarded to the Third Assistant Postmaster-General to have it increased to seven days a week.

  Without being slangy, it is perfectly correct to say that when a young man takes his best girl out on the ice and she cannot skate, he will have to let her slide.

  A large-sized Maxwell steam pump was received in Black Hawk on Wednesday for the Rialto Mining Company. Mr. Thomas Cody removed it to the mine in this city the same afternoon. The work of placing it has been commenced. Judging from the size of it there will be no more trouble after it is once placed in handling the water in the mine.

  The Buell Mine is now producing sufficient ore to keep 25 stamps of the New York Stamp Mill in Black Hawk employed during the day time and 15 or three batteries at night. This begins to look like former times when the Buell was a large producer of ore of good grade.

  Mrs. Leonard Schaffnit, of the Washington House, on Saturday evening won the handsome music box raffled for at Barker’s, Mr. J. R. Quigley throwing 42 at high dice, that being the manner in which it was raffled. It is very fine toned, and valued at $50.

  Silver = $83 7/8; Lead = $3.80

  Last Tuesday superintendent J. Ben Lewis reported an important strike in the 400 foot west level of the Gold Rock. He has driven a distance of 800 feet in this level, feeling confident that the miners would encounter ore. The crevice matter is widening as the level is extended. The stamp mill ore varies from 3 to 7 ounces gold per cord in its yield, while the smelting ore has increased in value greatly of late.

  The Corydon Mine pool for the first time in months cleaned up last month an average of 2 ½ ounces gold per cord from stamp mill dirt crushed from that mine. The backstope of the 600 foot level east has widened out and the character of the smelting ore has increased greatly in value.

Born: In Eureka district, January 18, 1893, to the wife of Fritz Gabel, a daughter.

Born: In Central City, January 13, 1893, to the wife of Charles Truscott, a son.

Born: In Central City, January 16, 1893, to the wife of Kenneth McCoy, a daughter. The little child died Thursday evening, January 19, and will be buried today.

Died: In Black Hawk, January 16, 1893, Victor, son of Mr. and Mrs. Andrew G. Larsons, aged 3 years.

Some of the cotillion favors distributed at fashionable dances this winter are thought by experts to be worth as much as six and ten cents each at retail.

Mr. Joseph Retallack has completed tearing down the old Sheridan House and is piling up the lumber on the south side of Gregory Street, above the mouth of the Bobtail Tunnel. Messrs. Crook and Kellerup, owners of the old Sheridan House, have leased the ground upon which the building stood to some parties in this city, who next week will commence work in digging to bed-rock, for the purpose of securing the placer gold that abounds in that section, and also continuing the development of the bed of tailings that was uncovered under that building some time ago. The gulch at that point was never worked in the early days, and the prospects are very favorable for good returns.

Mr. Carlson, section boss of the Union Pacific at this end of the road, between here and the Forks of the Creek, was busy the fore part of the week, in ballasting up the track to the siding from the main track down to the Cashier Mill. The first cars over the new siding were sent down Tuesday, and consisted of two car-loads of coal for use at the new concentration works at the Cashier Mill.

Shrove Tuesday and St. Valentine’s Day fall upon the same date this year. It will be a revel that will at least make the first of Lent welcome.

The citizens of Black Hawk were very much surprised Wednesday afternoon on hearing the sound of a bass drum, which called them to the front doors of their business places and residences along Gregory and Main streets. It was only a parade of masked persons who served as an advertisement for the masquerade carnival which took place that evening at the ice skating rink on Gregory Street. The maskers also visited Central.

135 Years Ago – January 19, 1878

  The Denver Times backs us in saying that Gilpin County may well be proud of her new Opera House.

Mr. McHolland, Mr. Palmer, and another gentlemen were married on last Sunday at La Veta to Kate Lewis, Addie Patterson, and Laura Patterson, in a joke as all parties supposed, but the party who tied the knot was in dead earnest, and was a magistrate. Three divorce cases will be the result.

30 Years Ago – January 14, 1983

  Monday morning, shortly after reports that the Gilpin RE-1 gym roof was making a lot of noise, a section about 20 feet wide, from the eave to the peak, was ripped off by the wind. Fred Meyers, school superintendent, dismissed school shortly after the incident and the school remained closed until Wednesday due to the danger of flying debris. There were no classes in the gym at the time the roof went. When repairs to this section of the roof were made last year, Meyers said he was told it would withstand 200 mph winds. The highest winds registered Monday morning were 50 mph.

