Turning Back the Pages

30 years ago - May 15, 1987 Robert Dornbrock resigned as county road and bridge supervisor on May 8. Tim Logan was appointed by the county commissioners as acting supervisor. Dornbrock said this week that he resigned for “personal reasons.” He did not wish to elaborate further. Logan does not foresee any changes as the new supervisor. Logan said, “Bob was going in a positive direction,” but it takes time to get there. Logan has not made a definite decision about applying for the permanent position as county road and bridge supervisor. Black Hawk Councilman Jim Wershky has resigned. Wershky’s letter to the council, dated May 12, stated, “Resigned. Gone fishing. Thanks. Good luck.” Councilwoman Mary Kemp resigned from the council on May 4. To date, the present four member council has not appointed anyone to the two open positions. As of this week, four people have applied for the vacant seats. They are Herb Bowles, Fish Harris, Frank Yanchunis, and Steve Yanchunis. The appointments will be made for May 26 at a special meeting of the Black Hawk City Council. A Special Exception Use Permit for a museum at the Thomas Billing’s house in Central City was recommended. At a special public hearing before the city’s Planning Commission on Wednesday, the committee unanimously recommended approval of the permit with stipulations. The recommendation will be presented to the City of Central’s City Council. William C. Russell Jr. was the only person in the audience opposed to the permit. He owns the residence east of the Billing’s house. Russell objects to the Billing’s property, presently zoned residential, being rezoned as commercial. He said there is not adequate parking and trash could be a problem as well as people encroaching upon his property. Mike and Darlene Elsie have a contract for purchase of the Billing’s house. It is contingent upon approval of the permit. The Leslies’ presented a petition signed by 104 people in favor of the proposed museum. They also received approval from one adjacent property owner. Five Gilpin County residents spoke at the hearing. They were all in favor of granting the permit. Mike Leslie said there are two spaces available for parking in back of the house. There are four parking spaces across the street from the residence that are included in the sale. Five of the seven planning commission members were present at the meeting. They were Bruce Schmalz, Rand Anderson, Angelo diBenedetto, Frank Marcia, and Jack Hidahl. Jim Helbig and Tom Robb did not attend the meeting. Anderson, chairman of the planning commission, said the Special Exception Use Permit was approved with stipulations. 1. The Planning Commission must receive a picture of the posted sign at the Billing’s house. 2. Proof of publication for the legal notice of the special hearing is required. 3. If parking space is exceeded, other parking is to be provided. 4. The museum will be subject to periodic review and annual review by the planning commission. 5. The Special Exception Use Permit will not automatically be transferred with the sale of the property in the future. However, it is not arbitrarily withheld from a future purchase. 6. The owners agree to make improvements to the property and minor repairs. 7. Only printed material can be sold on the premises. The material is restricted to photographs, etc. of a historical nature. 8. Signs are to be modified and approved by the planning commission. 9. Items and fixtures in the home are to be preserved. Items are not to be removed without prior consent of the council. 10. Hawking on the street, loud sounds or music are not permitted on the property. 11. Adjacent property owners are to be safeguarded from trash and trespassing. 12. The permit is approved for an indefinite period of time. The City Council is expected to make a decision for approval or denial at a special meeting May 19. Fred Weber of Dory Lakes has been named Citizen of the Year by the Central City Elks Lodge #557 for the 1986-87 year. Weber, who is active as a coach in little league baseball and basketball, and who serves as director of the Little League Baseball program in Gilpin County, was honored for his many hours of work with the children of the county and for the help he has extended to the lodge in the ongoing baseball field project. Weber was the first citizen so honored in many years by the Elks Lodge. The Citizen of the Year award is a Grand Lodge program designed to honor non-Elks who make significant contributions of service to the community. A certificate honoring Weber as Citizen of the Year was presented. 60 years ago - May 24, 1957 Central City Nuggets By A.F. Mayham: Conjecture has been rife for a number of years regarding the anesthetic used on Adam when he went into a deep sleep, awoke, found one of his ribs missing and in its place, the object of his dream—a woman. The operation or rather the method used should be under senate investigation. A true solution might be found which could be applied to the extraction of taxes in the present age, by the Internal Revenue Service, instead of asking “Where did you get the money to pay your taxes?” If you don’t come up with the correct answer, there are Alcatraz, Atlanta, and Leavenworth all dolled up for your convenience and habitation. Adam lost his freedom, not due to mazuma, but on account of an old wormy apple. Time changes all things. Now the object of cause is reversed and man is fast losing his freedom to the cause of the filthy lucre, and we becoming a nation of prevaricators, but you can’t hold back the dawn. Taxpayers are becoming tax conscious and are tired of a system which is approaching a fretting leprosy and a travesty on the principles of freedom. Someday the taxpayer will be glad to greet the collator with “I don’t make a habit of forgetting faces, but in your case I’ll make an exception.” What could have resulted in a very serious accident occurred Sunday afternoon, when Mrs. Marshal Quist, of this city, lost control of her car and it plunged into Eureka Gulch. The accident happened on the sharp curve on Eureka Street, just above the Lost Gold Mine and was occasion by a head on collision of two cars, one driven by Fred Sell, of this city, and the other by Victor Rhamy, of Anton, Colorado. Fred was on his way up Eureka Street, the other car coming down the street and apparently hugging the bank, on the wrong side of the road causing the two cars to collide. County Judge Marshal Quist and wife drove up to render any assistance, and found that Mr. Rhamy’s father has sustained a severe cut on his forehead, and was bleeding badly. Mr. Quist