Standard San Juan County Historical Society U.S. Postage Paid Post Office Box 154 PAID Silverton, 81433-0154 Silverton, CO. 81433 Permit #8

An Annual Publication of the San Juan County Historical Society

Summer 2006 Silverton, San Juan County, Colorado Pioneer Sub-Station Celebrates 100 years One mile north of Silverton aluminum transmission line (to the stands an imposing square brick Mayflower Mine) in 1941, and the structure that played an important suspended aerial lines up part in the development of the area’s Cunningham and other gulches that pioneer electrical system. Built in eliminated poles in avalanche prone 1906 by the Animas Power and Water areas. By the mid-1950s, automatic Company, the building served as the sub-stations replaced the older manual main sub-station and distribution technology inside the building, which point for the power generated at became vacant. In 1959 Standard Tacoma, 25 miles south of Silverton. Metals Corporation bought the office In serious disrepair when donated and sub-station buildings for their to the Society in 1996, a $375,000 headquarters and warehouse space. renovation and repair has just been In 1988 the office was moved to This 1930s photo shows the Powerhouse, the office building now completed. Known locally as the become the present Silverton Visitor’s moved and used as a visitor center, and the mule barn. “Powerhouse,” it today houses Scotty Center at the entrance to town on U.S. Bob’s custom ski manufacturing and 550. Meanwhile the Powerhouse Fisher Woodworks. building continued to deteriorate. The Animas Power and Water At the time the building and ten acre Company was organized in site was donated to the Society by Indianapolis, Indiana to serve the Sunnyside Gold in 1996, the mines of the Silverton area. Prior to Powerhouse was in bad shape. Bricks 1906, electric power at individual were disintegrating and falling off the mine sites was generated by coal walls each winter. Water was seeping fired steam plants. When snow into the walls and the metal roof decking blockaded the railroad, coal supplies was rusting through. The Powerhouse would run low, forcing the mines to Business Incubator Project was begun close. The new power plant at in 1999 to renovate the structure and Tacoma was a hydro-electric facility put it back to use to help new business generating 6,000 horse power and development in the county, whose feeding a 44,000 volt line up the economy was in tatters after the mine Animas Canyon to the Silverton Sub- closed in 1991. Grants from the U.S. Station building. Here four large Economic Development Administration, transformers dropped the voltage to Colorado Office of Economic This rare 1920s photo shows the Powerhouse interior with its gleam- 17,500 volts and sent it on to the Development and Inter-national Trade, ing equipment. mines. Such famous properties as the and the State Historic Fund were Silver Lake, Gold King, Gold Prince, matched with over $70,000 in Society Sunnyside, and Old Hundred were funds to pay for the project. Local Mayflower Mill Documented; Further served by the system. Power costs restoration contractor Klinke & Lew dropped by 50% reducing mine performed the time-consuming Restoration Grant Requests Planned operating costs and sparking a boom restoration work. in mine development. An office and Today the Powerhouse is once Thanks to members David and graphed, measured, and documented residence building was also built again helping Silverton’s newest Julie Singer, the Society was awarded every aspect of the Mill. next to the “Powerhouse” and later industry: skiing. Scotty Bob’s Skis has a $90,000 grant from the State His- The documents produced are lo- a mule barn. Mules served as the leased the main building to expand torical Fund to perform a Historic cated at the National Archives and “Jeeps” of the past, to maintain the their custom ski manufacturing American Engineering Report the San Juan County archives. We lines strung up the gulches. business. Inventor of a popular and (HAER) and a structural assessment hope that they will help us to get fur- Later the system became part of innovative backcountry ski design, of the National Historic Landmark ther grant funding to repair the Mill, the larger Western Colorado Power Scotty Bob Carlson tests new ski Mayflower Mill. and to that end we have applied for Company and tied into their lines designs along the same canyons The National Park Service funding from the Save America’s via Ophir Pass and Red Mountain where once pioneer electric power thought that this project was so im- Treasures