Turning Back the Pages

30 Years Ago - July 8, 1983 An enthusiastic crowd waved toilet paper and shouted “hooray” as Alderman Bruce Schmalz recalled the words of Central City’s first tourist Horace Greeley, who not only said “Go West young man,” but also “Excuse me, where are the restrooms?” The toilet paper cutting ceremony on Main St. in front of Central City’s new restrooms was presided over by Mayor William C. Russell, Jr., who made several heady remarks. The entire ceremony was recorded for posterity by both Channel 7 and Channel 9 TV. Phil Whitsell, who resides on Upper Apex Road, is one of 10 finalists in game three of the Colorado Lottery. A drawing will be held in Colorado Springs next Tuesday evening to determine who will be the lucky person that will get $50,000 a year for the next 20 years. His winning $50 ticket was purchased at the Black Hawk Grocery last May. Central City resident Jamie Hale became a $10,000 lottery winner a week ago when she bought a ticket at the Gold Coin. The $10,000 winner automatically puts her in the drawing for finalists for the millionaire winner of game four. Commuters to Denver through Clear Creek Canyon will soon have more company for the drive. A gravel pit is going in alongside Highway 6 in Clear Creek County and will be sending 40 gravel trucks a day up and down the road to Denver. The gravel pit, owned by Albert R. Frei, was recently given approval by the Clear Creek County Commissioners and the Colorado Division of Highways. Two stagehands were injured in a freak accident at the Central City Opera House on June 29. The stagehands were hanging scenery for the upcoming opera production of La Traviata , attaching the scenery to the stage’s arbor system, which is a counter balancing system of ropes and pulleys used to raise and lower the scenery. The men were in the process of hanging a “hard piece” of scenery with three large arched double-doorways which covered almost the entire width and height of the stage. It was about two to three feet in the air when the cables holding it slipped and it bounced back to the floor. One stagehand was thrown off the walkway into the cables and fell 30 feet to the floor below. He was treated for a sprained ankle, sprained wrist and bruised thigh. Another man suffered severe rope burns which caused his hands to swell nearly twice their size. Gilpin County Building Inspector David Grogan reported that he had issued 13 new house building permits in the month of June. New life has been forecast for the Golden Gilpin Mill in Black Hawk. The Moritz Mining Company, which owns the gold and silver mill along Highway 119, has just merged assets with a group of investors who intend to revitalize the local mill and build a refinery, though the refinery will not be located in Gilpin. The Shriners have been up to Central City in large numbers this past week with three buses from Louisiana on Wednesday alone. J. Edgar Cramden, prominent Gilpin County bulldog, was found dead in his sleep at his mid-county residence last week. He would have been 10 years old in September - that’s 70 to you and me. Bulldog experts from Denver and Fort Collins believe the cause of death to be “torsion,” a condition in old bulldogs that causes their stomachs to flip and they die from strangulation. Cramden is survived by his companion Harkin’s Mandy and his keeper Bob Brusco. Cramden’s public life reached its highest point last November when he became the most widely recognized candidate for county commissioner in the history of Gilpin County politics. His rally at the Glory Hole Tavern drew a full house and total coverage from the Register-Call along with a front-page headline story in the Little Kingdom Come. He was the subject of an editorial in the Denver Post , interviewed by Ralph Allen for the five o-clock news on KOA-Channel 4, interviewed by the news director of KHOW radio for the evening news, and his platform was announced on the Peter Boyles show, KOA radio, Denver’s number one radio talk show. The Information Center has only been in existence a few days and the signs aren’t even complete, but already tourists have been finding it a useful service. The stand is located alongside Highway 119 in Black Hawk, between the grocery store and the Conoco station. Looking as if they had just come off the showroom floor, 1933 and 1934 Fords rolled into Central City on Saturday. The astounding sight rolled a few eyes, too. Tourists and locals alike roamed Lawrence and Main streets perusing the beauties. The show was arranged through the Antique Ford Club. This year’s “canvention,” the national Beer Can Collector’s Convention, sponsored by the Denver chapter of beer can collectors, was held recently in Central City at the Dorothy Lee Placer City Park. Judges Dick Veit and Rick Priest, along with Jack Kisling, had a tough decision to make in the chili contest. Laura Pilkington was the winner from the 14 entries. What will Gilpin County look like in 1990? 