asked his wife to back their car down the street a few hundred feet, turn around, and drive back to Central for aid. In backing the car she got too close to the bank and the car slipped over into the creek, throwing her against the windshield and rendering her unconscious. She was immediately taken to Gen. Rose Hospital in Denver, where an examination showed no broken bones, but many bruises and she was suffering from shock. She remained there until Wednesday evening when she returned home. All three cars were badly wrecked, and it is most fortunate no one was seriously injured. Louis J. Carter has been on the sick list in Denver suffering from a blood clot on his left leg, and has been confined to his bed for the past ten days. However, he is convalescing nicely, which is pleasing news. 90 years ago - May 20, 1927 Central City Nuggets Joe Hesselbine, wife and children, accompanied by Mrs. John Loughran, motored up from Denver on Saturday last, and visited the cemeteries where loved ones are sleeping the long sleep, and decorated their graves, returning home during the afternoon. Henry P. Altvater left Wednesday morning by auto for Argentine, above Georgetown, on mining business. Miss Florence Mills came up from Denver Saturday on a visit with her parents, retuning Sunday morning. Died: In Denver, at the home of her daughter, Mrs. W.G. Perry, May 12th, 1927, Mrs. Annetta Hawley, aged 82 years. Deceased was the widow of the late Henry J. Hawley, and was a pioneer resident of Gilpin County and the state, coming to Gilpin County in the early 60’s, and residing here the greater portion of her years, and was universally beloved and esteemed by all who knew her. She was born at Olivesburg, Richland County, Ohio, on October 10, 1844, and in company with her brothers Lee and John R. Miller, came to Central City in the early 60’s. She and Mr. Hawley were married in this city on March 22nd, 1868, and resided here until 1889 when Mr. Hawley, having purchased a residence in Denver, she, together with her children, removed there, remaining until her children were married, when she returned to Central, and the couple had rooms fitted up in the Hadley Block remaining here until 1923. Mr. Hawley, having retired from business at that time, the couple made their home with their daughter, Mrs. Perry, in Denver, where Mr. Hawley passed away a couple of years ago. She is survived by two daughters, Mrs. Madora Perry, of Denver, Mrs. Mabel Chapman, of Bell, California, and one son, Frank Hawley, of Pueblo, besides several grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Funeral services were held at the Rollins Mortuary on Sunday afternoon, being attended by many old friends and former residents of Gilpin County, interment in Fairmount Cemetery by the side of Mr. Hawley. How to Make Raisin Pie by Nellie Maxwell : Mix two cupful’s of steamed seeded raisins slightly cut or chipped with one lemon (grated rind and juice) one cupful of cold water, one third of a cupful of sugar and one well beaten egg. A tablespoonful of flour mixed with a little water may be added, or another egg. Fill the crust and cover with dots of butter, then with latticed crust and bake. 120 years ago - May 21, 1897 Alfred Bennett, residing on Bates Hill, has been under Dr. Richmond’s care for the past week, suffering from an attack of typhoid fever. Mrs. Tomas H. Trenoweth left on Tuesday for England, intending to visit relatives and friends in the old country for several months, in the hope that the change of climate will improve her present poor health. Elisha A. Nicholls, one of the employees of the Sauer-McShane Company, this city, spent Sunday in Denver with his parents. Gustave Kruse, who has been suffering from an attack of pneumonia, is again able to be out and attending to business. The work of sinking the main shaft on the Barnes Mine with two shifts of miners, is progressing favorably, from a depth of 375 feet, with a fair showing of mineral in the bottom, from which shipments are being made to the mills and sampler. A cross cut is being driven from the Quartz Hill tunnel to connect with the Barnes shaft, and it is expected that connections will be made at a depth of 500 feet, which will provide with good ventilation throughout the property. The Fisk Mine on Bobtail Hill is employing a force of 75 men, half of whom are tributes, working in different portions of the property, the balance working in the 7th and 8th levels, on company account. The water is now below the plat at the 900 foot level, and it is expected that sinking operations will commence at an early date. The Fisk Mine has always demonstrated that the deeper the workings, the better the grade of the ore, and with virgin ground to be opened up below the 900 foot level, this property will be second to none as a producer of high grade mill and smelting ore. Daily shipments of mill and smelting ore are being maintained, and with the work started on the 900 foot level in getting it in shape, a still greater production can be looked for. Born: In Central City, May 13th, 1897, to the wife of Thomas Drennan, a son. Born: In Black Hawk, May 11th, 1897, to the wife of Frank Marcucci, a son. Born: In Central City, May 11th 1897, to the wife Fritz Goebel, a daughter. Died: In Central City, May 14th, 1897, infant son of Mr. and Mrs. W.S. Bennetts, aged 7 weeks. Died: In Central City, May 16th, 1897, of miner’s consumption, William Rickard, aged 50 years. Died: In South Beaver, May 19th, 1897, William Holengreen, aged 52 years. 146 years ago - May 27, 1872 And now we are to have a brass band and a string band both by the same men and under the same able leader. By invitation of Mr. Bush, of the Teller House, Prof. E.E. Barnum, late of Leavenworth, Kansas, known throughout the state through his excellent music, and the efficiency of his teaching, has come to Central to establish his business here. He has met with great encouragement in this and neighboring towns including Idaho and Georgetown, having made contracts in the last two to supply them with music for the summer season. He will begin with five pieces and increase the number as fast as the wants of the people may demand. It is proposed to dedicate the dining room of the Teller House with a Grand Sociable, and continue with a series of them, through the summer and autumn, during which a number of new quadrilles will be presented. Mr. Barnum comes well recommended by some of the best citizens of his state, and will be a valuable acquisition to our institutions and society.

Patrick Henry Sweeney

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