program. Pass. In the 1930s and 1940s, lines connected back to the venerable portant that they put $26,000 into it. The Mill HAER project is featured Hammond Mathews was the local brick building. The Powerhouse’s new Last summer, six interns (two in a 12 page spread in the current is- manager and introduced such role in Silverton’s economy is a fitting sponsored by the international sue of Common Ground, a publication innovations as the county’s first community. ICOMOS program) mapped, photo- of the National Park Service. Chairman’s Report Oral History is Important Part of Archives; Dear Members: As I write today, I am listening to the sound of rain—and, boy do we Duplicate Disks Available for Purchase need it. It has been very dry and unseasonably warm—into the mid-70s. It is Nestled between the old jail San Juans, Mountain Road amazing how one good rain greens things up. The chokecherry tree at the museum and Cement Creek is the Construction and Maintenance, museum is in full bloom and smells heavenly. I am sure it is enjoying its nice Archive Building of the San Juan Railroading in the San Juans, General drink of water. County Historical Society. Within its Reflections, Silverton Homes, and Board members Zeke Zanoni, Jerry Hoffer, and Scott Fetchenhier have confines are a wealth of records which the Sunnyside and Eureka. been laboring on exhibits that interpret the fabulous mining history of the shed light on the region’s past. In The Archive has arranged to San Juans in the Mining Heritage Center. Among them are a blacksmith’s addition to newspapers and a variety of have these early accounts transcribed shop, a “machine doctor’s” shop and a tram tower display. The detail in official documents, a large volume of to CDs and in a number of cases has these exhibits give the visitor a real feel for what the mining industry really photographs and family histories duplicate CDs. These duplicates are was. Combined with the Old 100 Mine Tour and the Mayflower Gold Mill provide concrete details about local life being offered for sale for the price Tour, the Mining Heritage Center offers a world-class mining history attrac- and particular people, going back to the of $25.00 each. When the interview tion. It is completely handicapped accessible, as is the Archive. We want to early days of Silverton’s history. takes two disks, these go for $45. thank the USDA for funding half of the elevator. We still have many exhib- Among these holdings are a Purchases may be arranged by its to build so we are only partially open—the museum will not be finished substantial number of compact disks contacting the Archive of the for years, but that is how it works in a volunteer organization. containing interviews with long-time Historical Society at Box 154, Next week local non-profits will be hosting funders for Philanthropy Days residents. Several different interviewers Silverton, Colorado 81433. in . This is a program to get funders, both private founda- are represented, but most were con- This is an opportunity to hear in tions and government, out of the area and into rural Colorado every ducted by historian Allen Nossaman as one’s own home or car, witnesses of four years in hopes of raising their awareness about our issues and needs. We part of an oral history project. A few of an era that otherwise can only be read are going to start at the Mining Heritage Center greeted by the famous Sil- the interviews were taken from recorded about. These indelible voices add verton Brass Band. The last time the funders visited, the Center was a big radio programs as well as other settings. reality and personality to invaluable hole in the ground and a slide show by Zeke. It will be fun to show them the A goodly number occurred decades descriptions, all the while directly progress we have made. ago and featured residents then in their linking us to our community’s past But, you know, dear members, the building that makes us our money— advanced years. Many had clear and its people. the old jail museum, has been neglected for years. Isn’t that the way it is— memories of their earlier life as well of the carpenter lets his own house fall down? However, we got a grant to do a events told to them by their parents and Historic Structure Assessment of the building and armed with that, will grandparents. While some were very apply to the State Historical Fund for funding to fix it up. I cringe every time articulate, in other cases memories were I look at the window sills when I walk in the door. Fixing up the basement not as clear and obviously some Support