Adventures of growing up in the ‘70s in Central City
By Brian Gibbins
Another night out for the Gibbins family while living on the outskirts of Central City. We bundled up for the winter weather and left the Buck House on our way to town. Dad decided to drive through Nevadaville as that way was more direct. The old Jeep might have (more…)
Black Hawk’s drone light show not available this summer
By Don Ireland
Drone light shows have begun to replace traditional fireworks displays across the world. However, neither type of sky shows is slated for Gilpin County this Independence Day. Originally, the City of Black Hawk investigated the concept of using a July 4th drone-light show this year. After holding initial discussions with a company that offered such a (more…)
Reunite with fellow believers
By Jaclyn Schrock
Regulations were updated May 2, 2021 at https://covid19.colorado.gov/worship-guidance. Worship and associated ceremonies such as weddings and funerals are classified as critical. Ceremonies are to (more…)
Gilpin Historical Society
by David Forsyth, PhD
Although Gilpin County has enjoyed its share of famous visitors, perhaps none was as famous as Ulysses S. Grant. Grant first visited Central City in July 1868 with Generals William Tecumseh Sherman and Phil Sheridan, greeting well-wishers in the (more…)
June 1st School Board Meeting
By Curt Halsted
School Board President Steve Boulter started the meeting by sharing care and concern for School Board Member Joe Marr who was with family after his son Mike and two grandchildren were in a serious accident in Wyoming. The grandkids have recovered from minor injuries, while his son Mike is improving, but still has a long road to recovery. The board celebrated (more…)
Maybe you need the help of a drone
By Don Ireland
What do Bigfoot, Girl Scout cookies, soccer, Michael Jordan, police and s’mores have in common? They all have been the subject of recent news stories involving drones, technically called small Unmanned Aerial Systems by the Federal Aviation Administration. Although drone operations and sightings (more…)
Saturday, August 14 featuring the Famous Bed Races!
By Lisa Roemhildt
Join us Saturday, August 14, at noon through 8:00 pm for the 47th Annual Madam Lou Bunch Day! Madam Lou Bunch Day is a family event of fun, competition and loaded with history and facts of the area. Madam Lou Bunch owned the most successful brothel (referred to as a “sporting house”) in Central City. The annual event features the (more…)
Black Hawk homeowners participate in city house painting program
By Randy Beaudette
Black Hawk Police Chief Michelle Moriarty rang the bell to kick off the Black Hawk City Council regular meeting on May 12, 2021 to discuss a site development plan for the Golden Gilpin Mill, several construction (more…)
Happy 50th Gilpin Historical Society
By Randy Beaudette
Gilpin County Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) faced another long agenda for a hybrid online/in-person Regular Meeting on June 1, 2021. Highlights included an extension of the County’s Emergency Declaration, a proclamation honoring Gilpin County Historical Society’s 50th Anniversary, and a Memorandum of Understanding for Gilpin County Human Services. (more…)
Street theater reenactments in Central City this summer
By Jaclyn Schrock
The Wild Bunch of Central City replays historic tales of Gilpin County coming to be, from noon to 4, when St. Mary’s Church (more…)
City Council losing a member
By David Josselyn
Regular Council Meeting
Just prior to the start of the meeting, at 6:58 pm, an impromptu conversation was had between Mayor Fey, Alderman Aiken, and Commissioner Web Sill (Alderwoman Johnson was also in the room) which constituted a quorum. However, the Zoom (more…)
With Gilpin County School Board
By Curt Halsted
To start the second Gilpin County School Board meeting in the month of May, Dr. David MacKenzie gave praise for the 2021 Gilpin Grads. The senior class graduated with a 100% graduation rate, and together earned over $463,000 in scholarships. (more…)
My life at elevation 9,640 in Gilpin County
By Brian Gibbins
When I went to Clark School in Central City, we had a huge gymnasium across the street in front of the school. This is not a story about that gymnasium. Outside the gymnasium on the uphill side was a huge gulch, or ravine depending on where you are from. In this gulch two creeks converged after they exited from large pipes. Both pipes, or culverts as my dad called them, were about six feet in diameter and the water dropped (more…)
From the Gilpin Historical Society
By David Forsyth, PhD
In 1909 the Gilpin Observer referred to Russell Gulch resident Fred W. Dolley as a “gentleman of varied experience” and “one of the most versatile fellows in this section.” By then he had already been a roller-skating rink owner, farmer, miner, and railroad builder after having been in the county only a few years. (more…)
November 30, 1936 – May 18, 2021
Warren Robert Smith passed away after a short illness on May 18, 2021 at the age of 84. A Colorado native, he was born in Denver in 1936 and graduated from West High School in 1954. He then followed his older brother Jerry and enlisted in the U.S. Navy, where he served from January 1955 to November 1957. He then served in the Naval Reserve until he was honorably discharged in 1962. Even from a young age, Warren was interested in technology. His first job in high school was repairing radios at a small shop. After (more…)
Outdoor graduation ceremony
By Curt Halsted
Friends and family shared in a joyous celebration of the accomplishments of Gilpin Seniors. The event was staged outdoors with a majestic expanse of mountains cradled in rolling clouds, and for Gilpin County a warm day. An air of freedom and yet caution filled the atmosphere for what was the first public gathering for many in a long time. (more…)