Memories of Victor & the World's Greatest Gold Camp
Family Connections and History: Index & Links
Be Known for the Memories You Preserve Rather Than the Ones You Forgot. It’s Your Legacy.
Please Share Your Memories and Family Connections to Victor & the World's Greatest Gold Camp
By Contacting Victor Heritage Society, PO Box 424, Victor, CO 80860 or e-mail VictorHeritageSociety@gmail.com.
Stories should be written in your own words and (if possible) be accompanied by photos as illustrated in the examples below.
Questions may also be directed to Shirley Beach, VHS Oral History Coordinator.
Please Share Your Memories and Family Connections to Victor & the World's Greatest Gold Camp
By Contacting Victor Heritage Society, PO Box 424, Victor, CO 80860 or e-mail VictorHeritageSociety@gmail.com.
Stories should be written in your own words and (if possible) be accompanied by photos as illustrated in the examples below.
Questions may also be directed to Shirley Beach, VHS Oral History Coordinator.
Support for the Oral History Archives of the VHS web site has been provided by a
generous donation from Sherry Brown in Memory of her Uncle Donald White.
generous donation from Sherry Brown in Memory of her Uncle Donald White.
“The Only Swedish Grocery Store in Victor”: The J.A. “Joseph” Beckman Family in the Cripple Creek Mining District of Colorado, 1896-1915.
Submitted (October 2022) by Richard "Dick" Markley (great nephew of Joseph Beckman).
Submitted (October 2022) by Richard "Dick" Markley (great nephew of Joseph Beckman).
Goold Family Historic Ties to Victor, Colorado & Famous Former Residents of the City--Lowell Thomas, Jack Dempsey, & Morgan Williams.
Submitted (June 2022) by Nellie Goold Young (granddaughter of Everett Edgar Goold, Sr. (1864-1911), daughter of Everett Edgar Gould, Jr. (1892-1962).
Submitted (June 2022) by Nellie Goold Young (granddaughter of Everett Edgar Goold, Sr. (1864-1911), daughter of Everett Edgar Gould, Jr. (1892-1962).
H. L. Turner Story--Part 2: Unique Perspectives about the History of Victor, Colorado & the Cripple Creek Mining District.
Submitted (June 2022) by Dick Turner (grandson).
Submitted (June 2022) by Dick Turner (grandson).
Memories of Harry Louis (H. L.) Turner (1882-1965) & His Experiences in the Early Days of the Cripple Creek Mining District.
Submitted (May 2022) by Dick Turner (grandson) and Ruth Stephan (granddaughter).
Submitted (May 2022) by Dick Turner (grandson) and Ruth Stephan (granddaughter).
Tragedies When I Was Growing Up in Victor, Colorado During the 1940's & 1950's.
Submitted (October 2021) by Charles Spray (AKA Jeep Hack) with research assistance from Shirley Beach.
Submitted (October 2021) by Charles Spray (AKA Jeep Hack) with research assistance from Shirley Beach.
Memories of James Garth Payne & How He Came to Letter Names on the Original WWII Roll of Honor in Victor and Cripple Creek.
Submitted (September 2021) by Marjorie Payne (daughter-in-law).
Submitted (September 2021) by Marjorie Payne (daughter-in-law).
Winters in Victor, Colorado during the 1940's & early 50's.
Submitted (April 2021) by Charles Norman Spray (AKA Jeep Hack).
Submitted (April 2021) by Charles Norman Spray (AKA Jeep Hack).
Biking & Hockey in Victor, Colorado – The Passions of Brian Hayes.
Online Text and Video by Bill Plock, President, 303 Endurance Network.
Links shared with the Victor Heritage Society Oral History Archives (March 2021).
Online Text and Video by Bill Plock, President, 303 Endurance Network.
Links shared with the Victor Heritage Society Oral History Archives (March 2021).
Sports in Victor, Colorado & Memories of the 1949 Pikes Peak Junior High School Basketball Championship Tournament.
Submitted (January 2021) by Charles Normal Spray (AKA Jeep Hack).
Submitted (January 2021) by Charles Normal Spray (AKA Jeep Hack).
Kay & Virgil Abbott's Family Memories Made In Victor, Colorado.
Part 1: The House & Antiques Shop by Debbie Abbott.
Part 2: Digging At the Dump by Steve Abbott.
Part 3: Mom & Her Victor Friends by Dave Abbott.
Submitted (September 2020) by Debbie, Steve and Dave Abbott.
Part 1: The House & Antiques Shop by Debbie Abbott.
Part 2: Digging At the Dump by Steve Abbott.
Part 3: Mom & Her Victor Friends by Dave Abbott.
Submitted (September 2020) by Debbie, Steve and Dave Abbott.
A History of VICTOR, COLORADO--THE CITY OF MINES, compiled and published in 1933 by S. E. Poet, Superintendent of Public Schools at Victor.