the Restoration will allow us to move some exhibits around and free up some retail space. In recollections were less accurate. To listen of these days of declining attendance, museum stores are becoming more and to these CDs is to experience a personal more important. Silverton Northern encounter with the details of Silverton’s We are having our 13th annual Cemetery Workday on June 17th from Caboose 1005 colorful past. 10 o’clock to noon. Then we take a sack lunch to Mary and Paul Beaber’s Featured on the disks are prominent yard at the Cotton House, Silverton’s oldest house, and listen to speakers. names from families contributing to Purchase a t-shirt now! We have had a marking program for many years, working with the fine folks Silverton’s growth: Bawden, Berquist, at Family Craft Memorials of Durango. For $100, Family Craft will make a Cole, Dalla, Doud, Giacomelli, Mail $18.00 and your shirt size nice stone to mark an unmarked grave. Various people sponsor stones and Glanville, Landry, Loftus, Lorenzon, (S-M-L-XL) to we set them during Cemetery Workday. It is one of the finest days of the Maffei, Matties, McNamara, Patterson, summer. For your information, the Historical Society has taken on handling Pitcher, Plantz, Rice, Scheer, Schmalz, San JuanCounty Historical Society burials at the cemetery for the Town. If you have any questions about buri- Sutherland, Todeschi, Van Bocken, and P.O. Box 154 als, call me or Freda Peterson at the Archive. others. Silverton, Colorado 81433 Elsewhere in these pages you will read about the guardian angel who The myriad of topics include: bought the Yankee Girl head frame—that icon of the Red Mountain Mining Growing Up in Silverton, Mining in the District, and you will read about the capital campaign for Caboose #17. You will also read about some of the almost finished projects like the Power- house and about some adventures that we are about to start—the Mill. There Now’s the time to help the Society: is never a dull moment when you are involved in the history business, is there, dear members? And thanks to your support, we are preserving the Join Today! history of a very special place. San Juan County Historical Society • Post Office Box 154 • Silverton, Thank you. Colorado 81433

I wish to enroll as a member of the San Juan County Historical Society in the class designated below for the calendar year 2006. I understand that this membership entitles me (and my spouse, if applicable) to a vote at the annual meeting in October, 2006. O Member: Voting privilege [$10.00] O Family Member: Voting privilege, man and wife [$16.00] George Chapman, Editor O Supporting Member: Voting privilege, couple, and mu seum admission for season for immediate family. Discount Contributors: Bill Jones, Beverly Rich, Duane Murphy, on books [$25.00] Brison Gooch, David Singer O Society Patron: Voting privilege, couple, and season mu Published annually by the San Juan County Historical Society, a seum admission for immediate family and listing in the San non-profit Colorado corporation, for its members and all Juan Courier, Book discount [$50.00] persons interested in the preservation of the history of O Life Membership: All privileges for life [$350.00] San Juan County, Colorado. Name: ______San Juan County Historical Society Address: ______Officers and Directors, 2006 Beverly Rich, Chairman Freda Peterson, Vice Chairman Scott Fetchenhier, Secretary William R. Jones, Treasurer ______Jerry Hoffer, George Chapman, George Darnall Zanoni, Directors Workshop Receives Nationwide Attention; A Variety of Topics Were Covered

The Shenandoah-Dives Mill ton Restoration Consulting, a firm HAER and Historic Structure As- that specializes in historic building sessment Workshop took place last restoration, and his wife Julie summer. The workshop was a unique Coleman-Singer, Heritage Team Lead and exceptional undertaking in the Archaeologist for the BLM and For- United States, uniting materials sci- est Service Public Lands Office in entists, industrial archeologists, geolo- Durango, Colorado, organized the gists, architectural historians, and ex- workshop in partnership with Bev perts in Historic American Engineer- Rich, Chairman of the San Juan ing Recordation techniques from County Historical Society. across the US, toward a concerted The Washington, D.C.