Silica
Posted by Jeff Young on Apr 24, 2015; 3:24pm
URL: http://c-sng-discussion-forum.254.s1.nabble.com/Silica-tp2143.html
There seems to be very little info on the web about this branch (or in Mac Poor, although I haven’t dug out my picture supplement yet to see if there’s more).
The branch was originally built (in 1908 or 1909) to service the Silicated Brick Co, which quarried limestone, burned it to make lime, and manufactured sand/lime bricks. The company failed in 1912 and was reorganised as the Silicated Brick and Clay Co (suggesting they were also manufacturing regular clay bricks at that point?). It failed again in 1916 and was shut down.
Photos from 1910 (http://www.douglas.co.us/about-us/historic-preservation/county-landmarks/silicated-brick-company/ <http://www.douglas.co.us/about-us/historic-preservation/county-landmarks/silicated-brick-company/>) show a variety of structures at the site, including a lime kiln, brick manufacturing building, superintendents office, boarding house and several outbuildings. One picture shows a couple of (2’?) mine tracks with ore carts. There was also a “town” called Silica, although it was no more than 6 - 8 houses just west of the brick yard.
Otto Perry captured some lovely images in 1941 which show the site still active. Judging from the photos (and the earlier history), it appears they were mining limestone at that point:
http://digital.denverlibrary.org/cdm/singleitem/collection/p15330coll22/id/42565/rec/16 <http://digital.denverlibrary.org/cdm/singleitem/collection/p15330coll22/id/42565/rec/16>
The same picture also reveals what appears to be a C&S passenger car body being used (or having been used) as a bunkhouse:
(although that area is the approximate location of one of the spurs, so perhaps the car body is still on its trucks).
The line was finally abandoned in October of 1941.
Anyone know more? Of particular interest would be when the site was active post-brick manufacture (all of 1916 to 1941?), what was being quarried/mined (presumably limestone), what passenger car this was, and whether it was still on its trucks or not.
Cheers,
Jeff.
URL: http://c-sng-discussion-forum.254.s1.nabble.com/Silica-tp2143.html
There seems to be very little info on the web about this branch (or in Mac Poor, although I haven’t dug out my picture supplement yet to see if there’s more).
The branch was originally built (in 1908 or 1909) to service the Silicated Brick Co, which quarried limestone, burned it to make lime, and manufactured sand/lime bricks. The company failed in 1912 and was reorganised as the Silicated Brick and Clay Co (suggesting they were also manufacturing regular clay bricks at that point?). It failed again in 1916 and was shut down.
Photos from 1910 (http://www.douglas.co.us/about-us/historic-preservation/county-landmarks/silicated-brick-company/ <http://www.douglas.co.us/about-us/historic-preservation/county-landmarks/silicated-brick-company/>) show a variety of structures at the site, including a lime kiln, brick manufacturing building, superintendents office, boarding house and several outbuildings. One picture shows a couple of (2’?) mine tracks with ore carts. There was also a “town” called Silica, although it was no more than 6 - 8 houses just west of the brick yard.
Otto Perry captured some lovely images in 1941 which show the site still active. Judging from the photos (and the earlier history), it appears they were mining limestone at that point:
http://digital.denverlibrary.org/cdm/singleitem/collection/p15330coll22/id/42565/rec/16 <http://digital.denverlibrary.org/cdm/singleitem/collection/p15330coll22/id/42565/rec/16>
The same picture also reveals what appears to be a C&S passenger car body being used (or having been used) as a bunkhouse:
(although that area is the approximate location of one of the spurs, so perhaps the car body is still on its trucks).
The line was finally abandoned in October of 1941.
Anyone know more? Of particular interest would be when the site was active post-brick manufacture (all of 1916 to 1941?), what was being quarried/mined (presumably limestone), what passenger car this was, and whether it was still on its trucks or not.
Cheers,
Jeff.
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