As you begin your journey into the valley, you will pass the Clear Creek Canyon School.  This small building was constructed in 1912 after the mines started playing out and most of the people had left the canyon.  The school was built for the remaining children within the area.

The first mining activity within the canyon was commissioned by former governor John Evans and William Byers (founder of the Rocky Mountain News, Colorado’s first newspaper). They established the La Plata mining district along the Clear Creek Gulch in 1867 but quickly abandoned their plans.  The creek was prospected again by a few miners in the summer of 1879.  These miners found large fissure veins full of wealth.  By the end of 1879, nearly 90 men were living within the canyon trying their luck in the mines.

Almost overnight, more of these large fissure veins were found in dozens of mines. By the end of the following year, people were flooding the area with high hopes of striking it rich.

Beaver City

As you travel up the canyon, you will find two restored cabins in an area known as Beaver City.  Below these cabins is a small cemetery.  There was also a large lumber mill which supplied all the locals within the canyon with logs to build their cabins and reinforce their mine tunnels.

Vicksburg

The next town is Vicksburg.  There are two stories of how Vicksburg got its name.  First is the story of a few former Confederate soldiers who settled at the site, naming it after the battle between the Northern and Southern troops in 1863 near the town of Vicksburg.  The second story is that the town was named after Mr. Vick Keller, of Keller, Peck and Company, who first platted the site.  The town had humble beginnings at first with only one store, a couple of cabins, and about 40 or so miners living in tents nearby.

Within a short time of the formation of Vicksburg, the larger mines were flourishing.   The Abbot Mining company was working about 20 men on the Yankee Doodle mine, the Tail Halt Lode employed 30 men, and the Silver Dale employed 25 men.  The Abbot Mining Company was running a pack train from the mine to Vicksburg “on which is packed some of the richest ore that has ever had the honor to grace the back of a burro.”  The Yankee Doodle hauled about 60 tons of ore on their pack mules each day.

Opportunity was in abundance not only for the miners, but also for entrepreneurs.  As the winters were harsh and snow fell by the feet, many of the miners left for the winter and returned each summer.  As the miners expressed interest in staying in the area all year, many entrepreneurs recognized a great opportunity to sell supplies to these miners.  Soon there were nearly a dozen new stores selling everything from mining supplies to liquor to groceries.  A 25’ x 75’ two story billiard hall, with the upstairs area reserved for the new city hall was built as well as two hotels, saloons, a boarding house, a school, and most importantly, a post office.  The main street of Vicksburg was named Broadway and was lined with trees bought and paid for by those residents wanting a beautifully shaded street.

Rockdale—Silver Dale

Constructed in 1881, several old cabins still exist and are owned by summer residents.  Most of the old foundations are buried beneath the nearby beaver ponds.  The Rockdale mine and mill was located at the junction of Clear Creek and Lake Fork.

Winfield

By January 1882, the canyon was full of mines.  Hundreds of miners and their families built homes in the area and the sound of drilling and dynamite were abundant.   Winfield or Lucknow, was soon established at the end of the canyon.  There were three saloons, three stores, two hotels, a boarding house, school, post office, and a church. Today, several of these buildings still stand, many being occupied by summer residents.

Hazards of living in the Clear Creek Canyon during the winter months, as noted by the Leadville Daily and Evening Chronicle, Date: Dec 19, 1889:

The Snow King’s Work

Particulars of the Slide by Which John Wagner Lost His Life at Winfield Monday

Death Overtakes Him as He Sleeps—The Disaster Similar to That of the Homestake—Perils of Mountain Work in Winter

In our special dispatches yesterday morning, one from Granite gave an account of a snow slide occurring above Winfield, whereby John Wagner, a miner, lost his life.  A friend of the deceased was seen yesterday by a reporter and a comprehensive account of the accident given.

John Wagner was hired by the owners of the Small Hopes mine to do the annual assessment.  Near the tunnel on the property, is built a cabin, which Wagner occupied.  A little over two weeks ago John brought provisions, sufficient to last him 10 days in Granite, and told his friends that when the assessment was finished he would return, at the same time stating that the work would not take him more than a week to accomplish.  The mine is situated about three miles from Winfield, on the mountain side, to which place John packed his provisions and tools.  A week passed and Wagner’s friends looked for him to return, but he did not.

Another week slipped by and his friends became anxious, and determined to go to the mine and find out what was the matter.  Tuesday morning John Krug, with another friend, started for the Small Hopes, and when they reached the mine were horrified to find the cabin buried in snow.  Looking up the mountain side they saw that a snow slide had taken place.  Fears for the safety of their friend were uppermost, yet they thought it possible hi might have left before the avalanche took place.

