Celebrating An Historic Mining Town Celebration
The early day history of Colorado is fascinating with the discovery of gold in Gregory Gulch in the majestic mountain surrounding Black Hawk and Central City, and a deserted mining town of Nevadaville, several miles Northwest of Gregory Gulch. There was a third city called Mountain City gone to dust, snuggled between the two historic cities that exist today.
Black Hawk is the second oldest recorded city in Colorado history and is celebrating 1860 Founder’s Day this Saturday, June 28, at the Hard District. A full day of activities commence at 11 a.m. until 7 p.m. with a full day of music from well-known bands that will be performing throughout the day. Bring the kids because there will be balloon artists, face painting, gold panning, and a photo booth. Period costumes will add to the historic occasion, along with vendors, food trucks, and assorted beverages for all ages. Everyone is invited to attend an “EVENT OF HISTORIC PROPORTION” in Black Hawk.
The early day miners would be flabbergasted to see the growth and development of this world-famous location. Mayor David Spellman has proclaimed a day of celebration for the founding of the historic city and to honor the founding fathers, Lee, Judd, and Lee. Learn more about the city and enjoy the ambiance of the new Hard District with retail shops along the exquisite flower-laden mall mezzanine. Shops will be open and free parking across the street in the new garage with an elevator to the Hard District.
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This is a historical occasion to honor the Black Hawk founding fathers and to recognize and celebrate the exciting history and success of the area. The miners were busy extracting gold from the multitude of claims scattering across the rising mountains, streams, and gulches; rich with gold in this new untamed wild frontier. The Civil War was embarking and Indian wars were ensuing across the west. The Sand Creek Massacre would occur in 1874 followed by the last Indian uprising in Colorado history; the Meeker Massacre, in present day Rio Blanco County. The Ute Indian lands covered a vast portion of today’s Northwest Colorado, stretching into Jackson County’s Walden area in North Park and Hot Sulphur Springs in Grand County. Gold had been discovered in 1859 in Gregory Gulch, then part of the Kansas Territory, leading to a population boom of miners seeking fortunes. Colorado would become a state in 1876, becoming the Centennial State.
The oldest surviving newspaper in Colorado, The Weekly-Register (circ) 1862 chronicled the early day history, located in Central City and the legal newspaper for Black Hawk and Central City. The newspaper’s “Looking Back” columns describe some Indians passing through the area, trading, selling game, pelts and furs, and horses to the miners, but little violence reported. However, a wagon train coming westward carrying newsprint was burned by Indians and the newspaper was creatively printed on wallpaper. The last Indian uprising occurred as Indian Agent Meeker was plowing up a meadow used by the Indians for horse racing and riding horseback across their vast lands. The uprising occurred on September 29, 1879, when troops requested by Meeker arrived in the area to be met by an Indian war party. One of Meeker’s last pleas for help was recently published as part of a series of historical letters from the White River Museum in Meeker and published in The Meeker-Herald Times. (circ 1885).
WHITE RIVER AGENCY, September 10, 1879, TO: E.A. Hayt, Commissioner, Washington D.C., Meeker writes: “I have been assaulted by a leading chief Johnson, forced out of my own house, and injured badly; but was rescued by employees. It is now revealed that Johnson originated all the trouble stated in the letter September 8. (Not published) His son shot at the plowman, and the opposition to plowing is wide. (Farming the horse meadow) Plowing Stops, Life of self, family, and employees not safe; want protection immediately; have asked Governor Pitkin to confer with General Pope.” N.C. Meeker Indian Agent. Meeker was murdered on Sept. 29, 1879.
It is hard to conceive that while an estimated 20,000 miners were at work in today’s Gilpin and Clear Creek Counties that there was an Indian War igniting not far away as a bird flies from where Black Hawk’s 1860 Founder’s Day is being celebrated this week.
Natives, visitors, and tourists will inhale some fresh mountain air and listen to the sounds of music drifting over the historic area in celebration of Colorado’s mining history and gold fever.
War is still in the air as history seems to repeat itself far too often.