125th Birthday Celebration
June 13, 1892-June 13, 2017
Schedule of Events:
Saturday, June 10th, 2017
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Published, Wednesday, June 7, 2017 Valley Publishing
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Creede:
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Creede 125th Birthday Celebration
Wednesday, June 7, 2017
A very brief history
BY JANIS JACOBS, CREEDE HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Boomtown Creede “Creede” is a name that has been drawing people to this area since 1890. The town has gone from soaring heights to devastating lows followed by many ups and downs in its varied history. For one and a half years it was at its highest pinnacle as a boomtown. For almost 100 years it was primarily a mining town and it has had to reinvent itself in many ways since 1985 when its mining ended. But the town has always come out on top through all of its good times and challenging times. People were traveling through the Upper Rio Grande area for many years before Creede was founded. Native Americans traveled through until the early 1870s. Then prospectors began heading toward the new mining towns of Lake City and Silverton. Prospectors looked for silver outcroppings wherever they were. Many other people came through in the 1870s and 1880s. Some stayed and established ranches. The Hot Spring Hotel was built at Wagon Wheel Gap in the early 1870s because of the interest in the curative waters. It was so popular that the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad extended their rails from Del Norte to the Gap in 1884. By this time, many other ranches had been set up, including Wason Ranch, the Texas Club (now Freemons), San Juan Ranch, Soward Ranch, Antelope Springs, Wetherill Ranch (now RC Ranch), Broadacres and many more. The first recorded silver production in the area was sent from the area in 1884. The town of Creede actually started in East Willow Creek Canyon. Nicholas Creede had located the Holy Moses claim on Campbell Mountain in the fall of 1889. He traveled to Denver for the winter and when he returned in the spring of 1890, many followed him, having heard of his “big” strike. The Sherman Silver Purchase Act was passed by Congress in 1890 almost doubling the price of silver which increased the numbers of prospectors in the Rocky Mountains. As more people heard of the strike, a camp began to bloom in lower East Willow Canyon. Shacks, cabins and businesses were built. The camp was first called Willow Camp, but in the fall of 1890 the miners voted to change the name to Creede. The narrow canyon was soon overflowing, so building was extended downstream and into Willow Canyon, being called Stringtown. In the summer of 1890, a large business district began to emerge downstream at the
end of Willow Canyon. Shacks, cabins and houses were built at the south end of the business district and on the sides of the hills and on the mesas. This area had many names, but the most prominent became Jimtown. The small boom of 1890 was taken up a notch in the fall when Nicholas Creede sold the Holy Moses mine for the shocking sum of $70,000 to three investors who were connected with the D&RG Railroad. News of the big sale brought more people to Creede. In the spring of 1891, Stringtown and Jimtown were still growing. More ore discoveries were being found. New claims included the King Solomon, the Ridge and the Kentucky Belle on East Willow, the Commodore (which would become the longest producing mine in the district), the Last Chance and the Amethyst (discovered by Nicholas Creede) on Bachelor Mountain. By January of 1892, Jimtown was being called “Creede,” but all three areas were considered part of the same town. The big boom to Creede started in January of 1892. The Denver and Rio Grande Railroad had extended its rails to Creede by that time. Now ore could be sent out more quickly and in larger amounts. Mines which had been stockpiling ore were shipping ore out, 10 to 12 cars a day. People and supplies could get to Creede more easily and faster. Newspapers around the state estimated 150 to 200 people arriving daily. Small mining camps were set up to accommodate the mines – Bachelor City, Weaver and Stumptown. The year of 1892 was the biggest boom time in Creede’s history. That year brought many good and many bad things and people to town. By late spring, the boom brought miners, business people and ordinary people. But it also brought in scoundrels – con men, gamblers, ladies of the night, gunslingers and others who wanted to mine the miners rather than the hills. One of the worst disasters in the history of the town happened on June 5. 1892. Around 6 o’clock in the morning a fire started in a saloon located at the north end of Jimtown. In two and a half hours most of the wooden district had burned down. It devastated the town, but had little effect on the mining. Although many of the business people (and undesirables) left town, many stayed and rebuilt. This time, most of the businesses were built with brick which was made locally. The main block of the business district today still looks very much like the rebuilt district looked after the fire. People were still
This photograph of Nicholas Creede (on left) and his nephew Harvey Lester was taken around 1870 by W.J. Lowell, Photographer, Del Norte. Jim White Collection, Creede Historical Society Archives, Catalogue #3069-P-434. coming to the boomtown. Incorporation On June 13, 1892, Creede was incorporated as a “city.” The city limits included the first Creede Camp (now called Upper Creede or North Creede) on East Willow, Stringtown and lower Creede (Jimtown). Now Creede would have local people making rules and regulations for the city and local law enforcement to keep the peace. The 1892 Colorado Business Directory stated the population of Creede as around 6,000 and close to 10,000 in the mining district. The Creede Candle newspaper reported that mine production was outstanding in 1892. The Amethyst Mine was listed as the highest producer of ore and the second highest was
the Last Chance Mine. In the first half of 1893, Creede was still booming. In March, the mining problems involving the three counties were put to rest when Mineral County was formed. The boom and the excitement came to a sudden end in August of 1893 when the U.S. Congress repealed the Silver Purchase Act. The government quit buying silver, the price of silver crashed and silver mining in all the American West was halted. The boom was over; all mines closed in Creede. Many miners left town, which caused many businesses to close and owners to leave. Creede was one of the few lucky silver mining towns that never became a ghost town. Hundreds of little mining towns were abanPlease see HISTORY on Page 5
Wednesday, June 7, 2017
Creede 125th Birthday Celebration
Creede Avenue (now Main Street) looked like this circa 1925. The building on the left is the Heinz Building. On the right is the Collins Block, which consisted of a one story and a two story building. The Knights of Pythias held their meetings in the upper story of the two story building. The store front on the far right (with white door and movie posters) was a movie theater. Note the changing in transportation; men on horses in the street and the cars parked at the side of the street. The photographer, donor and collector are all unknown. Creede Historical Society Archives, Catalog #4715-CR-140.
