Turning Back the Pages

30 Years Ago - March 11, 1983 Steven Lee Bradley, whose real name is Steven James Earl Kemp, 28, was arrested in Springfield, MO, and charged with first degree robbery and armed criminal action for allegedly robbing a restaurant there. Bradley, who had listed his address as Gilpin County Jail, is now incarcerated in the Greene County, MO jail with bond set at $100,000. He had resided in the Gilpin County Jail for about two-and-one-half months this past winter on charges of first degree murder in the death of David Hardin Dockery, however those charges were dismissed and he was released in January. Arvey Drown, head of Central Gold Corporation, was convicted of fraud in federal court in Denver on March 4. Sentencing is expected to take place in about a month. A meeting to decide on whether the consensus of residents in the RE-1 School district favors remodeling the Clark School over building a new facility ended up without a strong agreement being reached and audience members leaving with more questions than they had when they had arrived. The airwaves are getting too crowded, but Gilpin County has a solution. It is in the process of moving its radio equipment to Gilpin County and creating more radio channels. John Starkey, of Starkey Communications, is in charge of establishing a new repeater station for the county on top of Dakota Hill, a 10,944-foot peak near the Nye Mine above Apex. The county has been using a repeater, which magnifies radio transmissions on Squaw Pass in Clear Creek County. There are 42 transmitters on that mountain which has resulted in a great deal of bleed-over into other channels. Also, distant areas of the county, such as Rollinsville and Tolland, do not receive good reception. Gilpin County commissioners allotted $5,500 for the project and several county agencies have volunteered time to help get it installed. An 8x10 foot culvert was donated by Thompson Pipe and Steel of Denver and used to make a shed to house the repeater. There are approximately 175 radios in the county, Starkey said. The county is adding a new channel, Channel Three, for use just as a police channel. A proposed amendment to Central City’s 119-year-old territorial charter sparked passionate discussion at a meeting of the Central City Business Association. The amendment would allow the city to adopt ordinances placing a tax on parking lots, museums, and opera patrons plus give the city other revenue-raising options. The state legislative committee which will hear the proposed amendment bill, the House Business and Labor Committee, has 25 bills which must be reviewed and out of committee by March 25, State Representative Jim Scherer said, and there are a lot of bills more important to the state than the City of Central’s. He said he felt the amendment was appropriate, however, and agreed to support it. The activity in Central this past weekend centered about the Elk’s Hall. On Friday evening there was a potluck dinner and afterwards, presentation of trophies and awards to all participants in the Gilpin County Elementary Basketball Recreation program and also to the winners of the Elks “Hoop Shoot” competition. On Saturday evening a large number of Gilpin County residents braved the worst March storm in decades to attend the annual anniversary dinner and dance. The Elk’s Ladies presented their “Woman of the Year” award to Debbie Olhausen. An Energy Impact Assistance grant in the amount of $210,000 has been awarded to Central City for the repair of the Hole-in-the-Ground Reservoir, located west of town near Columbine Campground. An additional $110,000 for the project will be provided by monies saved from the Farmers Home Administration water project of 1980, bringing the total cost of the project to $320,000. The Central City Council gave its tacit approval to a contract with Cornerstone Partners for the leasing of space at the Golden Rose Hotel for the construction of public restrooms and an addition to the city’s police headquarters. Some of the Denver Broncos just can’t stop playing ball, but this time of year, its basketball. Broncos Steve Watson, Steve DeBerg and Ron Egloff came to Gilpin County School on Sunday and triumphed over the local team, Glenn Dutcher, Ted Mason and Andy Armbright. After studying various possibilities over a couple of months, the Black Hawk City Council agreed to offer a group health insurance policy from Mutual to the city’s employees. The council agreed to pay half of the monthly premiums, based on a $100 deductible rate, for any employee who wishes to join the plan. The policy will also cover members of the City Council, but they must bear the full cost themselves. Black Hawk’s application to HUD for water improvements doesn’t appear to be having favorable results. HUD representatives expressed the opinion that Black Hawk and Central City should form a joint water district. Black Hawk’s City Council decided to endorse a joint grant proposal with Central City to see if the formation of one water district is financially and physically feasible. Linda Martin, circuit-riding city manager, suggested that the state should pay for a feasibility study if it wants the two districts to combined and warned that, as it is, Black Hawk will not get any money for storage or treatment. A special use permit allowing Saratoga Mines, Inc. to establish a cyanide heap leach operation in Willis Gulch, southeast of Russell Gulch, was approved by the Gilpin County Board of Commissioners. Three feet of wet heavy snow downed large trees in Central City and other areas of the county this week. 60 Years Ago - March 6, 1953 A bill passed by the legislature, this week, modifies the Black Hawk city carter, allowing election of its aldermen at large instead of by district. This legislative action was necessary because Black Hawk operates on a