User:Orschstaffer/Gunnison County, Colorado

GUNNISON COUNTY, COLORADO

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See Warren County, Indiana: (Feature article)

Contents (Warren County, Indiana):

• History
• Geography
• Climate and weather
• Transportation
• Economy
• Education and health care
• Notable people
• Media
• Government
• Demographics
• See also
• Notes
• References
  • Bibliography
• External links

The Lead Section information

The following are my suggestions for lead section information (Gunnison County, Colorado) which will be further expounded upon in appropriate section titles.

• Paleontology interests (This link directs toward an article that is rated as a Good Article.)
• Anthropology interests (This link directs toward an article that is rated as a C Class Article.)
• Archaeology interests (This link directs toward an article that is rated as a B Class Article and former Featured article candidate.)
• Indigenous peoples (This link directs toward an article that is rated as a B Class Article.) See also: Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, Ute people (A C-class article), Uintah and Ouray Indian Reservation
• Settlers and time frame
• Religion and circuit preachers
• Territorial status and statehood, county formed, governments
• Notable peoples involved
• Census information
• Townships and their formations
• Land use and important events leading to population increases
• Agriculture, ranching, mining
• Climate and weather related activities
• Drainage basins and rivers, creation of dams
• Impact of railways and other transportation, roadways
• Educational history, development
• National parks, wildlife areas, tourism
• Media, entertainment
• Other interests for lead section

Physical location and geological features

Gunnison County, Colorado lies on the western slope of the Continental Divide southwest of Denver, Colorado and northwest of Colorado Springs, Colorado. It is bordered by Pitkin County, Colorado to the north, Chaffee County, Colorado to the east, Saguache County, Colorado to the southeast, Hinsdale County, Colorado to the south, Ouray County, Colorado to the southwest, Delta County, Colorado to the west, Montrose County, Colorado to the west and Mesa County, Colorado to the northwest.

National Parks Service, National Forests, Wilderness Areas, Recreational Areas

The county comprises the majority of Gunnison National Forest of the adjacent counties which also include this forest. The Gunnison National Forest is bordered by the White River National Forest to the north, the Grand Mesa National Forest to the west, the Uncompahgre National Forest to the southwest, the San Isabel National Forest to the east and the Rio Grande National Forest to the south. The county also includes the Collegiate Peaks Wilderness Area, Fossil Ridge Wilderness Area, Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness Area, Powderhorn Wilderness Area, Raggeds Wilderness Area, Uncompahgre Wilderness Area and West Elk Wilderness Area. The National Parks Service oversees the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park which encompasses the Blue Mesa Reservoir and the Gunnison River below the Blue Mesa Dam and beyond the county line the Black Canyon of the Gunnison Wilderness Area in Montrose County. The National Parks Service also oversees the Curecanti National Recreation Area in Gunnison County which is named for Ute Chief Curicati whose people once traversed the Gunnison Country.

Transportation and Roadways of Gunnison County

U.S. Highway 50 traverses the county entering over Monarch Pass on the east side and dips into Saguache County just above Sargents, Colorado for approximately 9 or 10 miles before reentering the county, and at Stumpy Creek on the west side before its confluence with the Lower Cimarron River in Monarch County. State Highway 114 enters the county from the south over Cochetopa Pass and intersects U.S. Highway 50 at Cochetopa Creek. State Highway 135 begins at the center of Gunnison, Colorado heading north on Main Street traveling through Almont, Crested Butte South and terminating at Crested Butte. County road 12 heads west from Crested Butte traveling over Kebler Pass and continues to the northwest intersecting State Highway 133 at the lower Paonia Reservoir State Recreation Area. State Highway 133 enters the county from the west a couple of miles east of Juanita Junction and travels east to Paonia Reservoir State Recreation Area where it turns north toward Ragged Mountain, it enters the county from the northeast over McClure Pass from southwest Pitkin County where it turns south and switchbacks in Gunnison County to return north through Pitkin County. At this switchback County Road 3 heads south toward Marble. County Road 117 heads north out of Crested Butte to Gothic and continues north to Schofield Pass where two-tracks will lead you to Marble. This road is passable for only a few months in the summer. County Road 76 leads northeast from U.S. Highway 50 east of Gunnison at Parlin. It travels through Ohio City and Pitkin continuing north and east to the Alpine Tunnel District. A half mile or so east of Pitkin, Forest Service Road 765 leads north toward Tin Cup and the Fossil Ridge Recreation Area.