-based Na- effort to document and preserve the tional Park Service HAER Team, led history and fabric of our Shenandoah- by Senior Historian Richard Dives Mill complex. O’Connor, spent the week in Silver- The workshop was the direct re- ton finalizing their documentation of sult of a partnership between the So- the mill complex and participating in ciety and Silverton Restoration Con- the various seminars on the technol- New T-Shirt Added to Fund Raising Program sulting and was sponsored by NCPTT ogy they employeed for the project. D&RG Caboose #17 was built in nal body and cupola style. In 2004, (National Center for Preservation Historic Landscape Architect, 1880. By 1895 the Caboose was being the Society was awarded a $7000 Training and Technology), the Na- Cari Goetcheus of Clemson Univer- leased to the , owned grant to conduct a Historic Structure tional Park Service’s Department of sity and Diedre McCarthy, GIS spe- by , for 30 cents per day. Assessment on the caboose. HAER (Historic American Engineer- cialist with the NPS presented semi- At this time Mears was building the The HSA was done by Ray ing Record), the National Trust and nars on HALS standards and field new Silverton Northern Railroad to Ludwig, foreman of the car shop at the J. Paul Getty Trust. The workshop implementation. Eureka from Silverton. the Durango & Silverton Narrow was held at the Mountain Studies Materials scientist Dave In October 1895 the Silverton Rail- Gauge Railroad. He determined that Institute’s headquarters at the historic Woodham of Atkinson-Noland and road Company purchased the caboose it will take approximately $75,000 to Avon Hotel and other venues includ- wood scientist, Ron Anthony of An- from the D&RG for $350.00. There is restore it. We are planning to apply ing the Mill site in mid-August. thony and Associates, presented no record of the car being renumbered for funding from the State Historical Topics covered during the work- ground-breaking Non-Destructive for the Silverton Railroad and it was Fund, but that requires a 25% match, shop included: Historic American En- Testing (NDT) technology, in hands- probably purchased for use on the Sil- so we will have to raise $18,750. Last gineering Recordation (HAER) draw- on examinations of wood, stone, and verton Northern. Later the car was summer we started a capital cam- ing typology, photogrammetry, laser concrete. listed as Silverton Northern caboose paign to do just that by selling a t- scanning, total station laser mapping, Bruce Bartleson, retired head of #1005. shirt designed by member Don large format photography, Historic the Geology Department at Western Unlike similar D&RG cars, few Kramer. We have already raised American Landscape Survey, GIS State College provided a seminar on structural modifications were made to $4,200. As a fund-raiser for the ca- cultural data collection, historic re- the mineral deposits of the San Juan the car since the Silverton Northern boose this year, Don has designed a search, principals of stabilization and region, and industrial archeologists was not required to adopt certain safety companion shirt featuring Casey preservation, developing a Historic John Horn and Eric Twitty led a field improvements required of the D&RG. Jones. We are planning one printing Structure Assessment, building foren- session to the Silver Lake Mining dis- It therefore retained its distinctive for this t-shirt, so it will really be a sics, and seminars on the historic de- trict where much of the ore processed original cupola design and side win- collector’s item. It sells for $15.00 + velopment of the mining and milling at the mill was mined. dows. This car is unique as it is the $3.00 shipping—buy your t-shirt now process within a regional and national NPS photographer Jet Lowe pre- oldest surviving D&RG caboose and and help us restore Colorado’s old- context. The mill will be the case sented a seminar discussion and on- is one of only two that retain the origi- est caboose! study resource for this high tech study site presentations of Large Format in historic documentation. Photography and photographic stan- Owned and operated as an inter- dards, and Dana Locket, NPS archi- pretive museum by the Society, the tect presented hands-on laser and mill is listed as a National Historic AutoCad based documentation tech- Many More Mountains, Volume I Landmark. The mill provides an ex- nology. traordinary vision of the development An evening lecture series, open Roots Into Silverton of ore processing mills in the first half to the public, was held during the of this century. The mill’s buildings, week. Singer said that the list of stu- by Allen Nossaman technology, and collection of equip- dents at the 2005 Workshop was al- ment have scarcely changed since it most as impressive as the presenters, Out of print for several years, we are