2025? Or beyond? What are the goals and priorities in the county? Are residents interested in promoting substantial growth, moderate growth or no growth at all? Once goals have been established, what is the best way to implement them? These are among the questions being addressed by the Gilpin County Planning Commission in its rough draft of a master plan for the county. AD: We’ve changed our name. The Gilpin County Health Clinic is now the Columbine Family health Center. Central City Police Officer Dirk Vaughn contacted a woman who had passed herself off as a police officer at the Little T Parking Lot, refusing to leave her keys in her vehicle as requested. According to Vaughn’s report, when she was contacted, the woman was totally uncooperative and made a simple matter, a request for her identification, into a real ordeal. It was finally revealed that she was not a police officer, but a zoning officer for the City of Northglenn. Vaughn summed up his report of the incident, a copy of which was sent to the City of Northglenn, by stating that she was “…one of the most pigheaded, obstinate, and obnoxious persons that I have ever had the pleasure to encounter.” Personal ad: Dear Louise, It’s time you dump that phony high-society bum and we let everyone know the real truth. Love, B. 60 Years Ago - July 3, 1953 The celebration of last Saturday on the opening day of the Opera House Festival, started a program of events, including the opening night of the opera, “Carmen,” and ending with the annual Opera Ball at the Teller House, thus culminating a day of interesting happenings. More than two thousand people were on the streets to witness the various events on the program and they came from almost every state in the Union, carefree and happy in being here in Central City, the “Golden Queen of the Rockies.” R. E. Heinz, M.D. of the Arnell Medical Center of Denver, has opened an office in the Chain Hotel, and will be available for medical services from 9:00 to 4:30 and evenings by appointment. A new exit has been made from the stage of the Opera House, under orders of the State Fire Prevention Bureau. It was cut through the walls of this historic building, and now gives ready exits to all persons on the stage. The 17-year locust, which recently appeared again, is a relatively harmless insect, the Department of Agriculture reports. Contrary to general belief, the department says, the insect does not destroy crops. This belief apparently started because early colonists mistook the cicadas for the Biblical “locust” – a species of grasshopper - that ruined crops in ancient Egypt. Three members of the State Patrol are here to keep motorists in the straight and narrow path. A little human interest story occurred last Saturday afternoon during the attractions for the home-coming events, when Mrs. Anette Walker, of Denver, who had the room in the second story of the Chain Hotel on the corner, noticed a little girl on crutches, and a polio victim, graciously invited her to watch the various events from her windows. The little girl consented and viewed the events from this vantage point. This was a most generous and humanitarian gesture and we vote an orchid to Mrs. Walker for her kindness. The Vacation Bible School, which has been in session at the Black Hawk School building for the past two weeks, came to a close Friday. Dr. Fred Slack, associate professor of prosthetic research at the University of Pennsylvania, reports a new plastic filling is now in use and has been used on some 10,000 persons. It can be installed with much less drillings than other kinds, and appears to stand up as well as other types, but more time is needed for a full appraisal. The general public is cordially invited to attend the two formal dedication concerts of the new and magnificent Wurlitzer organ in St. Mary’s of the Assumption Catholic Church on Sunday. The organ has recently been installed and is the gift of Mrs. Spencer Penrose. Jazz has replaced the long hair of the average musician. No one could stagger along under both and survive. Father Pitkin, Vicar of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Central City and the other mission churches of the Clear Creek and Blue River valleys, has announced his resignation, effective July 31 st of this year. What became of the bobbed-hair controversy? 