territorial charter dating back to the early 60’s. Mr. Boles, of Denver, is starting the Gold Rock Mine, in Russell Gulch. The mine has been a heavy producer in past years. The United Mining & Leasing Corporation, working on the westerly lines of the Gilpin Eureka group of claims has extended 600 feet of drifts, completed sinking 100 feet in the shaft, and finished 100 feet of cross-cutting and 100 feet of diamond drilling. Three stopes have been cut and timbered, and chutes installed, preparing for work on a large scale. A test shipment was milled last month at Silver Spruce Mill at Idaho Springs on ore from every part of the mine, which showed a very satisfactory return; the ore milling in concentrates was approximately 6-1. The new mill, which will be operated by the Central City Milling & Mining Corporation, have received an ore commitment of 30 tons per day from this property. The mill will also be available for small operators throughout the county, and as the mill will have every up-to-date facility for treating the complex ore which is so characteristic to Gilpin County ores, the highest values will be obtained. Ladies, the retail prices of nylon stockings have gone down, and that is good news for American women, who buy more than 576 million pairs a year. The reason is that price ceilings have been removed from nylon hosiery. The gift that lasts a year: a subscription to the home newspaper. The motorist’s purse will be unaffected by the three highway bills now on the road to passage in the state legislature. The bills provide for a new classification of streets and highways whereby the state will take over maintenance and improvement responsibilities on about 3,600 miles of principal county roads heretofore maintained by the counties, and about 330 miles of connecting streets through cities; and establish a central highway user’s fund made up of the gas tax, and registration, bus and truck fees. No increase in the state gasoline tax or in any other highway users’ tax is included in the legislation. Noticed this week - a new sign being erected in the building adjacent to the Central Café, which calls attention to the new lounge that has recently been added to this popular place. The manager informs me that he intends changing the name of Central Bar to Roundup. Tell me not in mournful numbers advertising is a dream, For the business man who slumbers has no chance to skim the cream. 90 Years Ago - March 9, 1923 The man who tells his wife everything is a diplomat - provided he tells her before somebody else does. Captain E. M. Steadman, a former resident of American City, near Apex, was run over by an automobile in Denver the first of the week, and while no bones were broken, he was badly bruised from the accident. At the last meeting of the Metal Mining Association, a committee was appointed to select the most feasible and best route for a highway road from Gilpin County to Denver, the route to be endorsed by the board of county commissioners and this association. The committee submitted a petition that the point of departure for that road be when State Highway No. 58 crosses Ralston Creek at the foot of Singer Hill, continuing down Ralston Creek, to connect with the State Highway at Arvada. The Ralston Creek route is favored over the Guy Hill route on account of the water grade for almost the whole of the Ralston Creek line vs. the heavy grades up and down the mountain sides of Guy Hill. The distance from Central to Denver by the Ralston Creek route, via Arvada, would be 32 miles, which would be a little longer than by way of Guy Hill and Golden, but with an even grade down through the mountains, better time could be made over the Ralston road. The tungsten ore market opened in Boulder County at $10.00 per unit for 60 per cent ore. The Wolfetongue Company has posted a schedule based upon $10.00 per unit for 60 percent ore and which gives about $45.00 per ton for ten per cent ore. This price is considerably better than the range of the market after 1918 and will enable the profitable operation of many of the richer properties. The leasers on the Druid Mine are shipping a carload of ore to the smelter at Leadville this week. The Two-Forty Mill in Russell District is being torn down and will be moved to the Wide-a-Wake District, where it will again be erected. Although March came in like a lamb it has been roaring like a lion for several days. The winds have been stronger than at any time during the year. Edward Quinn and Julius Nordlien left for Black Hawk Saturday to remain until the wind calms down at American City, when they will return to complete their repair work at the Snug Harbor cottage. You can always find a sure thing on which to bet. If it isn’t sure for you, it is for the other fellow. The Black Hawk City Council has directed the Marshal be instructed to obtain lumber from Mr. Jenkins to cover the flume, if such lumber is fit for such use. The partial eclipse of the moon was watched by all the Apex folks, but it was not so very distinct as clouds partially obstructed the view. Some thirty-five members of the Bell Telephone Company of Denver, all of whom were Masons, came up to Idaho Springs last Saturday afternoon, had dinner at the Queen Hotel and then repaired to the Masonic Lodge. They had a splendid time there and said had they known the Masons had such a fine room in that city, they would have brought thirty more people with them. Four inches of snow fell Sunday and Monday in Apex, accompanied by much wind, which drifted the roads again, as usual. Mr. Robins came within two miles of Apex and then walked the rest of the way with the mail. Thermometers registered one degree below on Sunday, 8 above Monday and 4 above on Tuesday in Apex. There are times, however, when matrimony begins with a maiden effort. Consider the merchant who advertises. If