Black Hawk Marshal Sid Gent appeared before the regular meeting of the City Council on January 11 and asked if arrangements had been made to dig out the police car after heavy snowfalls. He said the police car was buried for two and a half days after the Christmas storm and that it really “burned” him that he personally paid $35 (later reimbursed by the city) to have the vehicle towed out.

Five parked cars were hit Wednesday evening on Lawrence Street in Central City, near the old Clark gym. Three cars were sideswiped, a pickup was knocked into the center of the street and another car suffered damage to the front end. The driver who hit them has been arrested and charged for hit and run, driving under the influence of intoxicating beverages, failure to report an accident, possession of more than one but less than eight ounces of marijuana, and no proof of license.

Representatives of Saratoga Mines, Inc. attended the Gilpin County Planning Commission Tuesday evening to request a special use permit for a cyanide heap leaching operation in Willis Gulch, which is southeast of Russell Gulch. Saratoga operates the Boodle Mill and has also operated the Frontenac and Toga mines which are currently shut. The Planning Commission voted to recommend approval to the Board of Commissioners.

Cam Cullar, a ninth-grader at Gilpin School, was injured when he left the school building after school was dismissed Monday. His mother, Kay Cullar, said Cam was picked up by the wind in the parking lot and slammed into a parked car. When he got up, he was blown into another parked car. While student Lowell Allen was driving him home, he noticed that Cam’s jeans were torn at the knee and were soaking up blood. After looking at the injury, Allen rushed Cam to the clinic – 13 stitches were required.

It may have been due to the pressure from Gilpin County customers, it may have been due to editorials in the Register-Call, or it may be due to other unknown reasons, but the U.S. Postal Service has announced that as of January 31, 1983, the Black Hawk Post Office will become an “intermediate” office for Rural Route 4. Although the route will still originate from Golden, people who wish to use an address of Rt. 4, Black Hawk, 80422, will now be allowed to do so without suffering a delivery delay.

Because of the damage to the roof of the RE-1 gym, the Gilpin Eagle’s Homecoming basketball game with Nederland has been postponed till February.

Neal and Pamela Standard of Missouri Lakes, are proud to announce the birth of their first child, Anthony John, born on January 5, 1983.

The tax certificates on the four parcels of land owned by Equity Trading Corporation, headed by Arvey Drown, became the property of the County when the check Drown submitted during the second tax sale, held December 27, had failed to clear the bank. Drown is facing charges of swindling investors out of more than $7 million.

In an effort to thwart any sort of legalized censorship action by the Central City Council, Bob Brusco of the Glory Hole Tavern, appeared at the Monday morning workshop meeting of the council to explain his position on Ladies Night. It turned out that the Council had no intention of censoring anybody. Brusco said he and his partner, Jay Katz, plan to have only four events a year involving strippers – two for women and two for men, and they have no intention of the Glory Hole becoming a “strip joint.”

Jerry Smith, who mans the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s weather station on Fritz Peak, near Rollinsville, said he recorded winds of 100 mph at 7:18 a.m. on Monday morning.

60 Years Ago – January 16, 1953

  T’would be wise to write a sonnet titled: “To a Tee-Shirt – in January,” considering the three days we’ve seen in January of around 70 degree temperatures.

We are still without a doctor in Gilpin County, but it is reassuring to know that we have three qualified Red Cross First Aid instructors in our midst. Our county nurse Mrs. Ruth Rice has mastered artificial respiration. Mr. Ralph Calabrese and Mr. Gordon Jones, both teachers in Central City, share the honors with Mrs. Rice.

Life is darn short – only four letters in it. Three-quarters of it is a “lie” and half of it is “if.”

The old-age pension will be $109 for January, but it will drop back to $85 for February.

Recapitulation of the bills audited and ordered paid by the County Commissioners on January 5^th: Contingent Fund, $157.94; County Fund, $2,013.17; Road and Bridge Fund, $2,001.98; P.W.A. fund, $564.64; Poor Fund, $362.62; Fire Fund, $121.26. Grand Total, $8,021.61.

Some people are inconsiderate enough to become peeved when others appraise them at their real worth.

A year ago the Mountain States Telephone and Telegraph Co., had a pretty big telephone system in Colorado, but it wasn’t big enough to reach all the people who wanted telephone service. It will cost about $25 million this year for the telephone company to keep pace with Colorado’s rapid expansion.

Beginning next Monday, the federal government will start making its income tax collections. Colorado is supposed to chip in about $600,000,000. That is about 3 ½ times as much as needed to run the state government.