Colorado Mining Camps of Gunnison County

Tin Cup

• 1877 marks the first permanent cabin built by Sol Bloom.
• 1878 the Gold Cup Mine discovered by a Captain Hall, financed by Carl Hord of Denver.
• 1879 Tin Cup Camp had its most rapid growth.
• 1880 the camp incorporated under the name Virginia City. The U.S. Post Office succeeded at convincing the townspeople to change the name.
• 1881 Henry Olney moved his press from Hillerton and established the Tin Cup Record.
• 1882 the town reincorporated under the name Tin Cup.
• 1891 fire plugs were installed throughout the town.

Tin Cup had notable hotels and boarding houses such as the Pacific Hotel, the Tin Cup Hotel and Aunt Kate's Boarding House. Kate Fisher, a former slave, ran the boarding house until 1902 when she died. The community had two banks, general supply and grocery house, meat market, a boot and saddle shop, livery stable, schoolhouse, post office, jail, general mercantile store, wagon and carriage repair shop, bakery, telegraph office and Masonic Hall. Dr. John McGowan had an office. Population growth early in 1880-81 was estimated around 5000 in the mining district and dropped to about 1200. By 1884 the population declined to 500 souls. A resurgence of new mining activity in 1903-04 brought in many new people.

Harry R. Morris on occasion served as Police Magistrate, Clerk and Recorder, Postmaster, Justice of the Peace and Mayor of Tin Cup. Dan and Julia Harrington owned a large zinc bathtub. William R. Kreutzer became the first Forest Ranger in the the United States. His residence was also headquarters and is presently the Tin Cup Store on Grande Avenue. Kreutzer Peak is named in his honor.

Tin Cup is situated at 10,182 feet elevation and temperatures range from 40-45 degrees below zero in the winter to 70-80 degrees in the summer. Transportation through the winter virtually came to halt. The town is located at the south edge of Taylor Park and continues today as a haven for summer activities.

The Bald Mountain Mining Company bought the Gold Cup Mine property for nearly 400,000 dollars and became the top producer in the Tin Cup District at 7,000,000 dollars. Some of the other mines include:

• The Little Gold Cup
• The Silver Cup
• The Addie
• E.C. Stoddard Company operated the Jimmy Mack Mine
• The Blistered Horn
• Iron Bonnet
• Drew
• Tin Cup
• Mayflower
• Anna Dedricka
• El Capitan
• The Bonnie Belle

Pitkin

The camp, originally called Quartzville, was established in April of 1879. The first boarding house, a tent with sawdust floors, had rows of double bunks stuffed with hay and rented for fifty cents a night. A substantial town was underway by the Fall of 1879 with many permanent buildings erected. The town's name was changed to Pitkin in honor of then Governor Frederick W. Pitkin. By 1881 the community had a population of 1500 people, a bank, several hotels, cafes and several types of shops. The Pitkin Independent newspaper was established and later came the second newspaper The Pitkin Mining News. Saloons, gambling dens and brothels were commonplace and during the construction of the Alpine Tunnel railroad workers spent many hours whooping it up in Pitkin. The first legal hanging in Gunnison County occurred after a shooting over a card game. According to one newspaper, the killer was jerked to Jesus.

Ore assayed from the first claim was 80% solid silver and the Fairview Mine produced for 15 years. Other early strikes created the following mines:

• The red Jacket
• Iron Cap
• Silent Friend
• Silver Islet
• Silver Age
• The Tycoon
• Little Roy
• Little Addie Addie
• Western Hemisphere
• Nest Egg
• Wampum

In 1882 the Alpine Tunnel opened and trains of the Denver, Southpark and Pacific Railroad rolled in from Hancock, St. Elmo and points east. Eventually the tracks were laid to Parlin and Gunnison.

By 1891 Pitkin had two churches and more women, two elements bringing respectability and culture to the community. The Colorado State Fish Hatchery was established below town. The silver crash of 1893 dealt a blow to the town but hardy and tenacious miners stuck it out. A new city hall was constructed in 1901 and telephone service began in 1904. The sleepy town survives today in its quiet and scenic setting.

Ohio City

As early as 1860 placer gold was pulled out of Gold Creek (originally called Ohio Creek) and the adjacent German Flats area. In 1879 deposits of silver were found near the junction of Gold and Quartz Creeks and a camp was set up known as Eagle City. It was later changed to Ohio City. A large hotel and restaurant was built along with several stores and saloons; the camp was connected to Pitkin via a stageline. In 1882 the Denver, Southpark and Pacific Railroad arrived continuing on to Parlin and Gunnison. 1893 brought with it the silver strike and many left the area until 1896 when gold was once again discovered. A sawmill established at Pitkin supplied finished lumber and most construction of this second boom replaced the log structures of the earlier 80's.