Submitted (August 2020) from the author's 1933 publications with accompanying photos (not included in the author's published history) shared from the Victor Heritage Society archives and captioned sources when known.
Submitted (August 2020) from the author's 1933 publications with accompanying photos (not included in the author's published history) shared from the Victor Heritage Society archives and captioned sources when known.
Carl Roy's Oral History Videos -- Life in Victor, Colorado: A four-part series of videos produced from an Oral History Interview with former Victor resident Carl Roy.
Oral History Interview Videoed (September 2019), Editing for VHS YouTube Channel completed (April 2020).
Oral History Interview Videoed (September 2019), Editing for VHS YouTube Channel completed (April 2020).
The Miner’s Photograph: A Pathway to the Past. The story of Robert Plews (my great-grandfather) who immigrated from England seeking better opportunities and found employment at the Elkton Mine in 1897.
Submitted (March 2020) by Steven Veatch.
Submitted (March 2020) by Steven Veatch.
Recollections of My Life in Victor, Colorado During the Depression, WWII, & After by Charles Norman Spray (AKA Jeep Hack).
Submitted by his childhood friend, Georganna McCleerey Peiffer (November 2019).
Submitted by his childhood friend, Georganna McCleerey Peiffer (November 2019).
Memories of Washington Elementary--My First School in Victor, Colorado.
Submitted (January 2020) by Charles Norman Spray (AKA Jeep Hack).
Submitted (January 2020) by Charles Norman Spray (AKA Jeep Hack).
Adventures at the Beaver Valley Ranch while Growing Up in Victor, Colorado.
Submitted (January 2020) by Charles Norman Spray (AKA Jeep Hack).
Submitted (January 2020) by Charles Norman Spray (AKA Jeep Hack).
Memories of the Ina & Henry Cleveland Hack Family.
Submitted (February 2020) by Charles Norman Spray (AKA Jeep Hack).
Submitted (February 2020) by Charles Norman Spray (AKA Jeep Hack).
The Lighter Side of a Visit to Hack's Victor Barbershop.
Submitted (February 2020) by Charles Norman Spray (AKA Jeep Hack).
Submitted (February 2020) by Charles Norman Spray (AKA Jeep Hack).
Memories of Margaret & Henry C. "June" Hack, Jr.
Submitted (March 2020) by Charles Norman Spray (AKA Jeep Hack).
Submitted (March 2020) by Charles Norman Spray (AKA Jeep Hack).
Memorabilia from Cripple Creek & Victor High School Bands Directed by Ernest T. Sly from 1939 to 1950.
Contributed (April 2020) by Georganna McCleerey Peiffer and Charles Spray (AKA Jeep Hack).
Contributed (April 2020) by Georganna McCleerey Peiffer and Charles Spray (AKA Jeep Hack).
A Day in the Cresson Mine.
Submitted (May 2020) by Charles Norman Spray (AKA Jeep Hack).
Submitted (May 2020) by Charles Norman Spray (AKA Jeep Hack).
FIREWOOD FOR VICTOR
Submitted (October 2020) by Charles Norman Spray (AKA Jeep Hack).
Submitted (October 2020) by Charles Norman Spray (AKA Jeep Hack).
Tarie Huber's Oral History Videos -- Life in Victor, Colorado: A five-part series of videos produced from an Oral History Interview with Tarie Huber, beloved, long-time Victor Resident.
Interview Videographed (September 2018), Edited & Made Accessible on YouTube (July 2019).
Interview Videographed (September 2018), Edited & Made Accessible on YouTube (July 2019).
Memories of Joe & Viola Madonna, Griff & Mollie Kate Ellis, and Photos From Their Family Album Documenting the Tragic Events Which Led to the End of the 1903-04 Strike by the Western Federation of Miners Union.
Shared (March 2019) by Rose Noal, Cathy Schafer, Joe DiRito and Tony DiRito from photographic memorabilia of their grandparents (Joe & Viola Madonna) and their great uncle and aunt (Griff & molie Kate Ellis).
Shared (March 2019) by Rose Noal, Cathy Schafer, Joe DiRito and Tony DiRito from photographic memorabilia of their grandparents (Joe & Viola Madonna) and their great uncle and aunt (Griff & molie Kate Ellis).
1896 Shooting Affray at the "Union Theatre of Varieties" in Victor, CO.
From the Cornish Post and Mining News, February 1896, Cornwall, UK.
Submitted (January 2019) by Damian R. Nance and Tony Clarke.
From the Cornish Post and Mining News, February 1896, Cornwall, UK.
Submitted (January 2019) by Damian R. Nance and Tony Clarke.
Memories of Mrs. Katy Bemore--Resident of Independence, CO when the train depot was blown up in 1904.
Submitted (December 2018) by Patrick Freeman.