A Central City gentleman, in the true spirit of Christmas, prepared his list, selected his gifts and wrapped them appropriately. But the gay little tags, hopping about in a flurry of yuletide excitement, became attached to bundles for which they were never intended. Imagine, if you can, this gentleman’s embarrassment when his mother opened a neat little package which contained a little train – his father was more than a little surprised to receive “The Bobsy Twins at the Seashore.” The little neighbor girl was somewhat abashed at her pipe and slippers gift, and tough little Johnnie swore he’d never wear those flimsy nylon hose and that other silk thing-a-ma-jig he found under the tree. Johnnie figured Rudy the Reindeer wasn’t the only one who was “red-nosed” on Christmas Eve.

A taxi driver advertised: “Tell us where you are – that’s all we want to know. We’ll take you where you want to go safely, comfortably.” He got a fast letter from 22 soldiers in Korea: “We are 16 miles north of the 38^th parallel on the main supply route, third foxhole on the right, off in a rice paddy with very little water in it. Please pick us up as soon as possible.”

90 Years Ago – January 12, 1923

The newly elected County officers were on deck last Tuesday afternoon, to assume charge of County affairs for the next two years. Their bonds were approved by the County Commissioners and they lost no time in getting to work.

Thursday afternoon of last week, a genuine January blizzard struck these parts of the hills (Apex), piling the falling snow in deeper drifts than at any time during the winter. Friday, Saturday, Monday and Tuesday, the mail came in on horseback. On Wednesday, two men (Danielson and Baer), shoveled out the road so a horse-drawn vehicle could plow through the drifts.

A party of gentlemen were in Idaho Springs Thursday looking up the possibilities of placing an electric smelter unit here. It is understood that they have made arrangements to take over the Argo Mill and remodel it into an electric, and that arrangements have been made to not only treat all ore from the mines now working, but to develop and operate other properties along the tunnel, with a view to producing enough mineral to keep a 50-ton plant operating continuously.

Lionel Barrymore in “Jim, the Penman,” in six reels will be the picture at the Opera House, Saturday evening.

The back taxes on the Perigo group of mines, having been paid at the County offices Wednesday, the new company which will operate the Perigo indicate that work will commence at once in putting the property in shape for extensive working. This group of claims is among the largest in Gilpin County, is well equipped with shaft buildings, and a first class stamp mill, and records show the mineral worked out in former years was above the average in both values and size of deposits, of any group of mines in the county.

The man who wrote “Blow, Ye Gentle Breeze” never lived in this part of the country. He is in the same class as the author who wrote “Beautiful Snow,” who evidently lived in Florida. However, it will soon be summer.

France has decided to march an army into Germany, in protest for not living up to the Versailles Treaty, concerning payments due that country. On the strength of such actions, President Harding has ordered all American troops which have been guarding the banks of the Rhine, to prepare to get out of the country and come back home.

Hot air is never the result of cold deliberation.

Recapitulation of the county bill ordered paid by County Commissioners on January 8: County Fund, $2,768.21; Pauper Fund, $302.95; Road Fund, $421.60; Contingent Fund, $315. Grand Total, $3,807.76.

Every time the people kick about the high cost of living, the darned thing takes another jump. Let’s kick the other way.

The Black Hawk Fire Department gave a card party, followed by refreshments, at the city hall on Thursday evening of last week, being the annual blow-out and social time held by that organization.

Officials of the Caribou Metals Company announced that a new silver vein, eighteen inches in width and assaying 137 ounces, has been discovered at their mine. Two more veins were found when the Boulder County Tunnel was being recleaned and timbered, they said. The latter veins are not so productive, one assaying fifty-seven ounces and the other twenty ounces. The first vein discovered in the Caribou Mine was unearthed in a hanging wall at a depth of 1,040 feet. Extensive plans for this year are being made by the company which will include a tunnel from the Boulder County shaft to the Caribou Mine. The tunnel, officials declared, will cut into twenty seven known and proved veins.

Charles Gage, manager of the Wain Mine, in Chase Gulch, shipped a carload of ore on Monday last to Idaho Springs for treatment in the concentration mills at that point.

The contractors working on the flume in Black Hawk are making good headway, and are pushing work as rapidly as possible while the pleasant weather prevails.

The star which has been seen in Denver during the daylight period, has been located by people of this city, and can be seen every morning, long after the sun has shown itself.

Governor Sweet was inaugurated into office on Tuesday noon, and his message delivered before both House and Senate, was well received, and offered many good suggestions for the benefit of the state, and the taxpayers who furnish the money to help keep the state machinery in motion.

