Turning Back the Pages

30 Years Ago - August 19, 1983 The squatters along U.S. 6 in Jefferson County are going to have to leave. Monday, the JeffCo Commissioners approved a parking ban for the canyon the effect of which will be to ban overnight camping in the area. U.S. 6 has become a problem with people moving in and setting up housekeeping in campers and buses. Last year, Gilpin County passed a regulation banning campers from any but designated camping areas. That has cleaned up Highway 119, but added to the overload on U.S. 6. The state of Colorado has divided $8,050 among nine counties that have state parks and recreation areas within their borders. Gilpin County is not one of them, even though the majority of Golden Gate State Park is here. Lost paperwork is the culprit. Gilpin County assessor Glenda Allen was able to go directly to her files to show that she sent in Gilpin’s forms requesting $2,575.19 prior to the deadline but the state can find no record of them, so Gilpin is out of luck. Dan Ryan is the new principal of the RE-1 school district. He was hired July 28 to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Doug Rudig. The only contestant to stay on a bull long enough to qualify in the junior bull riding competition at the Nederland Rodeo was 13-year-old Ed Schrader, an eighth grader at Gilpin County School. Schrader took home the first place buckle. A Denver resident reported three tents missing from the Gamble Gulch area he had set up around the middle of June. He said he found a message on a paper plate informing him that he was trespassing. A routine check found that the reporting party was wanted on a warrant out of Boulder for failing to appear on a DUI charge. He was arrested. The second lawsuit over the Gilpin Jail to reach court in the last year has been dismissed. U.S. Magistrate Donald Abram dismissed the case of Daniel C. Gross versus Sheriff Rosetta Anderle and the Gilpin County Board of Commissioners. Abram ruled that the jail was adequate for what it was used for - a holding facility for prisoners awaiting trial and sentencing. Gross spent a total of 37 days in Gilpin jail in three different stays. An individual turned in two blasting caps to the Sheriff’s Office. He reported finding them on the road near a cemetery. Black Hawk’s City Council agreed to purchase a new flag for the city to be flown on the flagpole in front of City Hall. Cost of the 6’ x 10’ flag is $99. Mayor Bobby Clay said the city needs a new flag because the old one is “missing a few stars.” It only has 48. The congregation of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Central City wants to erect another building west of the church. The building, 20 by 30 feet, would house a restroom and a small chapel. The congregation is small and would like to have a winter chapel, which would be easier to heat. Members of the church appeared before the Central City Historic Preservation Committee but did not formally submit a plan so no formal approval could be given. The Historic Preservation Committee did unanimously agree to support the idea. A Black Hawk woman was arrested shortly after 2 a.m. Sunday in Boulder. Her vehicle was stopped by a Boulder officer who suspected she might be intoxicated. An inventory search of her vehicle was taken and a leather bag containing $115,000 in cash was discovered. A search warrant was then obtained and a cardboard box containing an additional $32,870 in cash was uncovered. It also held several containers with suspected marijuana residue. The woman was booked into the Boulder Jail on charges of DUI and possession of cocaine. The money was being held as evidence in the case and the investigation is continuing. Black Hawk’s Deputy Marshal Rusty Hardy is not quitting. He is going to stay on the job in a part-time, on-call capacity. Following numerous complaints at this month’s Central City Council meeting, a massive road-fill and grading operation was launched throughout the residential areas of the city Monday. Trespassers on private property, who said they were “falconers attempting to catch young birds,” were asked to leave by Deputy Steve Foellmer. The Central City firehouse received a new coat of red and white paint recently. Last week, Grimes’ Bonanza building was painted yellow, brown and green. It’s quite a striking sight as you round the corner from Lawrence Street. 60 Years Ago - August 14, 1953 The residents of this city were stunned and grieved by the news on Tuesday morning that Eugene Lambert, Burton Shobert and George Eustice had been killed on the west side of Berthoud Pass, when the automobile in which they were riding left the road and plunged over 300 feet down the mountainside. The deaths of these three young men, who had their lives ahead of them, has cast a pall of sadness on every resident, and while time is a great healer, it will be a long time before they are forgotten. “The Time of the Cuckoo” moves into its second record week in Central City’s Opera House, with over 80% of the tickets already sold. Regarded as the greatest advance sale in Festival history by association officials, the Shirley Booth starring vehicle dwarfs such past attractions as “Mrs. McThing,” “Diamond Lil,” and “The constant