proud to announce the publi- was built, presenting a striking and including the Architect for Mesa cation of a reprint of this important and critically acclaimed book. rare case of an early twentieth cen- Verde National Park, and other re- With all the exciting color and detailed history of the Silverton tury flotation mill. gional stewards of publicly owned area. exactly as it appeared in Sundance’s first printing, this book is Constructed in 1929, the Cultural Resources like the San Juan an absolute must for any serious student of the history of this area. Shenandoah-Dives Mill was designed Mountains Association, Colorado, for milling metals from low-grade gold Wyoming and Alaska Bureau of Land The reprint price of $70.00 is well below the used book market pricing ore. At the time of construction the Management and Forest Service per- on the original printing which has ranged as high as $1000.00 mill was considered state-of-the-art, sonnel, and Alpine Archeology, a with the most modern mining and Montrose-based consulting firm. There are only a few hundred of this second printing available. milling equipment available. “We’re trying to establish a com- Please remit $70.00 plus $5.00 for shipping and handling, along with Prominent features of the mill munity based educational experience, appropriate sales tax if you are a Colorado resident. complex include the mill, crushing bringing the top consultants in the plant, office/assay building, tailings field of historic preservation to share San Juan County Historical Society ponds, tram terminal, and aerial tram- their knowledge, and focus on the San P.O. Box 154 way which connects to the Juan’s incredible mining and architec- Silverton, Colorado 81433 Shenandoah-Dives Mine. tural heritage,” said Singer. David Singer, Principal at Silver- Book also available through quality regional booksellers and at the Jail Museum. Membership Roster Life Members 2006 Jim Allabashi Dick & Kelly Lippoth Fred and Sandra App Everett and Marjorie Lyons Nathan and Gloryann Baily Larry Manes and Nelda Cuppy Mr. & Mrs. Robert Ballou Lawrence and Ellen Martin Walter and Patricia Bausman Richard Mathews Bill and Marilyn Becker Dr. John and Sonja May Kirk Beidleman Dell and Rose McCoy Jack and Sarah Benham Harry and Lauren McGarvran Ryan Bennett John & Kim McGlothlen Les and Louise Bergman Ellanore McKenna Ann Bertch Irma McNamara Michael and Tracy Bertch Russell Melton Rae Bertch Tom and Jean Merson Mr. and Mrs. John Biggers Mobius Cycles and Cafe Mike Blazek Alvie Moore Frances Bodemuller Stan Moore Fay Brewer Hubert and Marti Mountz Gordon Bruchner James and Mary Moyer Bill and Loiese Bryan Duane Murphy Yankee Girl head frame as seen in the fall of 2005. Carl and Marvel Burtis Parker Newby and Nancy Berry Maria Call Craig Newman Sandra Voilleque Campuzano Kathryn and Jon Nieman Chris and Ame Carlson Bruce and Suzanne Norquist Important Landmark Saved Wiley and Wyatt Carmack Allen Nossaman Tom Casper Jodi and Chris Nute The Red Mountain Task Force is threatened to bulldoze the head frame George and Karen Chapman Esther Orr thrilled to announce that the icon if he wasn’t paid 10 million dollars. He Peter Chase Gary and Terry Peterson Yankee Girl head frame has been later tore down and burned the historic Citizens State Bank Kris Peterson Fred and Nancy Clark Janet and Harry Pritchett saved. Montrose County Coroner Kohler boardinghouse, near the Yan- Clemency Chase Coggins Neal Reich Mark Young and his wife Mary bought kee Girl. Will and Carol Connelly Vic and Mary Catherine Reichman the head frame and 23 acres of land Mr. and Mrs. Young plan to put the John Cook Edward and Clarice Renoux Lynn and Sharleen Daugherty Beverly Rich between Silverton and Ouray on the Yankee Girl and adjoining property William Davis Don & Jean Robinson . into a conservation easement. The Jon and Sharon Denious Tom and Mary Jo Sandell Very visible from the U. S. High- head frame is on the verge of collapse Maureen DeVeny Janice Sanders James Drodz John Schmelzer way 550, the head frame has become so the Task Force will do some emer- Tony and Denise Dyson Esther Mathews Schmidt the icon of the Red Mountain Project, gency stabilization work this summer Mike Egan Carol Schmook a project which put 3000 acres of pri- using funds from the Gates Founda- Casey and Joseph Elliott Robert and Pat Schuler Steve Fearn Albert and Ruth Ann Shapiro vate property into public ownership. tion and the Colorado Division of Min- Scott Fetchenhier Cheryl Shaw Its former owner, Frank Baumgartner, erals and Geology. Mike Francis David Shrader Tom