his goods were not worth advertising, he would not spend his money in advertising them. The mere fact that a dealer offers you something through the columns of this paper is in itself and evidence that the article is worth having, for if it would not stand inspection he would not be calling everyone’s attention to it. 120 Years Ago - March 10, 1893 We take great pleasure in informing the people of Gilpin County that the developments made within the past couple of days have about completely knocked out and smothered the Little Josephine (Colo.) Mining Company, Limited, whose suit and bluff against the Gunnell Mining Company of this city has caused that property to remain idle for several years. The Gunnell now owns the title to the Slaughter House Mine, a sheriff’s deed given on Wednesday last, transferring the property. Capt. Thos. Pierce is about to quit mining and engage in the raising of blooded race horses. He has recently added another fast horse to his stud of horses, and has already shied his castor in the ring as being the possessor of the fastest horse in Nevadaville. The great test of a woman’s grace is her ability to wear a shawl gracefully. As two lads named Crowley and Sullivan were driving down Pine Street last Sunday afternoon in a dog cart, in attempting to turn from that street to the short street leading to Nevada Street, the horse and cart went over the embankment. Young Sullivan was badly shaken up, but Crowley escaped serious injury. The cart was knocked out of time, but the horse is as good as ever. Mr. William Harvey returned from the valley Wednesday and brought with him 32 head of as fine beef as has been brought to this market for a long time. He takes 16 head and Mr. Henry Dennis 16 head. Both markets will now be well supplied with an extra quality of beef. Died: In Central City, March 9, 1893, Carrie L., infant daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Fuelscher, aged 13 days. Died: In Central City, at 1:10 o’clock Sunday morning, March 5, 1893, after a short illness of pneumonia, Walter Fisher, aged 38 years, native of New York state. It’s going to be a gay season. Men will wear pink shirts with pea green collars and bright-colored shoes. Mr. Hugo Kruse was present at the meeting of the Central City Council last evening and asked permission of the council to arrange a lawn tennis ground at City Park but not to conflict with the baseball ground, and on motion the matter was referred to the park commissioner with power to act. The water committee of Central City has entered into a contract with Mr. I. N. Parsons, to sell him water at 30 cents a tank for use of Nevadaville citizens. An addition to the fire department of Nevadaville is to be made by the organization of an old women’s brigade, who will elect the gallant Capt. J. O’D. Kelleher as foreman. The captain will shine in that capacity like a great big sunflower. In Canada they are talking about imposing a tax on bachelors, so as to drive them into matrimony. But the chances are that instead of driving them into matrimony it will drive them into the United States. The inaugural ball given by Washington Camp No. 7, Patriotic Order Sons of America, last Friday evening in Black Hawk, was a very successful and pleasant affair. There were just enough present not to be crowded for room. The music by the Black Hawk Silver Cornet Band was well rendered under the leadership of Prof. H. A. Ward. The city finances of Black Hawk are in a healthy condition, the treasurer’s report showing a cash balance of nearly $8,000 in the different funds of the city. This is a remarkably good showing. The Golden Treasure Mine, north of the Hubert on Jones Mountain, Nevada District, is again being worked. Levels are being extended at the depths of 140, 550, and 600 feet - all west, as the company owns only about 26 feet east of their engine on the main shaft. The Gundy Lode is a new discovery made by Mr. Ignus Gundy on his Quartz Valley ranch some time ago. It is situated about 500 feet north of the Tucker Lode, and is being worked under lease. The shaft is down to a depth of 60 feet through mineral mixed with quartz. The ore is galenous in character, but carries considerable fine grained gray copper. Mr. G. M. Freeman, who has a lease and bond of Mr. David Henderson’s Aurora Mine, in Russell District, has the 170 foot levels east and west out beyond the shaft a distance of 10 feet each. The latest sensation in the Town of Mines (Nevadaville) is a haunted house. Shoot the ghost. The new plant of machinery for the Rowena Mining Company’s Ivanhoe Mine was received at the Black Hawk Depot last Saturday, and was removed the first of the week to the property in Nevada District. It is large capacity and will be running next week. The Manhattan Mine in Hawkeye District, is to be stocked at a capitalization of $100,000 in 100,000 shares of $1 each. The Manhattan has produced mill dirt that has varied from 3 ½ to 6 ounces gold per cord. The east store room in Masonic block, Nevadaville, has been divided by a partition, one side of which will be occupied by Mr. Richard Rowling, the other by Mr. George Brown as a tonsorial parlor. The latest “science” is pedromancy, or the telling of one’s future and character by the lines on the soles of the feet. This is getting fortune telling down pretty low. 135 Years Ago - March 2, 1878 Nine of those handsome silver bricks from Prof. Hill’s works, valued at $18,000 were seen today in front of the express office awaiting shipment east. The piano for the Gilpin County Opera House is of the Guild & Church manufacture, Boston. It is equal in style and tone to the old famous Chickering. It was selected by Prof. Robyn, and was purchased through the agency of Knight, Clark & Co. of Denver.

Patrick Henry Sweeney

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