Stiff competition from the burro racing teams
By Jaclyn Schrock
2012 Colorado’s Legislators declared Burro Racing their Summer Heritage Sport. Western Pack Burro Ass-ociation (WPBA) spoke clearly to Colorado’s governing body (more…)
Category: History
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Wild Bunch shoot-out at the Last Shot
“Age of the Gunfighter” trip to Wichita fundraiserBy Jaclyn Schrock
The Gilpin Historical Society (GHS) and Central City’s Wild Bunch are blessed by the show of support demonstrated Saturday, August 10th at Roy’s Last Shot Restaurant in mid-Gilpin County. The generosity of Roy to prepare his restaurant with a tasty buffet and salad bar was commendable. The game room, pool tables and full service bar kept many locals happy. (more…)
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4th Annual Gilpin Neighbors BBQ Get-together
You know you’re from Gilpin County…By Jaclyn Schrock
The JKQ BBQ Restaurant was the site August 10th from 1-4 p.m. for the annual Gilpin Neighbors get-together. The gathering is good for revealing the ways we all indirectly know each other says current organizer Stephen Buck. (more…)
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Buffalo Bill Days in Golden
Experience the Wild West firsthandTake a step back in the past and experience the Wild West firsthand at Golden’s very own Buffalo Bill Days! This event dates back to the 1940s as a trail ride up Lookout Mountain to Buffalo Bill’s grave. The Buffalo Bill Days Committee has expanded the activities through the years and it is now the largest community festival held in Golden. (more…)
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One lone booster left in Town of Nevadaville
Sole inhabitant upholds civic pride of once booming mining centerBy Mary Peery
Rocky Mountain News, June 3, 1930: “Nevadaville, one-time boom mining camp of the Central City district, is not dead—not by a long shot and the civic pride of its one inhabitant. Merely suggest that it is a ghost city, and Leonard Nichols, aged hermit, will resent the imputation. New distinction has come to Nichols, distinction given to few men in the United States. He is the sole inhabitant of the entire settlement. Uncle Sam sent a census enumerator to Nevadaville the other day. The enumerator looked high and low, then recorded “One Resident.” (more…)
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Leadville Boom Days
Some Characters on the StreetsBy Raj Manickam
Leadville Boom Days is a Colorado Mountain Festival and historical celebration of the Old West, with gunslingers, burro races, contests of mining skill, and a street fair with over 100 food and craft booths. It is always the first full weekend in August, so this year it ran from August 2nd through the 4th. Three days of fun, food, arts and crafts, and activities for the whole family! Leadville is located in the heart of the central Colorado Rockies, at an elevation (more…)
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A burro walked into a bar…
Leadville Boom Day Burro RacingBy Dave TenEyck
We used to have a burro race in Central City many years ago. I participated several times there. One year a racer was kicked in the chest by his burro, rupturing one lung. (more…)
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Shoot-outs on Main Street in Nevadaville!
Masonic Lodge Open House, Pancake Breakfast, and Antique Gun DemoBy Jaclyn Schrock
Nevadaville may be considered a ghost town, but those are not ghosts who live there and keep its recollections alive. Real people have brought back to us, with much restoration work, the Nevadaville Masonic Lodge No. 4 completed in 1879 on Main Street, across from the original City Hall. With improvements to the building in the last few years, the continuing members have had an annual fund raising pancake breakfast. (more…)
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Russell Gulch Cemetery historical mapping project
Volunteer opportunity on August 3 & 4By Michelle Slaughter
Volunteers are needed to help the historical project archaeologists from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday & Sunday, August 3 & 4, at the Russell Gulch Cemetery, located SW of Central City, record graves and headstones, complete site forms and take photos, and assist as needed each day. Volunteers may participate one or both days but will need to commit to one or the other—or both—by July 29. (more…)
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Black Hawk orders new smaller Light Rescue Fire truck
Non-Historic Structure Demolition on Chase StreetBy Randy Beaudette
The most recent Black Hawk City Council regular meeting focused on the demolition of non-historic building in the historical district and the purchase of a new fire truck. Alderman Paul Bennett rang the bell to announce the July 10, 2019 session that stepped of smartly at 3:00 p.m. (more…)
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Nevadaville saloons in the 1880’s
Drinking and Shooting at NevadavilleBy Mary Peery
Rocky Mountain News, July 19, 1884: “Quite a rumpus was kicked up at Nevadaville, the seat of most of the troubles in Gilpin County, early Thursday morning. Barely after midnight, George Ellis and Burke, who had been drinking in Mathews’ Saloon, appeared on the sidewalk in front of the saloon. Suddenly, and without apparent cause or warning, Burke hit Ellis in the head with a slung shot (striking weapon) knocking him to the ground, senseless. Burke made his escape for the time being by running away. (more…)
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Central City Opera Yellow Rose Ball
Carrying on traditionBy Jaclyn Schrock
For 87 years Denver’s finest young women have been introduced to proper society in the garden between the Central City Opera House and the Teller House. About 25 juniors and/or senior high school young ladies are selected each year to be Flower Girls for the opening of the Central City Opera Summer Festival. (more…)
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Black Hawk’s historic City Hall
Changes from 1877 through todayBy Julie Seitzinger
Weekly Register, December 8, 1877
The City Hall of Black Hawk is completed, and Judge Haight has domiciled himself therein. He looks as cozy as a kitten and puts on numerous airs heated by a thirty-dollar stove and several joints of Russian pipe. The completion of the new Black Hawk City Hall was appropriately celebrated on Tuesday evening by a grand banquet at which the Mayor, Aldermen, and most other leading citizens were present. Toasts were given, speeches made and many a bon mot was offered at this pleasant social gathering. Good feeling reigned supreme until the gathering finally dropped out one by one or adjourned in groups to home and slumber. (more…)
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Black Hawk busy with projects and renovations
No sleeping on the streets or sidewalks
By Randy Beaudette
Black Hawk resident Tom Feeney rang the bell to announce another session of the Black Hawk City Council regular meeting on June 26, 2019 at 3:00 p.m. Mayor Spellman called the Black Hawk City Council to order followed by Roll Call, then led in the Pledge of Allegiance. (more…)
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Nevada City in the 1860’s
Saloons – Part 1By Mary Peery
Nevadaville was originally named Nevada City. Nevada City was founded by A.D. Gambell and Sam Link, who formed a townsite company, only three weeks after John Gregory’s gold discovery in 1859. The Nevada Mining District was created with local laws of its own making, due to its (more…)
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Wet and wild Lou Bunch Day
Bed racing, dancing, gun fights, parade, food, and fun!By David Josselyn
The rain came bursting forth from dismal cumulonimbus clouds in Central City the afternoon of Saturday, June 15, but neither rain, nor sleet, nor cold can stop the tyranny of the Wild Bunch Gang. The 45th Annual Madam Lou Bunch kicked off its sultry celebration with a gun fight on the south side of Main Street. “I don’t think I’ve ever been so wet,” said Tom Matthews, one of the survivors of the gunfight and undertaker for the Wild Bunch Gang, but the show must go on. And go on it did as the sun pierced through the dark-slate-gray clouds shutting off the rain for the remainder of the afternoon. (more…)