Submitted (December 2018) by Patrick Freeman.
Working Underground in the Cripple Creek & Victor Mining District (1972 to 1979): How I Got the Shaft, the Gas, and the Broken Steel by Randall Stewart.
Submitted (July 2018) by Randall Stewart.
Submitted (July 2018) by Randall Stewart.
Installment #1. SEVEN GENERATIONS IN VICTOR, COLORADO & THE MINING DISTRICT--The Way It Was. Memories of Eleanor Musser Baker (1920-2003) and her mother, Sadie Musser (1890-1965).
Submitted (January 2018) by Tish Allen (daughter of Eleanor Baker, granddaughter of Sadie Musser).
Submitted (January 2018) by Tish Allen (daughter of Eleanor Baker, granddaughter of Sadie Musser).
Installment #2. SEVEN GENERATIONS IN VICTOR, COLORADO & THE MINING DISTRICT--The Way It Was. Memories of Eleanor Musser Baker (1920-2003) and her mother, Sadie Musser (1890-1965).
Submitted (February 2018) by Tish Allen (daughter of Eleanor Baker, granddaughter of Sadie Musser).
Submitted (February 2018) by Tish Allen (daughter of Eleanor Baker, granddaughter of Sadie Musser).
Installment #3. SEVEN GENERATIONS IN VICTOR, COLORADO & THE MINING DISTRICT--The Way It Was. Memories of Eleanor Musser Baker (1920-2003) and her mother, Sadie Musser (1890-1965).
Submitted (March 2018) by Tish Allen (daughter of Eleanor Baker, granddaughter of Sadie Musser).
Submitted (March 2018) by Tish Allen (daughter of Eleanor Baker, granddaughter of Sadie Musser).
MEMORIES OF EDWARD FRANKLIN PAGE: WATCHMAN AT THE STRATTON MINES AND SUBSEQUENTLY A MINE MANAGER, FARMER, RETAIL BUSINESSMAN AND BANKER.
Excerpted from "Matthews, Page, Wilson, Dean, Bartlet and Related Families” by Kermit Dean Mathews (grandson of Edward Franklin Page), Higginson Book Company (1993).
Submitted by Fred Matthews (great grandson of Edward Franklin Page), December 2017.
Excerpted from "Matthews, Page, Wilson, Dean, Bartlet and Related Families” by Kermit Dean Mathews (grandson of Edward Franklin Page), Higginson Book Company (1993).
Submitted by Fred Matthews (great grandson of Edward Franklin Page), December 2017.
TOM SCHRYVER'S MEMORIES OF GROWING UP IN VICTOR, COLORADO AND HIS PARENTS--MAYME & CHARLES "BUMPS" CHAPMAN.
By Tom Schryver, Submitted December 2018.
By Tom Schryver, Submitted December 2018.
McCORMICK FAMILY CONNECTIONS TO VICTOR, COLORADO (1893-2014): Portland Master Mechanic, Vindicator Superintendant, Scottish Poet, Labor War Casualty, Preservation Activist, Historic Memorabilia Collector.
Mary Ann McCormick Hamm's Story of Her Brother, David "Bean" McCormick (1941-2014); Great Grandfather, William McCormick; and Great Uncle, Charles McCormick.
Submitted by Mary Ann McCormick Hamm, November 2017.
Mary Ann McCormick Hamm's Story of Her Brother, David "Bean" McCormick (1941-2014); Great Grandfather, William McCormick; and Great Uncle, Charles McCormick.
Submitted by Mary Ann McCormick Hamm, November 2017.
PAYING THE PIPER: IT WASN'T FAIR, BUT MAMA'S SMILING COMMENT, "WE ARE WOMEN," WAS FULLY UNDERSTOOD BY HER YOUNG DAUGHTER ONLY AFTER YEARS OF LIVING, LOVING, AND LEARNING.
Gertrude Moore McGowan's Story of Life Lessons Learned From Her Mother While Growing Up in Victor, Colorado in the Early 1900's was published in GOOD OLD DAYS MAGAZINE
Submitted by her daughter, Nancy McGowan Galbraith, September 2017.
Gertrude Moore McGowan's Story of Life Lessons Learned From Her Mother While Growing Up in Victor, Colorado in the Early 1900's was published in GOOD OLD DAYS MAGAZINE
Submitted by her daughter, Nancy McGowan Galbraith, September 2017.
GOLD CAMP CELEBRATION: FOURTH OF JULY IN VICTOR, EARLY 1900's.
Childhood Memories Recalled by Gertrude Moore McGowan (1905-1992)
Submitted by her daughter, Nancy McGowan Galbraith, August 2017.
Childhood Memories Recalled by Gertrude Moore McGowan (1905-1992)
Submitted by her daughter, Nancy McGowan Galbraith, August 2017.