Adjacent to the city were the Eagle, Calumet and the Roller mines, however the most productive mines were located on Gold Creek. The Carter Group shipped 3,000 dollars in gold brick every other week, and by 1916 the Raymond Mine yielded over 7,000,000 dollars.Further up the creek the Gold Link Mining Company included 6,000 acres of claims, a 4,000 foot tunnel, a forty stamp mill, two-story boarding house and many other buildings. They also maintained a 200 man payroll.

White Pine

The first recorded strike in 1879 spurred the establishment of three mining camps, White Pine (often spelled Whitpine), Lake's Camp (North Star) and Argenta (Tomichi). White Pine became the largest and had several productive mines:

• The May-Mazeppa
• Morning Star
• Evening Star
• Black Warrior
• Akron
• Erie
• Copper Bottom
• Copper Queen
• North Star Mine (See North Star below)

The Post Office was established August 12, 1880. A two-story log hotel, blacksmith shop and other typical town businesses were constructed and later the Grand Hotel, City Hall and the Tivoli Theatre were built. In 1883 the White Pine Cone newspaper was established and circulated for 10 years. Editor George S. Irwin's spice and humor made it a hit throughout the area. On December 20, 1892, Irwin writes, "Something over 1,000 dollars is due the Cone. We need half of it. Please pay what you can on account." That was the final issue of the paper. In 1885 a Professor Turner would preach at the schoolhouse every Sunday. Not wanting to offend saint or sinner, his talks would general be pleasant.

The devaluation of silver in 1893 nearly killed the mining in White Pine, which rebounded in 1901, again in 1941 and once again in 1947.

North Star

Located a little over a mile north of White Pine above Galina Gulch and close to the Continental Divide, the camp was built on property of the May-Mazeppa Mine. During 1901 the North Star operated three eight hour shifts and new buildings began to be constucted. The Leadville House Hotel had a false front facing Main Street. The Soup Bone Musical Club provided festivities with a bell harp and a guitar.

Tomichi

Located two miles north of White Pine, some of the best producing mines were the following:

• The Magna Charta Tunnel
• The Eureka
• Little Carrie
• Lewiston
• Brittle Silver
• Sleeping Pet

Tomichi was originally called Argenta, then changed its name to Tomichi Camp and later shortened to Tomichi. By 1880 it boasted of a population of 1500 (larger than White Pine). A smelter was constructed to serve the mines and in 1883 a fire consumed it. The Tomichi Herald newspaper ran issues on wrapping paper due to a late shipment of printing paper. The silver strike closed all the mines except the Eureka which operated until 1895. In 1899 a snowslide killed five or six people and the town shut down. All that is left of Tomichi is a few traces of the Magna Charta on the side of Granite Mountain.

Alpine Station

Alpine Station grew as a railroad construction town in 1880. Located at the west portal of the Alpine Tunnel, the 11,546 foot elevation on the Sawatch Range was not a friendly environment for human living conditions throughout the year. By the end of 1881 a huge stone engine house with a turntable and a telegragh office were built and the main tunnel was completed. Construction continued for the next four years building a 650 foot long snow shed at the western end of the tunnel. A 150 foot snow shed was built on the eastern end with a 16 car siding which was called Atlantic. Alpine Station constructed a bunk house, a stone section house, storehouse and remained a railroad stop for the Denver, South Park and Pacific Railroad.

Avalanches and stranded trains were common. In March 1884, a train whistle caused an avalanche which swept away the small community of Woodstock located in a high meadow below the station killing fourteen of the seventeen inhabitants. Part of the station had to be rebuilt after a 1906 fire. The expensive California redwood beams used in the tunnel failed which caused a cave-in during 1910 claiming several lives. The tunnel never reopened and Alpine Station was abandoned. a sign on the station house reads: Built in 1884 by DSPP RR.

Hillerton

Hillerton and Abbeyville were suburbs of Virginia City (Tin Cup) and were short lived. Abbeyville started near the C. F. Abbey Smelter in 1881. Hillerton, founded by Edward Hiller, started in 1879 and then died rapidly. Several strikes including Adeline, Little Earl and What it is, plus some others and a new toll road was opened which lead toward Jack's Cabin. This was the shortest route to Crested Butte and Irwin. Jack's Cabin was a stage stop.