They at once went to work to find out if Wagner was inside of the cabin, and when they reached the door, opened it and stepped inside.  They found another obstacle in their way, as the greater part of the roof had caved in.  Removing the timbers they approached the bed and found the lifeless remains of the miner lying there, with two or three pieces of timber on top of him.  The snow slide must have happened at night, as Wagner was undressed.  Death was probably instantaneous, as the features were not distorted in the slightest, and he was lying on his back with his limbs perfectly straight.

Krug surmised that Wagner must have been dead about ten days.  The cabin is a complete wreck, only the walls standing.  The remains were taken to Granite, where they were interred yesterday.

Winfield Cemetery

When entering Winfield, the canyon road forks to the left and to the right.  Follow the road to the right, towards the cemetery.  You can continue following this road for two miles.  There scenery is beautiful and well worth the trip.  The road is rocky in places, but accessible in a high clearance vehicles using 2WD.

Directions: On U.S. 24,  between Leadville and Buena Vista, turn west at the Clear Creek Reservoir just south of Granite

By 1880, the railroad reached Leadville and the Mosquito Pass was abandoned.  After WWII the pass was reopened by the residents of Leadville and Fairplay to hold their annual burro race between the two towns.  This annual event continues today.

There are many old structures at the London Mine and the drive is extremely scenic through the Colorado Rocky Mountains.  During the summer, the floor of this valley is covered in bright flowers and the stream is clear and cold.

Although it was opened in the early 1870’s, the London Mine didn’t become a “money maker” until the early eighties.  The mine produced gold, silver, and lead.

The Denver & Southpark Railroad built a narrow-gauge railroad from London Junction (now called Alma) to the London Mine during the years of 1881-1882.  The actual portal of the mine was about 3,300 feet above this stop so an aerial wire-rope tramway was built to transport the ore down the mountain to the mill and train cars.  It is said that this aerial tramway was the first in Colorado.  Once the ore was loaded into the cars, it was transported back to London Junction (Alma) to be milled again, then to Black Hawk and Denver to the smelters.

The London Mine milled an average of 850 tons of ore per month by 1883 with a cost of about $7.50.  These total costs included the cost of the mining, transportation of the ore to the mill, and the milling of the ore.  The London Mine was very profitable.

By 1884, the profitable London Mine was closed due to litigation.  Originally, the London Mining Company was a consolidation of many claims owned by several different companies.  The disputes by the owners concerning the percentage of ownership and profits caused the mine to be tied up in court and closed in 1884.

Eventually the court battles ended and the new London Mining Company was incorporated. Boarding and bunk houses were built for the miners as well as an office building and stables.

The London Mine, high atop London Mountain, was quite isolated and in the most unfavorable climate.  Although it was difficult to attract experienced miners to such a harsh climate, the London managed to hire local American miners to work the mine.  Because these miners came with a vast amount of experience, this kept the costs of mining in line with the profits.

By 1910, the mines began slowing down and the miners began moving to other mining districts.  The London then hired Austrians, Hungarians, and Italians.  Since these labors were inexperienced, the costs of mining increased.  The miners were paid $3.00 per day for an eight hour day, while the machine men were paid $3.50 and the blacksmiths and foremen were paid $4.00.

As mining slowed even more, the London Mine closed its doors.  Today, the London Mine, LLC continues to exist further down the valley.

Directions: From the town of Alma, continue south about 4 miles towards Fairplay.  You will soon see the sign “Mosquito Pass” and the road is on your right.

The town of Dillon began as nothing more than a stage stop.  Quickly, as more settlers came to the area to seek their fortunes in the local mines, the population of Dillon grew.   Soon Dillon had replaced its stage stop with a railroad depot and there were many new buildings in the town.

Dillon incorporated their town in January 1883 and also, in that same year, built a new schoolhouse for the children of the area.  Since the railroad came through Dillon, the town’s people were able to build the school using the most modern materials that could be purchased at that time.  Items such as four-by-four casement windows and a pressed-tin ceiling made the Dillon Schoolhouse a landmark.

Dillon is known to be the town that couldn’t stay put.  Dillon was moved three times; once to be closer to the railroad, and twice more beginning in 1956 to make room for the new Dillon reservoir.  Several of Dillon’s buildings were moved to the new site of Dillon while others were moved to Silverthorne.

The schoolhouse, which had become a church in 1910, was moved to the new town of Dillon in 1962.  Ten years later, the building became the Dillon Schoolhouse Museum.  The schoolhouse now contains many items including McGuffy desks, Heath Readers, slates and chalk, and many more turn of the century items.

Outside the schoolhouse is a small cabin from the 1930’s.  A cabin like this was typical during the depression when there were no jobs to be found.  Known as a “survival” cabin, one man, by himself, could build this type of home using trees from the forest.  He could then live off wild game or fish from the local rivers.

Next to the “survival” cabin is the Lula Myers Ranch House.  Although this two-story house is only 16’ x 24’ and appears quite small, it feels much bigger inside.  The home was built by Charles Delker in 1885 under the Federal Homestead Act.  Originally located near the Snake River in Keystone, the home was moved to its present location in 1976.