Claude McKay and company, who are operating the Jennie Blanche Mine in the lower part of this city, shipped a carload of smelting ore the first of the week to the Leadville smelter.

Funny, isn’t it, that a man who thinks he is a business man, will get up in the morning from an advertised mattress, shave with advertised soap, take off advertised pajamas and put on advertised underwear, advertised hose and shirt, tie, advertised suit, sit himself at a table and eat advertised breakfast, drink advertised coffee or substitute, put on an advertised hat and light an advertised cigar and go to his place of business where he turns down the advertising solicitor or salesman for his home newspaper on the grounds that advertising does not pay.

Begin saving your pennies. Another Christmas is less than a year away.

120 Years Ago – January 13, 1893

  Twenty-seven coal miners were killed by an explosion at the Union Pacific coal mine at King, four miles from Como, on January 10^th.

Sheriff Thomas Hooper returned from Cheyenne last Saturday morning, bringing back with him John McGinnis and Frank Cheatley, who were apprehended there for holding up Frank Matusick at a Pine Street courtesan’s on Sunday evening, January 1, 1893.

Seth Morgan, a 40-year-old attorney, married a 13 year-old forward girl of Highlands, near Denver, a few days ago, and has already brought suit for divorce. In some communities such fellows would be promptly dealt with. He was arrested for bigamy, gave bond, and was shot at by the irate father of the child bride. The bigamist has skipped leaving his bondsman in the lurch.

While delivering goods at a residence on High Street, Black Hawk, last Saturday, Hugh Edwards, driver for the Sauer-McShane Mer. Co., in coming down from that street to Church Street, his wagon lurched around and the wagon, horses, driver and two lads who were in the wagon, went over the embankment and landed on the railroad track near the suspension bridge which spans Gregory Street. Edwards’ right leg was badly bruised, both lads sustaining light injuries on the face and one of the horses hurt, but not seriously.

The surface pocket of gold ore recently opened up on the Spur-Daisy, which is yielding so largely at present of the yellow metal, is the largest found in Gilpin County for years, and we hope the rich chimney of ore may continue to a great depth.

The water commissioner of Central City reports that there is now 8 ½ feet of water in the Eureka Street reservoir and that the reservoir on Academy Hill is nearly full.

Some of the people of the hamlets of Gilpin County are already laying up money with which to go to the World’s Fair.

The promoters of the Silver Point Tunnel, out in Vermillion District, are now engaged in drifting on a vein cut by their tunnel several months ago. Samples of ore taken out when the vein was interested show it to have a value of about $135 per ton.

Quite a force of miners are working on company account in the New California Mine on Quartz Hill. The point of explorations is between the 700 and 800 foot west levels.

Born: In Central City, January 10, 1893, to the wife of Joseph Higman, a son.

The souvenir spoon fad has spent itself.

A Gilpin County politician wept like a little child and had nervous prostration when he read that most of the $265,000,000 subscribed for the Panama Canal had gone into the pockets of legislators.

Mr. J. E. Lightbourn is adding a second story to the stable which he started last fall on Gregory Street. It is of lumber but will be covered with sheet iron, as provided for by ordinance, it being within the fire limits of the city.

If the young lady who sent an anonymous letter to Bart Knight, of this city, will only sign her name to the next one, so that he may know who makes charges against him, he would esteem it a great favor, and is prepared to prove the accusations false in every particular.

A western editor got the bulge on delinquent subscribers by placing their names upside down when publishing items about them. There was a rush to pay up.

The girls had 366 good days to propose in last year, and if those who failed to improve the opportunity fill old maid’s graves, unhonored, unwept and unsung, they have only themselves to blame.

Mr. Matthias Mack has commenced securing an ice crop for use in his brewery next summer. He has constructed a car which runs from his main ice house direct to the pond where it is cut. The car is loaded with ice by means of a long sweep pole to which is attached grappling hoods.

The school teachers are said to be generally opposed to free books, they argue that the children are very destructive anyway, and when the parents buy the books the majority of the children never seem to think of taking care of them. If books were furnished by the state, the wonton destruction of them by the children would be enormous. Free schools are a necessity; free books are not in but few cases.

A business man’s motto: Early to bed and early to rise, Hustle all day and advertise.

135 Years Ago – January 12, 1878

  Mr. A. G. Rhoads this morning turned out his first crackers since opening his old place in the Black Hawk Cracker Works. We sampled them while they were yet warm, and found them to be fully up to the standard.