90 Years Ago - July 6, 1923 A few of the “children” celebrated the Fourth Monday evening, with various sizes of fire-crackers, etc. This is supposed to be a joke if you get wise to it. There was a continuous stream of autos passing through the streets of Central to and from Denver, on the Fourth, making the round trip, and all were out for the day to enjoy the fine scenery which this section of the state is prepared to show all comers. Joseph Casper is loading a carload of high grade ore from the Fairfield Mine, Russell District, for shipment to the smelter at Leadville. Marshal Nellan’s “Fools First,” in six reels will be the picture at the Opera House on Saturday. An electric double drum hoist, weighing some eight tons, was received at the Black Hawk depot the first of the week for the Evergreen Mine, at Apex, and was loaded on wagons for transportation to the mine by Blake Bros, who hauled the same to Apex on Thursday. Denver’s first case of Rocky Mountain Fever in many years caused the death of Pablo Sanchez, 56 years old. The disease is caused by the bite of the germ-carrying woodtick which becomes imbedded in the flesh, and it is necessary to remove it as quickly as possible to prevent continued infection. Five mills are operating in Boulder County treating tungsten and a sixth is being erected to treat the low grade ores of the Conger dump, one of the most famous tungsten properties of the county. The mills operating are the Wolf Tongue at Nederland with two shifts, the Vasco at Tungsten and the Bleecker and Tungsten Acid mills at the mouth of Boulder Canyon. The Teal Mill is just about ready to start. The glorious Fourth in Gilpin County was a very quiet affair, the only attraction being the picnic at Rollinsville, which was well attended, and everybody enjoyed themselves to the limit. Charles S. Robins completed his first 12 months’ lap of his Apex mail contract this week, and had no accidents of a serious nature, except that he was engulfed in a snowdrift several times last winter. He has the pleasant anticipation of 21 months more of winter and 15 months pleasant weather in the remainder of his contract. Mr. Richie I. Hughes and Mr. Chas. Brock, connected with the Highway Department in Denver, have completed arrangements whereby they will operate the West Pewabic claims, consisting of 3,000 feet in length, the Russell and Federal claims, the Rubber, a patented property, and 100 feet on the Becky Sharpe claim. The gentlemen will commence work next week on the shaft of the East Pewabic claim, which is 400 feet in depth, over which they will erect a shaft building and install a plant of machinery. The Dempsey-Gibbons prize fight at Shelby, Montana, on the 4 th , ended with the 15-round battle, the champion retaining his title by a very small margin. The races on Saturday evening for the young folks of the county were interesting and amusing, and a large crowd was on the streets enjoying the many incidents connected therewith. First and second place prizes were awarded to contestants in the Little Boys race, Little Girls race, Shoe race, Egg and Spoon race and the two-hundred yard handicap race. A Kansas woman shot her husband whom she mistook for a mule. A perfectly natural mistake. Wonder more of them don’t. When a rich man of sixty marries a young woman of twenty, he should be satisfied with supplying the cash. That is all that is expected of him. 120 Years Ago - July 7, 1893 The citizens of our sister city, Black Hawk, are to be congratulated over the successful manner in which the firemen’s tournament, drilling contest and other exercises passed off last Tuesday, July 4. The paid admissions to the World’s Fair on Tuesday last were 274,917. Eight teams entered the Straightaway Race in the firemen’s tournament, the rules of which are as follows: Each team shall not consist of more than 11 men and none others shall take position on the rope or apparatus. All shall start from the score at a word to be given by the official starter. Distance shall be 600 feet with a cart carrying 250 feet of hose. Time shall be given from the dropping of a signal until the wheels of the hose cart shall strike the score. The following is the time made by the respective companies: Alerts, Central 24 3-5 seconds; Nevada , 25 1-5 seconds; Black Hawk 25 seconds; Idaho Springs Hose, 25 