When Lula Myers, the local school teacher, and her husband Dirk decided to retire in 1924, they moved into the Delker home and became its second owners.  Dirk and Lula had many parties and social events in this home.

Today the town of Dillon has a year-round population of just less than 3000.  During the winter season, when many people arrive for their annual Colorado vacation, the population peaks to about 5000.

The Town of Dillon has a small town charm, but is full of activity all year long.   Summers in Dillon are the best, with boating on Lake Dillon, free Nature Nights, Friday Farmers Markets and weekend concerts at the Lake Dillon Amphitheatre.  There are also many restaurants, retail and services in Dillon.

Directions: The Dillon Schoolhouse is located at 403 La Bonte Street in Dillon.

The Mary and Pat Murphy mines, located on Chrysolite Mountain, west of St. Elmo, were discovered by John Royal and Dr. A.E. Wright in September of 1875.  In 1880, these mines were sold to a St. Louis company and later became the largest producers in the district.

By 1886 the property was leased and the first mill was erected.  The lessees built mills at Romley and St. Elmo.  By January 1889 the Mary Murphy mining company paid $157,000 in dividends and nearby Romley was home to over 1000 people.  Romley was booming and there was a boarding house, smelter, turntable, mill, and a railroad depot.

St. Elmo, first named Forrest City, was a promising mining district during the first years of its existence.  St. Elmo was surrounded by the Mary Murphy and many other productive mines, had the Denver & South Park railway nearby, and was near both the North and South Forks of Chalk Creek.

The mines ran off and on, depending on the price of the ore, until July of 1908.  A fire caused by a locomotive spark destroyed the small town of Romley.   The Colorado & Southern depot, the Mary Murphy shafthouse and equipment, two homes, and several other buildings were consumed.  The loss was estimated at over $12,000.

By May of 1909, the Mary Murphy mine was sold by the St. Louis capitalist who had controlled the mine, to an English syndicate.  The price was $450,000.  The sale included 200 acres and the town site of Romley.

Soon the Mary Murphy was in operation night and day.  After electricity was installed, the mine had many nightly visitors.  People went to see the “fine electrical display.”

The local post office opened and closed at least three times during this period, finally closing permanently in 1926.

The Mary Murphy Mine operated until 1926.  It is said that from it’s opening about 1879, until around 1912, the mine produced ore amounting to over $30,000,000 and was one of the biggest producers in the state of Colorado.  The mine, in its hay day, employed over 400 men.

Saints John is a unique ghost town nestled high above Montezuma with, what looks like, one part time resident.  The town’s original name was Coleyville, named after John Coley from Empire, Colorado.    Coley was responsible for one of Colorado’s earliest Silver discoveries around 1864.

Eventually, Coleyville was renamed, supposedly by the Masons, to Saints John, for both St. John the Evangelist and St. John the Baptist.   Now  a ghost town, Saints John once had a store, sawmill, assay office, smelting furnace, and a Post Office.  (Note, I did not mention a saloon!)  There were a mere 50 or so people living in Saints John during that time.  They also had a library equal to any of those found back east.

Once we were past Saints John, we crossed a river and traveled deeper into the mountains, all the time wondering how the pioneers could survive in this vast wilderness.  The trip took many hours, mainly because we often stopped to take pictures.  The scenery was almost overwhelming.  The road is somewhat treacherous in areas and made us wonder what a horse and wagon ride would have been like way back then.

Nearing the top of the pass, we came to the Wild Irishman Mine.  The area was absolutely breathtaking and strangely remote.    It must have taken the pioneers days to reach it.    Wild Irishman is not actually a ghost town, but more like a ghost camp because it was only inhabited by several miners and their families.  There was not a school or church in the area and the town was never formally incorporated.  You could never imagine the remoteness of this small camp until you’ve actually seen it.  You can sit on the ground near what’s left of the cabins and practically hear the silence.  You can look down at a beautiful valley filled with every color you could ever think of or turn around and see the timber line behind you.

We stayed at the Wild Irishman for over an hour before continuing on our journey.  Even though we had a map, we had no idea where we were going or what we would see next.  We traveled, what seemed like, straight up for the next mile or so stopping several times to take pictures.  (I think I took about a hundred pictures on this trip!)

Finally reaching the top of the mountain was almost overwhelming. No matter which way we looked, you could see for miles.  We were on the top of a mountain looking straight out, at eye level to the other mountain tops.   Each direction we looked, most of the mountain tops had a white cap of snow dust that seemed to touch the sky.  There was a cool breeze blowing, and once again, the sound of silence.  It was a very peaceful place.

We spent the rest of the day traveling down the trail, and as my husband says “stopping every five feet to take pictures”.  This was definitely one of the most interesting trips we have ever taken.  This trail is also popular for snow shoeing, snowmobiling, and cross country skiing.  Unfortunately, I’m not brave enough for that!