Wife.” AD: Thousands of people have found that party lines mean good telephone service at economy prices. Sharing some of the expensive equipment behind each telephone means a lower price to each party line customer. (Mountain States Telephone and Telegraph Company). Highway congestion is at its worst in August and competition for accommodations is keen, warns the Rocky Mountain AAA Club. In Colorado more and more travelers are turning to September vacations. These visitors are in the main older persons who have no family to prevent fall traveling. Andrew Eddy, 74, of Denver, was buried in Bald Mountain Cemetery last Friday. It is something these days to see Shirley Booth’s fans following her around for autographs, or snapping pictures of her as she walks along the street. Don’t keep a stiff upper lip. You can smile better when it’s limber. The marshal of Black Hawk has been instructed to enforce the ordinance pertaining to animals running at large in the city. Once in a blue moon there appears upon the market a better than average cartoon booklet. Such a booklet is the one which makes its appearance last week in local book stalls, entitled “Central City is Fun.” To Barbara Bremington, for her keen insight, and portrayal of the erstwhile native, as well as the beloved “Touri,” congratulations. Rain – it seems like it’s always raining. Except when it hails. 90 Years Ago - August 17, 1923 Coroner Hamilik was notified early Monday morning that the body of an unknown man was found in Jenny Lind Gulch, a short distance above Baltimore, with a bullet through his head indicating suicide. The body was found in main Jenny Lind Gulch, at the junction of a road that leads to the Ward mining camp. Arriving in the gulch the coroner turned the body over and recognized that it was Alva Espel, of this city and brought it to his undertaking establishment here. After interviewing parties on the grounds and at Baltimore, and from later developments in professional examination of the wound and the course of the bullet through the head, the coroner felt justified in calling a jury of investigation to determine if the death was suicide or murder. A lake that comes and goes or “Disappearing Lake” as it is known to local residents, is puzzling observers who have been studying the body of water for some time. The lake, 200 feet long and approximately the same distance in width, is located at the east end of Arapahoe Glacier at the foot of the terminal moraine. Last week the lake was nearly filled. A day or so later, the water had receded several feet. Later it rose again to its normal level, while Saturday morning the mark was six feet lower than it was Friday. What becomes of the water is the subject of much discussion. The number of prisoners recorded at the state penitentiary Sunday afternoon was 900, the highest count in the history of the institution, which covers a period of fifty years. A formal start was made this week upon the construction of the Moffat Tunnel, the 6-mile bore through the Continental Divide which will put Denver and Northwestern Colorado on the line of the best and most direct railroad route across the United States. There were more cars in and out of Idaho Springs Sunday last than any day in its history aside from the ’59 days. It is estimated that 1,600 cars passed through. The funeral services for the late Mrs. John R. Morgan were held from the residence of her son Evan, Wednesday afternoon at 2 o’clock. Interment was made in the Masonic Cemetery, this city. The Evergreen Mine near Apex has been unwatered down to the 600 foot level. George K. Kimball reported Wednesday that he had thirty-six men working on the Virginia Canyon road and would try and have it finished by Oct. 1 st . Henry Ford declares that there are too many public offices and he wants to know when somebody is going to put a stop to the growth of government. The Charles Ray picture known as the “R.S.V.P.” will be shown at the opera house Saturday evening. Two more carloads of steel for the Evergreen smelter at Apex have been received in Black Hawk from Denver. Pigs is pigs, and politics is politics, but there is always something that can be said in favor of pigs. If the time for which you have paid has expired and the paper still goes to you, you are receiving it through the courtesy of the publisher, because all subscriptions are payable in advance. This office pays its bills regularly each month and it expects the same consideration from those who are indebted to the office. If you are in arrears on your subscription a prompt payment of same will only be in keeping with the courtesy the publisher has extended to you by continuing the paper to you without advance payment when your time expired. We are quite convinced that your courtesy is equal to ours. Let’s hear from you! 120 Years Ago - August 18, 1893 Interesting local news items are about as scarce as money. Since the early days, without fuss or feathers, the “Little Kingdom,” from an area about six miles long and three miles wide, has added $100,000,000 to the supply of gold. The output of the county has not varied 10 per cent from year to year, always running close to the $3,000,000 mark. Gilpin this year will pass the $3,000,000 mark. Her abandoned mines are being rapidly restored to production, and since the advance in smelting charges there is additional activity at her stamp mills. Sheriff Hooper and Deputy Williams left last Saturday afternoon for Pueblo with Wm. Bartle and Joseph Meacham, both of whom will be placed in the insane asylum in that city. Messrs. George and Ben Litchield, who have been prospecting in the William’s Fork mines since June last, passed through Central on their way to Ward, Boulder County. They have a good opinion of the veins of that section, but being too remote from railway facilities for transportation of ore mined, it is not a desirable place for the inveterate prospector. They will engage in mining on Left Hand, above the mouth of Ward Gulch. The Union Tunnel whose entrance is above and at the foot of the mountain opposite to Maryland Mountain is in 900 feet. Twenty-two veins have been intersected in the Union and Bonanza enterprises. Should the former tunnel be continued under Maryland Mountain, it will cut every vein coursing through it, some of them at a depth of 1100 feet. Scientific research shows that the foot of the American woman is growing larger. The law office of Senator Teller on Eureka Street is receiving a coat of paint, as well as the building below and adjoining. The mining reporter met G. W. Sparks in Nevadaville Wednesday morning from whom the information was derived that the promoters of the Colorado Tunnel, designed to cut the veins on Quartz Hill and in Russell District, is to again be driven. The initial point of this enterprise is below Idaho Springs, its course being almost due north. Hereafter Saturday will be a full holiday without pay in the Union Pacific Railroad shops all over the road. This is done in order not to reduce the working force. It will affect over 6,000 men. Superintendent Henry Bolsinger of the Hubert Mining Company, this week let a contract for sinking the engine or main shaft on the Hubert Mine, Nevada District, an additional 100 feet. The present depth of the Hubert is 900 feet. Black Hawk children have begun to think and talk about school opening. The prospects are that the attendance will be larger than usual on the opening day. The lessees of the Legal Tender mine, Tip Top Mountain, on last Monday commenced a run of ore from that mine at the Douglas 20-stamp mill at Wide Awake, and will keep three 5-stamp batteries employed. Born: In Central City, August 14, 1893, to the wife of William Morris, twins-son and daughter. Born: In Black Hawk, August 13, 1893, to the wife of Mr. J. W. Rundel, a son. Born: In Black Hawk, August 15, 1893, to the wife of Chris Hansen, a daughter. Born: In Central City, August 11, 1893, to the wife of M. F. Keleher, a son. Born: In Black Hawk, August 17, 1893, to the wife of Peter Johnson, a son. Miss Brown, who is conducting a restaurant at Yankee Hill, has two men employed in opening up the northeasterly extension of the Surprise Mine, or what is claimed to be the extension of that vein. Mr. George Hempstead, who has been prospecting over in Eldorado, the new gold mining camp above Nederland, on the Middle Boulder indicates that new discoveries are being made north of the town and that the north mountain will prove as good if not better than Spencer Mountain. A young woman of Black Hawk is making a crazy quilt of the silk ties which have been given her by her devoted admirers. Her pillows are to be stuffed with their love letters. The parties who have been breaking into mine buildings on Two Sisters Hill and abstracting therefrom mining tools, powder, etc., have at last been found. They are a party of lads whose parents reside on Eureka Street. A portion of the articles taken from the shaft house on the Two Sisters Lode have been returned. The parents should be held responsible for the remaining missing articles. These kids are fit subjects for the Reform School at Golden. John Hoskin, pretty John from the San Juan, drunk and disorderly - fined $5 and costs, total $16.85 by Judge Schellinger of the police court. William Oatey, an old offender, plain drunk, fined $1 and costs, total $12.55. Sealed bids for the erection of a calaboose will be received at the Central City Council room until Thursday, August 24 th , for the erection of a calaboose 18 x 20, 12 feet high, walls to be of stone 2 feet in thickness, flat roof, inside to be plastered with cement. Work has resumed in the building below the Black Hawk Depot, which has been used for the concentration of tailings. New parties have taken hold of it, who are rearranging the methods formerly in use for that purpose. Chase Gulch enjoys a real live ghost as seen by a couple of young astronomers, who were star gazing near where the front gate ought to be the other evening. “Josie” and “Cholly,” as it were, fell out of each other’s arms and were greatly disturbed, but as the white phantom did not offer harm to either one of them, they did not faint or scream, but simply contented themselves with violent trembling and turning pale with each heavily drawn breath. Parlor courting, machere, is safer and more comfortably interesting. Give it a try.

Patrick Henry Sweeney

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