Hillerton had many businesses spring up. A hotel, the New England House, and Edward Hiller's bank promised for future expansion and hundreds of miners came. Henry Olney started a newspaper, the Hillerton Occident during 1879. Virginia City offered more promise including the mines and their production and eventually everyone packed up and moved south two miles to the larger city, including Olney's newspaper and residents even moved the logs used to build their cabins.

References

Bibliography

Books

• Dyer, J. L. Snow-shoe Itinerant. Cincinnati: Cranston & Stowe, 1890. Reprinted Breckenridge: Father Dyer United Methodist Church, 1975.
• Eberhart, Perry. Guide to the Colorado Ghost Towns and Mining Camps. Denver: Sage Books, 1968.
• Fay, Abbott. Famous Coloradans. Ronia: Mountaintop Books, 1990.
• George, R. D. Colorado Geological Survey. Denver:The Smith-Brooks Printing Co., 1909.
• Hall, Frank. History of the State of Colorado. 4 Vols. Chicago: Blakely Printing Co., 1889, 1890, 1891, 1895.
• Jocknick, Sidney. Early Days on the Western Slope of Colorado. Glorieta, N.M.: Rio Grande Press, 1968.
• McCollum, Jr., Oscar. Marble - A Town Built on Dreams. Volumes 1 & 2. Denver: Sundance Publications, Ltd., 1992.
• May, Stephen. Pilgrimage: A Journey Though Colorado's History and Culture. Athens, OH: Swallow Press, 1987.
• Monnet, John H. Colorado Profiles: Men and Women Who Shaped the Centennial State. Evergreen: Cordillera Press, 1987.
• Perry, Eleanor. I Remember Tin Cup. Shawnee Mission, KS: Inter-Collegiate Press, Inc., 1986.
• Poor, M. C. Denver South Park & Pacific. Denver: Rocky Mountain Railroad Club, 1976.
• Prucha, Francis Paul. American Indian Treaties: The History of a Political Anomaly. Berkley: University of California Press. 1994.
• Vandenbusche, Duane. The Gunnison Country. Gunnison: B & B Printers, 1980.
• Vandenbusche, Duane, and Rex Myers. Marble, Colorado: City of Stone. Denver: Golden Bell Press. 1970.
• Wallace, Betty. Gunnison Country. Denver: Sage Books, 1960.
• Wallace, Betty. Six Beans in the Wheel - Tales and Legends of Western Colorado. A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts. Western State College of Colorado, Gunnison. May, 1956.
• Wright, Carolyn and Clarence Wright. Tiny Hinsdale of the Silvery San Juans. Denver: Big Mountain Press, 1964.

Newspapers

• Gunnison News
• Gunnison Republican
• La Plata Miner
• San Juan Herald

Articles

• Haase, Carl L. Gothic, Colorado: City of Silver Wires. Colorado Magazine 51 (Fall 1974): pp:294-316.
• Hastings, James K. A Winter in the High Mountains, 1871-72. Colorado Magazine 27 (July 1950) pp:225-33.
• Wolle, Muriel Sibell. Irwin, a Ghost Town of the Elk Mountains. Colorado Magazine 24 (January 1974) pp:4-15.

Other Sources

• First Annual Colorado Mining Directory, 1896. Compiled by J. S. Bartow and P. A. Simmons. Denver: The Colorado Mining Directory, Co.
• Map of Colorado Territory, Embracing the Central Gold Region. Drawn by Frederick J. Ebert under direction of the Governor, Wm. Gilpin. Published by Jacob Monk, 1862.
• Map of Public Surveys in Colorado Territory. Map to accompany report of the Surveyor General, 1866, (Issued by the General Land Office on Oct. 2, 1866.)
• Map of the Territory of Colorado Showing the Extent of the Public Surveys. Map to accompany the Anual Report for 1871. Compiled under the direction of the Surveyor General.
• Nell's New Topographical and Township Map of the State of Colorado. Compiled from U.S. Government Surveys and other authentic Sources, 1881.
• Post Route Map of the State of Colorado showing post offices with the intermediate distances and mail routes in operation on the 1st of October, 1885.
• United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service Maps, U.S. Forest Service, Denver.
• Williams' Tourist's Map of Colorado and the San Juan Mines. Engraved from Surveys by the Hayden U.S. Geological Expedition. Henry W. Troy, designer, N.Y., 1877.