Dr. John Q. Allen and his wife are sitting on the porch of their home in Creede in this photo taken around 1892. The two youngsters on each end of the burro are probably their children. Mr. Allen was a doctor in Creede in 1891 and 1892. Mrs. Allen is said to have played the organ at Bob Ford’s funeral. The Allen family moved to Denver following the Big Fire of June 1892. Unknown collector, Creede Historical Society Archives, Catalogue #1349-P-219.
Right: This is the 1895 wedding photo of Minnie Mahoney and James Jones. They were married in Alamosa on Sept. 10, 1895 and made their home in Creede. Mr. Jones was a baker in Creede. Janette and William Higgins Collection, O’Keefe & Stockdoft Photo (Leadville, Colorado), Creede Historical Society Archives, Catalogue #2906-P-402.
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Creede 125th Birthday Celebration
Wednesday, June 7, 2017
This photo of Gordon Hosselkus was taken around 1960. “Gordy” served as a Mineral County commissioner for about 40 years. Margaret Lamb Collection, Creede Historical Society Archives, Catalogue #3035-P-420.
This studio photograph, taken around 1892, of an unidentified child was taken by C.E. Rees, whose address was Amethyst Post Office at Creede. The ceramic dog has obviously been well used, either by the little girl or by the photographer. The archives have two other photos of the unidentified girl. C.E. Rees, photographer, Loraine Seastone Collection, Creede Historical Society Archives, Catalogue #2160-P-283.
This photograph from about 1950 is the interior of the Creede Hotel Bar. The people are identified as Gladys Weaver, Chester Brubaker and Merle Lloyd. Chester Brubaker played the piano in the bar, and the piano is currently located in the Creede Historical Museum. Donated by Ed Hargraves, Ed Hargraves Collection, Creede Historical Society Archives, Catalog #389-B-7.8.
Happy 125th Anniversary!
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There are several different stories as to why William Harvey changed his name. One of the stories says that Harvey was in love with a girl who ended up marrying his brother, so William Harvey headed west and changed his name to Nicholas Creede. On the back of this photograph, which was taken in Monroe, Iowa by Le Fevre Photograph Studio, is written “Creed’s [sic] reason for coming to Colorado “Brother got girl”. Jim White Collection, Creede Historical Society Archives, Catalogue #3070-P-435.
Wednesday, June 7, 2017
Creede 125th Birthday Celebration
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Around 1895, this photograph was taken of Tomkins Brothers and Company Hardware, which sold mining supplies and tinware. There was also a bank in the store. Until mining ended in Creede in 1985, the hardware did most of their business with the mines. Donor unknown, Creede Historical Society Archives, Catalog #1861-B-41.
HISTORY
Continued from Page 2
doned in Colorado during the crash. Within a few months the larger mines in the Creede District reopened but with much smaller crews and much lower wages. The town did not die, but it certainly changed, and it has never come even close to the population in the boom times. After the boom Mining remained the main economy in Creede until 1985 when the last producing mine closed. As a mining town, Creede continued to experience boom and bust times. During the boom times more people lived here, buildings were built, schools, churches and other groups thrived. During bust times, many left town, businesses closed and social groups had fewer numbers. The town was affected very much by the price of silver. At the turn of the 20th Century, Creede experienced an economic upturn. In 1905 the Humphreys Mill and the Amethyst Mill were built. In 1930 the Emperius Mining Company was founded by B.T. Poxson and Herman Emperius. By 1945 they controlled most of the mines and purchased a mill just south of town. In the 1960s the Commodore Mine was still being worked by the Emperius Mining Company. Homestake Mining company came to Creede in that same decade and they opened the Bulldog Mine, initiating what was to become the last silver boom in Creede. In the 1970s the population was growing so fast that house trailers had to be brought in and almost every nook and cranny in town had a trailer in it. Around 200 students were in attendance at the K-12 long schools during part of that boom. It did not last. In the 1980s the Commodore Mine ceased operation and in 1985 Homestakes’s Bulldog Mine halted its mining, closed its doors and sold many of its buildings. With Creede’s dependence on mining for so
many years, its population was cyclic, depending on the price of silver. Many businesses were open, then closed. Essential businesses stayed open, like grocery stores, livery and later auto repair shops, Tomkins Hardware (which provided goods for the town’s citizens and for the mines) and mercantile stores. The people of Creede had to totally change the “persona” of the town after mining died. The mining history was still emphasized, but through the remains of mining, museums, literature and the mining competitions. Many come to Creede because of the arts,
unique shops, beautiful scenery, various summer and winter sports and the friendly people. All of these help lure the visitors to Creede, many of whom end up staying and becoming a part of our current history. Creede is thriving! Come at any time of the year and join the locals in the little piece of paradise!
