Leadville, Colorado

 

Our visit to Leadville 

Includes re-visiting the famous Matchless Mine and the history of 

Baby-Doe Tabor (one of the foremost and most famous Women of the West)

and the story of Riches to Rags in the boom/bust wild west mining era.

The mine produced $1.9 billion in 1883, 

Horace Tabors assets had made him a billionaire in today's dollars.

Horace and Augusta had been married 25 years 

when Horace divorced Augusta and married Baby-Doe.

Horace (eventually) died nearly penniless but Augusta went on to become very wealthy.

Horace and Baby-Doe lived ever so lavishly, enjoying all their extreme wealth until the repeal of the Sherman Act in 1893 which caused the plunge of the silver prices  and thereby impoverished most of the miners in that era.

Baby-Doe was ostracized in Denver society, so she returned to Leadville and the Matchless Mine.  She believed that the Matchless would produce again.

She lived alone in the cabin for 35 years, became known as the "madwoman", and died penniless.  She was found in the cabin frozen to death. 

There is so much written of her history, but you may find this article interesting:

https://centralcityopera.org/the-wild-true-tale-of-baby-doe-tabor/

BOOM DAYS

These large stones are used in the annual hand-drilling contest for 

Leadville's Boom Days

In early August the Boom Days includes a Burro Race.

Maybe we'll make is some year.

At any rate, we always enjoy a visit to Leadville.

Cottonwood Pass and Tin Cup Colorado

These mountains have such incredible views 

(and roads to reach the top)

View to the east (toward Buena Vista)

Not too many guard rails on this road!

It is the highest paved crossing of the Continental Divide in the United States.

View to the west 

Tin Cup 

Tin Cup got its name from one of the prospectors that carried out his gold dust in a tin cup.  The underworld ruled Tin Cup and there never really was any law.  

Every time an honest sheriff would arrive, he would be told what to do by the leaders of the underworld.  If he didn't comply, he was killed.  

So, the cemetery at Tin Cup is filled with honest sheriffs 

and other good people that did not comply.  

Around the turn of the century there was said to be about 2000 people here, but the mining collapsed and so did the population.

A few families live here year round, but the rest have summer homes.

Frenchy's Cafe is popular in the summer.

The town hall holds church services in the summer.

Last Sunday, the preacher had come up from Denver.

Interesting architecture

The sign describes a wind storm that destroyed so much of the area.

There were a surprising number of recent headstones, 

but still had a few of the really old ones.

I guessed they didn't practice 'inclusion'

One of the wooden headstones with a date of 1900.

The new flags came on their 'clean up day' for the cemetery.

A surprising nice marble headstone for a Civil War hero.

The Jewish Knoll

Probably the most interesting one of all-

"Wm N. Roesner

Dec 22 1947

for years he was Posen

now proud to be a Rosen"

An interesting day!

Moose sighting!! (finally)

A good day of fishing-nice lake 

and campgrounds at Cottonwood Lake

I'll knit while he gets dinner.

nice dinner!

Finally we see some moose 

 

Well now, that was a fun afternoon!

Life in Buena Vista - Gorgeous mountains and lots of hot springs.

Twin Lakes, Colorado 

We were looking for The Interlaken ( an elegant abandoned resort)

The brochure said it was such an easy trail.

That may have been true but it was too long for us😓

so we enjoyed the beautiful views.

Cottonwood Hot Springs

(sorry for you folks at home!😉)

We have such a nice choice of temperatures.

This is our favorite choice of many in the area.

"They" say the river experience is nice (at 55 degrees?)

Not for me!

Such pleasant days!

We are thankful for the time to enjoy.

St Elmo - "the best preserved ghost town"

When we think of St. Elmo, it reminds Lou of St Elmo's fire ( the static electric display of lights on the windshield of the airplane when flying through weather).

Apparently, Elmo used to be a patron saint of sailors. (St Elmo's fire was first seen by sailors in the rigging of their tall sailing ships).

This towns name is probably after a popular novel of the time. 

I doubt there were many sailors in this rugged mountain range at 10,000 ft.

 The historic mining town of St. Elmo was founded in 1880 and flourished for less than a decade. Although it is actually inhabited by a small handful of full-timers (probably about 10) and dozens of summer residents, it is considered one of the best-preserved ghost towns in the West. The town attracts roughly 50,000 tourists annually, including many who use it as a base for hiking and four-wheeling.

The Town Hall has been burnt and rebuilt with the efforts of the few remaining relatives of the original residents ( and with the Historical Society)

The most fun part of the visit is this!

For 50 cents worth of sunflower seeds you can have some great entertainment

as they climb up and all over you.

their checks are stuffed full trying to get enough stored for the winter!

 

Eagle Lake Camp-a wonderful place!

We especially enjoyed working with Steve and Diane Hahn, the SOA's

As a Sower on Assignment they serve for 4 months and they came in the May but were delayed getting up the mountain because of 17 inches of snow.

Our transportation was this little "buggy" so we could easily get around camp and the steep hills.

This campus is 300 acres and so large that we are just learning our way around.

This is the Horse Barn.

They used to have horses, but no more.  Now it is a storage unit.

Steve rebuilt the stairs ( to nowhere) 

The door is closed off now, but will be opened again if needed.

Steve did a great job!

These beautiful surroundings sometimes have dangers. 

Lou is pointing to where lightning struck the trees and the cabin.

Luckily no one was using the cabin at the time.

It caused broken glass

and damaged the concrete supports.

Other areas inside the cabin were burned.

 

This lightning rod will be installed at the highest point of the staff housing.

A little time for fun!

"All work and no play"

(it is work to paddle into the wind!)

We came in August and enjoyed our first bit of fun on the lake.

(yep, the water is cold!)