1956 Blackhawk, Central City and Nevadaville

[drgwcs]

I thought I would share some photos taken by my Dad Weldon in 1956 of the Clear Creek area. These are from the Central City Blackhawk and Nevadaville area. Not while the railroad ran but there was more existing at that point. I have several other trips I will share. Jim

[Keith Hayes]

Well those were the days!

[Kurt Maechner]

Wow!  What great photos!  Thanks for sharing.
Kurt

[Jeff Young]

Great pictures!

Is Nevadaville the same as Russel Gulch (where the frisbee golf course is), or somewhere different?

[drgwcs]

Here is the location of Nevadaville outside of Central City- amazed at how it looks today most of the old mines are gone. My most recent trip there was in the 80's
Jim

http://www.google.com/maps/place/Nevadaville,+CO+80452/@39.7959601,-105.5294441,247m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x876bbba4d9e71ef3:0x6c0e65697aa854be!8m2!3d39.7952656!4d-105.5324978?hl=en

[jim pallow]

   The bottom photo is a shack that a war veteran lived in downstream from Blackhawk.  He had a walk bridge across the creek and kept a can for donations on a post.  The donations usually were stolen and he couldn't get across the creek before they left.  A fellow by the name of Victor Stencil Couch (Vic's Gold Panning) used to pick up the veterans checks, buy groceries and take it to him.  I delivered a couple myself.  Usually there was a bottle hidden under the groceries. :) It would be in 1969.
   I delivered freight and beer to the towns of Blackhawk (we called it Chicken Hawk) and CC and up the road almost to hwy 72 back in 1972/73.  

[Jeff Young]

> Here is the location of Nevadaville….

Oh, cool, I haven’t been there.  I’ll have to give it a look next summer.

Cheers,
Jeff.

[snapped_bolt]

   

   Wow...

      Those mine carts look as if they have been left over the holiday, and will be full again Monday morning. Where's all the weeds, overgrowth, and pilferage? Look like the only one to stand there since the miners walked away was the photographer!
      Perhaps there are a few images of the buildings that answer questions for modelers...hard to believe so much was still "intact" at that time!
      Great pictures!

       Stan

[drgwcs]

Thanks to all on the comments about my Dad's photos. It was interesting to find out about the shack- I think I have one other photo of it from another trip. These photos were taken ten years before I was born so it fills in some gaps. Dad passed away 4 1/2 years ago and this info to me is valuable. Now if I could only figure out where Dad got the 18" gauge tram tie sitting in my basement...........

[Rick Steele]

Yes, JP, the man was known as the "Hermit of Clear Creek". He was indeed a veteran and kept pretty much to himself. He died in about 1969 or 1970.

His name was Orlo Raymond and there were several magazine and newspaper articles written about him.

Rick

[drgwcs]

Rick Steele wrote

Yes, JP, the man was known as the "Hermit of Clear Creek". He was indeed a veteran and kept pretty much to himself. He died in about 1969 or 1970.

His name was Orlo Raymond and there were several magazine and newspaper articles written about him.

Rick

It is interesting finding out all of this- I found a couple of more photos that my Dad took in 1962. I guess my Dad found it photogenic. He was always on the lookout for things to photograph. I have to admit I don't think I would trust that bridge- that may have kept people away in itself.....
Jim




This was in between the other two photos so I would assume it was Clear Creek right by the shack.

[Chris Walker]

Jim,

you Dad's top photo is at Floyd Hill, not the Hermit's "dwelling". fwiw.

[drgwcs]

Ok- didn't realize these were different- all were taken before I was born and Dad passed away nearly five years ago. They looked so similar I thought they were the same. Jim