MEMORIES OF FANNIE & ALFRED OSBORN: My Great Grandparents Who Lived in Teller County at Gillett Flats, Victor, and the Osborn Homestead which is now part of Mueller State Park.
By Marge Breth
Submitted by Margaret (Marge) Breth, December 2016.
By Marge Breth
Submitted by Margaret (Marge) Breth, December 2016.
MEMORIES OF CRIPPLE CREEK & VICTOR, 1945--1962.
By Mary Alice Orazen
Submitted by Mary Alice Orazen, October 2016.
By Mary Alice Orazen
Submitted by Mary Alice Orazen, October 2016.
THE STORY OF AXEL OLSON & HIS GOLDEN GIRL, BETZI JOHNSON--The Gold WAs In His Heart, Not His Hand.
By Shirley Olson Beach
Submitted by Shirley Beach, October 2016.
By Shirley Olson Beach
Submitted by Shirley Beach, October 2016.
VICTOR RECOLLECTIONS--MOUNTAIN DOCTOR, SMALL TOWN COP, GUS'S SPORTING GOODS, & LITTLE TOY POCKET KNIFE.
By Floyd Frank
Submitted By Floyd Frank, August 2016.
By Floyd Frank
Submitted By Floyd Frank, August 2016.
MEMORIES OF LOWELL THOMAS--VICTOR'S MOST FAMOUS FORMER RESIDENT:
EXCERPTS FROM A TRIBUTE TO LOWELL THOMAS, UNIVERSITY OF DENVER NEWS, October 1971
Submitted by Richard Fay, August 2016.
LOWELL THOMAS' LIFELONG TIES TO VICTOR, COLORADO
Compiled from VHS archives, August 2016.
VIEW THE TRAILER FOR A RECENTLY RELEASED DOCUMENTARY ABOUT LOWELL THOMAS
"Voice of America: Lowell Thomas and the Rise of Broadcast News" (3 minutes).
EXCERPTS FROM A TRIBUTE TO LOWELL THOMAS, UNIVERSITY OF DENVER NEWS, October 1971
Submitted by Richard Fay, August 2016.
LOWELL THOMAS' LIFELONG TIES TO VICTOR, COLORADO
Compiled from VHS archives, August 2016.
VIEW THE TRAILER FOR A RECENTLY RELEASED DOCUMENTARY ABOUT LOWELL THOMAS
"Voice of America: Lowell Thomas and the Rise of Broadcast News" (3 minutes).
MEMORIES OF THE GOLD RUSH ERA IN VICTOR--Those Who Struck It Rich & Lost It All, Highgrading, Movie Theaters and the Opera House
By Edgar McGowan
Submitted by Nancy Galbraith, July 2016
By Edgar McGowan
Submitted by Nancy Galbraith, July 2016
UNDERGROUND MINING EXPERIENCES AT THE CRESSON & AJAX
By Myron House
Submitted by Chuck Clark, May 2016
By Myron House
Submitted by Chuck Clark, May 2016
HYNES BROTHERS "CLEAN ICE" FOR VICTOR--Memories of Mary Ellen Hynes Chetelat
Denver Post Empire Magazine, September 26, 1971
Excerpts from "Clean Ice for Victor"
By Bernard Kelly
Denver Post Empire Magazine, September 26, 1971
Excerpts from "Clean Ice for Victor"
By Bernard Kelly
MEMORIES OF MARGUERITE CLARK--ONE OF VICTOR'S ANGELS
By Charles (Chuck) Clark
Submitted by Chuck Clark, February 2016
By Charles (Chuck) Clark
Submitted by Chuck Clark, February 2016
VICTOR'S WELCOME TO MR. ROOSEVELT--Editorial & Text of Speech at Gold Coin Club
The Denver Times Newspaper
August 10, 1901
The Denver Times Newspaper
August 10, 1901
MEMORIES OF POP SLY -- ERNEST T. SLY, THE BAND MAN
By Charles (Chuck) Clark
Submitted by Chuck Clark, November 2015
By Charles (Chuck) Clark
Submitted by Chuck Clark, November 2015
MEMORIES OF CHARLIE CLARK AND THE QUALITY CASH MARKET
By Charles (Chuck) Clark
Submitted by Chuck Clark, October 2015
By Charles (Chuck) Clark
Submitted by Chuck Clark, October 2015
MEMORIES OF MR. MORTENSON--THE VICTOR SHOEMAKER
By Charles (Chuck) Clark
Submitted by Chuck Clark, October 2015
By Charles (Chuck) Clark
Submitted by Chuck Clark, October 2015
HENINGER FAMILY MEMORIES OF VICTOR, PORTLAND JUNCTION, & INDEPENDENCE: 1909-1916
By Virginia Heninger & Edgar Heninger
Submitted by Denise Mills, August 2013
By Virginia Heninger & Edgar Heninger
Submitted by Denise Mills, August 2013