30 years ago – August 24, 1990
Work is progressing at the Coeur d’Alene Mine under the direction of the Inactive Mine Program of the Mined Land Reclamation Division. The historic shaft house, which was felled by neglect and wind in November 1986 is receiving some long overdue care. On Tuesday afternoon, the bracing for the headframe was raised and bolted back in place over the main shaft. This shaft, from which ore was raised, lies adjacent to a second shaft which was used as a manway by the miners who descended into the mine’s workings. “Both shafts are completely capped now,” said MLRD Reclamation Specialist Jim Herron, who was instrumental in getting the Coeur d’Alene restored. The capping involved a lot of work and cement, Herron said, and the shafts no longer pose dangers for passerby. The shafts are now secured by cement and timber to a depth of 20 feet. Each shaft is approximately 350 feet deep. Tuesday’s project was completed by Ramstetter Excavating of Golden, hired by the MLRD to raise the headframe. The mine building is being reframed as well. The frame should be completed by Labor Day, Herron predicted. Once the framing is complete, Herron hopes to enlist local volunteers to help reconstruct the walls and roof of the building. A lot of tin siding and other material has been donated so the Coeur d’Alene can be restored to its former picturesque state. The property is owned by the Gilpin County Historical Society. It was donated to the society several years ago by the Central City Opera House Association, which had owned it since the late 1940s. The historical society has been pursuing grants for complete restoration of the Coeur d’Alene. Preservation of the mine building is one of the many projects underway in the county by the historical society. The future of the building is already looking brighter. The society is planning to turn the structure into a mining museum for the enjoyment of all.
60 years ago – September 2, 1960
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