Colorado Boom Town. Golden Bell Press, 1969. Harbert, Charles. Creede, Colorado History . . . . Vestige Press, 2010. Huston, Richard. A Silver Camp Called Creede: A Century of Mining. Western Reflections Publishing Company, 2005. LaFont, John. 58 Years Around Creede. To see more on the Creede history, visit Vantage Press, 1971. creede.com. LaFont, John, The Homesteaders of the Upper Rio Grande. Oxmore Press, 1971. Sources Mumey, Nolie. Creede: The History of a Feitz, Leland. A Quick History of Creede: Colorado Silver Mining Town. 1949.
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Creede 125th Birthday Celebration
Fay Franklin, Creede District Ranger of the Rio Grande forest, at his office in Creede— Ranger Franklin was the district ranger for quite a few years. He lived in a house in front of his office. The house has now become part of the Rio Grande Forest Service office in Creede. This photo was taken on July 15, 1948 by F. Lee Kirby. Fay Franklin Collection, Creede Historical Society Archives, Catalog #859-FF-19.
Wednesday, June 7, 2017
This studio photograph of Virgie Maude Whitaker was taken around 1905. She was born in 1885 and died in 1978. Virgie married Norman Alspaugh and moved to Creede when their daughter Garnet was 6 years old. Garnet married Sam Birdsey and their children are Rocky, Leslie and Uvaughn. Leslie Birdsey Williams Collection, Creede Historical Society Archives, Catalog #2691-P-372.
Wednesday, June 7, 2017
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Creede 125th Birthday Celebration
This photo of the Denver and Rio Grande Depot in Wagon Wheel Gap was probably taken in the 1890’s. It is an interesting photograph showing the depot; a train engine, coal car and sleeper car at a water tower; a windmill, which may have been used to pump water into the water tower; and several horse-drawn buggies and wagons. Note also the platform around the depot and the outhouse. Unknown collector, Creede Historical Society Archives, Catalogue #427-WWG-2c1.
Happy 125th Anniversary Creede! Broken Arrow Ranch & Land Co.
www.brokenarrowcreede.com
Anne & Dale Pizel Broker/Owners
658-2533
This is a photograph of lower Creede in May of 1913. The building in the foreground with the smoke stacks was a power plant and at one time the sulfur mill or storage building. Note the railroad tracks to the left of the building and the railroad cars. The white house to the right (across the street from the power plant) with the bay window was swept away by a flood in the 1930’s or 1940’s. Leary Family Collection; Rilla Cheeseman, donor; Creede Historical Society Archives, Catalog #3364-LF-34c2. The new log Creede School building is shown shortly after it was completed about 1948. The elementary was in the north wing, which is on the left in the photo; the gymnasium was in the center; and the junior and senior high school were in the south wing. Two men are working on the rock work around the lawn. This is a postcard. Unknown photographer, donor Renee Lindke, Creede Historical Society Archives, Catalog #4966-
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A Mountain Man Rendezvous has been held in the Creede area for quite a few years. Originally it was held at Farmer’s Creek, south of town, but is now held at Soward Ranch. Mike Kolisch, shown in this photograph, was an expert knife and tomahawk thrower. Mike is dressed in Mountain Man attire, which is required for being a part of the rendezvous, and is probably in a knife throwing completion. This date of this photo is unknown but it was probably taken around 1998. Kolisch Family Collection, Creede Historical Society Archives, Catalog #4900-P-543.
Creede 125th Birthday Celebration
Wednesday, June 7, 2017
This is the Creede Historical Society entry in the 4th of July parade, circa 1996. The historic hand pumped fire wagon from the 1890’s is in the Creede Historic Museum (D&RGW Depot). Sitting in the fire wagon on the left is Ed Hargraves (who was the Museum Director at the time) and on the right is Donavan Cullings (former City Marshal and Museum volunteer). Ed Hargraves Collection, Creede Historical Society Archives, Catalog #4511-F-210.
This photo, taken around 1985, shows several businesses on the west side of Main Street. The business marked Hall Realty eventually became Journey’s, a restaurant and coffee shop. In December of 2006, a fire gutted the Journey’s building, which was then restored and The Mermaid Café was opened. Jan and John Thompson Collection, Creede Historical Society Archives, Catalogue #3022-CR-105.
Photos courtesy of the Creede Historical Society unless otherwise stated.
Copies of photographs are available for a small fee, contact Creede Historical Society, P.O. Box 608, Creede, CO 81130 Phone: 719-658-2394 Email: creedehistsoc@centurytel.net