Telluride of yore

Horse and mule pack train near Telluride (San Miguel County), Colorado, with coils of wire for the Nellie Mine tramway. Denver Public Library Special Collections. Date: 1895?

Mythic place of youth and yesteryear

By Rob Carrigan, robcarrigan1@gmail.com

When I was a youngster, up until the early 1970s I guess, the Telluride of yore was this mythic place of ramshackle mining buildings, beat-up shacks, and former row houses mostly, along with ornate Victorians in various stages of decay of former glory. I loved the elements of its checkered past featuring labor unrest, outlaw bank robbers, saloon girls, and epic unruliness and isolation. We always talked about how you might have been able to buy the whole town for less than $100,000.  Now, I assume, that would be quite a stretch. 

Fourth of July was always a celebration, and the beautiful box canyon was always a draw in summer, fall, winter and spring. The zig-zag fencing, sheep herder wagons, jagged rocky surroundings, astounding water falls, and blow over meadows provided visual interest, of course.

The town was founded in 1878. Telluride was originally named "Columbia," but due to confusion with Columbia, California, the name was changed by the post office in 1887.  Some folks today suggest that the post-1970 boom has re-Californiacated the place,  and not necessarily in a good way.  

But from my vantage point,  I have reveled in the development of the ski area over the years, and the music, film and other festivals providing vitality and interest. Besides, after living for decade in California myself, I recognize some advantages. My only regret is that I didn't think of — or was not able to — scrape together $100,000 in the early 1970s.

Telluride Brewery 

Al Bachman, photographer.
View of an abandoned brewery in Telluride (San Miguel County), Colorado. The wood, stone, plaster and tin building has a false front and a smokestack. A corrugated tin buildings is nearby. Photo created 1963. Western History/Genealogy Dept., Denver Public Library.

Brick Building
Al Bachman, photographer.
View of an abandoned brick building in Telluride (San Miguel County), Colorado. The buildings has arched windows with radiating voussoirs, and a corbeled parapet. The porch roof on the front of the buildings has a shingled hip roof and wooden pillars. Photo created 1963. Western History/Genealogy Dept., Denver Public Library

Telluride Opera House
Al Bachman, photographer.
View of a brick theater in Telluride (San Miguel County), Colorado. The building has a stepped parapet, a projecting enclosed balcony with a tile roof and a hip roof tile porch. Lamp posts are near the theater and a sign on the building reads: "Opera House, Picture Shows Every Evening, Admission 10 and 15 Cents." A sign projecting from the building reads: "Show." Photo created 1954. 

Western History/Genealogy Dept., Denver Public Library.

The Cosmopolitan
Creator: Byers, Joseph E.
Date: [1905-1915]
The Cosmopolitan, Telluride, Colorado, a saloon and gambling club. Men in suits and hats are seated at gaming tables with stacks of poker chips, a roulette wheel table is in left foreground, and a bartender stands behind long wooden bar. Marshal Kenneth Angus Maclean leans with his back against the bar; a Black man kneels next to brass foot rail and polished brass spittoons. Bar area features a large mirror with deer heads above, decorative spindles and shelves with liquor bottles, glasses and cash register on back counter. Inked on white border of photoprint: Telluride, Colorado. Penciled on back of photoprint: "1910-15?". Stamp on back of photoprint: Homer E. Reid, Telluride Colo. Title and photographer's signature hand-lettered on bottom of original negative. Denver Public Library Special Collections.

Band in Bridal Veil Park, 

Telluride, Creator: Goodman, Charles, 1843-1912. Date: 1886, Sept
T.J. McKee, donor, Men wear suits and hats and hold musical instruments including tubas, cornets, trumpets, trombones, and a bass drum in a meadow below the San Juan Mountains near Telluride (San Miguel County), Colorado. Ingram Falls, Bridal Veil Falls and Ingram Peak are in the distance. Denver Public Library Special Collections.

Telluride Hose Team No.1 

The Champion, 100 yards, wet test, in southwestern Colorado, July 3" 1892
Creator : Carpenter, W. J., photographer.
Date: 1892
Telluride Hose Team Number 1 on July 3, 1892, on Colorado Avenue in front of First National Bank, Telluride, Colorado, in annual race competition against Delta, Ouray, Rico and Grand Junction down one block length, that included unreeling two hundred feet of hose and turning on the water. Fireman in long underwear and trunks include: Billy (Gregory?), Ed Martin, Oscar Lochman, Jake Miller, C. Umstead, Lou (Hampdon?), A Fitzpatrick, Glenn (McKaron?), W. A. Gannon, A. C. Heidloff, Harry Newcomb, J. E. Jennings (trainer), Ely Elder (Spike). Two-story Richardsonian style bank, constructed by L. L. Nunn constructed in 1892-3, features Cornet Creek sandstone, arched entry with stained glass window panels in doors, and a corner tower.
Denver Public Library Special Collections