Church Street, Black Hawk, is looking up. Johnnie Pursell has a neat frame residence nearly completed, while Z. Myres and Wm. Germain are both grading for the purpose of building. The former will build a brick, and the latter is undecided whether he will build a brick or frame. M. F. Bebee is also grading a lot on the same street.

The Squeaky Wheel

By Bart Dawkins

Publisher’s Note: This column is being reprinted per request of the family of the late Bart Dawkins, who used to be the City Attorney for Central City and also wrote a column for the Weekly Register-Call. We thought our readers might enjoy a little historical insight to Central City and Gilpin County as well, Aaron Storms.

I came to Central City in the summer of 1958 to keep W.F. VanWinkle on the board of directors of the Central City Development Company. He was about to be kicked off the board, but I was able to get him elected as President of the Company instead. He replaced George Ramstetter who was then the President of the company, as well as being the Mayor of Central City. Within a few days after our corporate matters were resolved, George asked me if I would like to be the City Attorney for the City. When asking him how much it paid, he replied, “It pays $35 for attending the monthly meeting of the City Council.” I accepted the job and thus began my 16 years as City Attorney and a 41 year association with Gilpin County. I guess I was fascinated with the prospect of representing a mining camp down on its luck. If memory serves me correctly, Central City adopted a budget for 1959 of $35,000. After that there was never a dull moment. My partners at the time couldn’t understand why I took the job and said, “You’ll never make any money in that town.” However, thanks to my other clients, I made a living and practiced law out of my Denver office. In those days, we had one District Judge, Christian D. Stoner. He was a circuit judge and sat in Castle Rock, Littleton, Georgetown, Brighton, and Golden, so I followed him from courthouse to courthouse. The courthouse in Central City had a very tall ceiling in those days, and the acoustics were terrible. You needed to have a good voice and to be able to project it to be heard. The County Judge was A. Stirling Gilbert, a nearly deaf attorney assisted by a hearing aid. Whenever he turned off his hearing aid, you knew it was time to quit talking as he had made up his mind.

Jury trials in Central City were always interesting to say the least. I made a widespread acquaintance with people in the County, and every jury always had a majority of people who knew me and I them. The trick in selecting a jury was to figure out which jurors liked me, and which ones didn’t. My last jury trial was held on June 6, 1991 in Central City. I represented the “Grubstake Grahams” in a defense of a slip and fall lawsuit stemming from an accident taking place on the front step of their Grubstake Restaurant & Bar on Eureka Street at the head of Main Street. The jury was only out about 15 minutes, and returned with a verdict in favor of the Grahams, finding them not liable for the plaintiff’s fall and injury claim.

One of my most interesting opponents in trials held in Central City was Elias J. Candell, a Lakewood attorney. I think we had a pending lawsuit every year for at least 20 years. His client was the Gilpin Investment Company, a wholly owned corporation by one shareholder, Elias Candell. My principal client against the Gilpin Investment Co. was William C. Russell, Jr. There were other clients I represented when they were sued by Candell, so there was never a dull moment. I could write a book just about those cases brought against Mr. Candell, but I won’t bore you with those.

Beginning in the summer of 1958, one client of mine was Kurt O. Linn, a surveyor. He had just purchased 21 patented mineral properties essentially following the meander line of North Clear Creek from Hwy 119 upstream just above Silver Creek in Apex Valley. Kurt said, “If you want to buy a lot to build a cabin on, go up there and pick out a site and I will survey it next summer and you can buy it for $1,000, payable $25 down and $25 per month with interest at 6% until paid. My wife, Mona, and I went up just above Silver Creek and chose a beautiful site in a glen facing Black Hawk Mountain downstream. The following fall we build a three-room, 400 square foot cabin with a bath, tiny kitchen, large living room, and one bedroom. We had “running water,” which actually entailed running down to the creek with a bucket and running back up to the cabin. We had no well for the first seven years, and no electricity for the first four years. We used a Coleman lantern for light, and a space heater fueled by LP gas. We spent every weekend there from late March through December each year. After we started staying up at the cabin, the nightmares from the war I had been suffering from for 13 years finally stopped. Apex Valley gave me great peace of mind and calmed my chronic anxiety.

On July 2, 1991, I retired after practicing law for 41 years. Mona passed away on June 17, 1998 at the house on upper Apex Valley. We had added a house to the cabin in 1973-74, and she lived there for the rest of her life. This last September 18, I sold the house at 794 Aped Road. It was a passive solar home which I lived in for 20 years after it was built and finished. Now I have no more connection with Gilpin County except a lot of wonderful memories and a lot of wonderful people I met along the way. Time never dragged on my hands in Gilpin County – it was always a challenge.