and Stanna Galbraith Mike Sigman and Kim Furry Chris and Donna George Morgan and Esther Sinclaire Freda and Brison Gooch Robert and Sally Sloan Our Museum is a Treasure Curtis Haggar and Nancy Losinski David Smith One of my favorite moments is way back out to the front door. They Geoffrey Halaburt Robert Smith to find people waiting outside, early are trying to guess its year of Alice Hawes Don Stott on a beautiful Silverton morning, appearance with speculations on its Tom Helvey Gerald and Nancy Swanson Milton and Janis Hill Greg and Pam Swanson when I come to open our old historic lack of success on the soup market. Rick and Julie Hinton Charles Thorn and Andrea Kron white door. They are always (An occasional person wouldn’t mind Jerry and Nancy Hoffer Dale and Diane Van Buren enthusiastic, especially if they are trying a sip of it.) Mark Huston Kenneth Vaughn some of our many repeat museum Across the back wall in the kitchen John Scot Jackson Mark and Karen Vendl Ted and Elaine Johnson Paul Voilleque visitors. They get more appreciative is a large Rube Goldberg sort of Bill and Leslie Jones Ruth Ward of what we display as they move on contraption. You remember, it looks Richard and Melinda Jones Beth, Kathrine, and Chris Warren through the building. We previously like a giant version of an apple peeler. Jim Joy Gene and Joanne Wilson noted the great popularity of the We have traditionally thought it might Dave and Mary Beth Kalina William Winkler Kathi Kalina Tommy and Patty Wipf authentic early telephone be a potato peeler because of its size C. F. “Skip” and Linda Kimball Tom and Paula Wiseman switchboard. and the strange cutting blade. But last Fred Kingdon and Terryll Carpenter Sarah Yarbrough But for now, it is time to sing the summer, a visitor with a gleam in his Don and Shirley Kramer Rita Kramer Yeasting praises of some of our other visitor Dennis and Sue Kurtz Charles and Margaret Young eye, sought to prove to us that it is a Laura Ledbetter Dorothy & Darnall Zanoni favorites. In the kitchen, sitting on the corn cob “de-kerneler,” used to Loren and Rena Lew old coal-fired cook stove, is an old mechanically take the corn off the cob. Regular Members 2006 can, intact and filled, with Campbell’s Maybe so! 1st National Bank of Ouray Cynthia Francisco Prune Soup. Our visitors can be heard Come in this summer and point out Merlyn Allen Dean and Nancy Furry laughing and talking about it all the your “favorites.” William and Laura Alsup Phyllis Graves Charles and Pamela Armstrong Carl Gutknecht Lawrence and Patricia Beaber Eleanor Haley Rick McKinnie Bobby and Diane Seale Paul and Mary Beaber Cornelius Hauck Bruce and Jan McLean Michael Seger Steve and Lila Beaber Todd Hennis Ken McNutt and Darlene Reidhead Joann Serafini Michael and Suzanne Belt Tom and Susan Hillhouse Claudia Moe Adrian Shrader Philip and Tresea Blackford Mary Jane Hood Richard and Julia Moe Morgan Shrader Robert Boeder Lynn Hutson Kate Neckerman John Sites Richard and Melissa Bonaquista Matt and Monica Hutson Eddie Jo Nicholson Dale and Elaine Slavens Melissa Bradley Matthew Jameson John and Marsha Norton Duane and Gay Smith Kent and Mary Lou Brandebery Dorothy Jeffries and Larry Bilek Brad and Marjorie Ormsby Dr. L. Art Spomer Mike and Susan Brewer Ray Jenkins Kevin and Karen Padrick Tom and Karen Sprague Chester and Jane Bricko Bill and Cora Kappelle Tim Palmieri Steve and Lisa Sprayberry Clyde and Karen Cerniway John H. Keller Donald Paulson Loretta and Kyle St. George Mark and Ryan Chambers Larry and Janice Killian John Poole and Carol Chance David Swanson John Chance Kenneth and Barbara Knapp William and Annette Ramaley David and Judy Thayer Tim Cole Ruth Lambert William Redwood Doug and Catherine Thayer Mel and Carolyn Coolbaugh Eugene Lamkin Dennis and Christine Reece D. and Patricia Trent Pam Cress Phillip Lamoureux Al Richy and Jan Dahlquist Dan and Alice Tuma Keah Curran William and Roberta Landau Tim and Allison Sarmo Ray Turner and Barbara Lawson Clark Damron Mark and Lynn Langenfeld Ted and Barbara Scherer Dick and Doris Underwood Phil and Lyn Dodd Steve Leisle Ted and Fran Schilt Charles and Kathie Van Winkle Rev. William P. Doll Steven Lorenz Charlie and Paulette Schmalz Kathy Whitacre R. L. and Sandra Eastman Robert and Ann Louthan Gary and Anna Schmauch Richard and Carolyn Wilcox Alice J. Eckert Miles and Laura Lumbard Mr. and Mrs. Melvin Schmidt Jan and Anne Wilgers Eric and Carolyn Erdman John Matsko Ray and Carol Schmudde Wyman Hotel and Inn Will Foreman Richard and Maureen McDuff Richard and Myra Schoenig Jack and Kathie Zura