3-5 seconds; Idaho Springs Hooks, 23 3-5 seconds; Rough and Ready, Central, 24 seconds; F.E. Everett, Golden, 23 8-5 seconds; Barthoff, Loveland, 23 4-5 seconds. The Everett’s of Golden received first prize $75, and Idaho Hooks second prize, $40. Barthoff’s tied the Idahos but their run was protested, the judges deciding in favor of the Idaho team. The electors of Colorado will decide by vote next fall as to whether women will have the right of suffrage in all state elections. The bar fixtures for the new saloon of Mr. Matthias Mack, in the head of Cumberland Gulch, Yankee Hill, were taken out on Monday. It was opened Tuesday, July 4 th . The horse of Ed. I. Harris took French leave of him yesterday afternoon on Main Street, where he had been left standing. He came around the First National Bank corner at a 2:40 gait, striking the sidewalk with the buggy to which he was attached, then crossing over to Masonic block and again over to the south side of Eureka Street, upsetting the conveyance, and thence he took down Lawrence Street to the stable in which he is kept. The damage to the buggy was considerable while the horse escaped injury. It created quite a stir for a few moments. Mr. J. Ben Lewis, superintendent of the Gold Rock Mining Company’s Springdale Mine, over in Russell District, commenced this week sinking an additional 100 feet, the shaft at that time being 500 feet deep. The sinking of this 100 feet will open up another large block of ground. “Kyphosis” is the name given to a new disease caused by humping the back while riding a bicycle. Mr. J. H. Kemp pulled out from Central Wednesday morning with a wagon heavily ladened with mining tools and provisions for the placer mines north of here on the Middle Boulder. He will remain over there until he gets everything running smoothly at the Happy Valley Placer Mine. This is the second season that Mr. Kemp and his associates have been opening up that property. Born: In Nevadaville, July 5, 1893, to the wife of Henry Trezise, a daughter. Born: In Central City, July 6, 1893, to the wife of John Smith, a daughter. Died: In Nevadaville, July 2, 1893, of injuries received by the caving of a bank of dirt on Tuesday, June 19, 1893, A. D. Reager, native of Pennsylvania, aged 48 years. Died: In Black Hawk, July 5, 1893, of pneumonia, Mrs. George Suponschier. Samuel M. Luckey, who has resided most of the time in this county since July, 1858, while seated in his room on Nevada Street, this city, quietly smoking, suddenly fell backward and instantly expired. He was in the 54 th year of his age. Around the poker table – Nobbs, “Is four aces enough?” “Yes,” said Blobbs, who had called him; “In Creede they kill a man for having five.” Mr. Richard Rodda telephoned the following last evening relating to the doings of the Rough & Ready fireman’s running team sent to attend the tournament at Manitou: In the straightaway race they took first prize of $100, their time being 24 1/5 seconds. In the hook and ladder contest they also took first prize in 25 seconds, Lamont making ascent of the ladder in 5 1/5 seconds. The young lads of this city and Black Hawk have fine times bathing in Missouri Lakes these hot days. From the statement published of the product of the workings of the Denver Mint during the past year, we learn that Gilpin County sold gold to the amount of $499,566, and silver - separated from the retort gold - of $4,597, a total of $504,163. Our product of gold is nearly one-half of that of the entire state, and came from the low grade mill dirt treated in the stamp mills. There are 1,570 children of school age in Gilpin County, as per report of the school superintendent just published. “Politics makes strange bed-fellows” is a favorite expression of editors during a campaign, but in this age of woman suffrage agitation, a little care will have to be exercised in its use. As the rays of the sun become more and more genial, the citizens of Central begin to look anxiously forward to the time when they can leave the city and hie themselves to the shaded dells near the green-clad, snow-capped peaks. The pleasures of a summer outing cannot half be told. To leave the cares of daily occupation behind, to idle by the mountain streams, watching the sports of the agile trout and listen to the carol of the frolicksome mosquito as he jokingly endeavors to gain a foothold in your epidermis, all this joy, joy unconfined; and happy are they who can thus bid dull care begone.

Patrick Henry Sweeney

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