Victor Heritage Society
Working Together to Preserve 
Historic Victor, Colorado
City of Gold MInes
  • Home
  • Preservation Successes
  • Activities
  • Landmarks
  • Guidelines & Galleries
    • Guide to Preserving Our Architectural Heritage
    • Photo Gallery of Victor Residential Gems
    • Photo Gallery of Victor Businesses Operating in Historic Buildings
    • Photo Gallery of Historic Victor Homes & Buildings--Then & Now
    • Photo Gallery of Historic Victor Artwork by Fred Shane, Circa 1942
    • Photo Gallery of Historic Gold Mines >
      • Stratton's Independence Mine
      • Restoring the Historic Headframe of Stratton's Independence Mine
      • Gold Coin Mine--Part of the Woods Empire
      • Vindicator Mine
    • Photos From 1903-04 Labor Strike in Cripple Creek & Victor Mining District.
    • Step Back in Time with Glimpses of Historical Photos Featuring Victor, Colorado & the Surrounding Mining District
  • Oral History
    • “The Only Swedish Grocery Store in Victor”: The J.A. “Joseph” Beckman Family in the Cripple Creek Mining District of Colorado, 1896-1915 by Richard "Dick" Markley.
    • Goold Family Historic Ties to Victor, Colorado & Famous Former Residents of the City by Nellie Goold Young.
    • H. L. Turner Story--Part 2: Unique Perspectives About the History of Victor, Colorado & the Cripple Creek Mining District.
    • Memories of H. L. Turner (1882-1967) and His Experiences in the Early Days of the Cripple Creek Mining District.
    • Tragedies When I Was Growing Up In Victor by Charles Spray (AKA Jeep Hack).
    • Memories of James Garth Payne & How He Came to Letter Names on the Original WWII Roll of Honor in Victor and Cripple Creek, Colorado.
    • Winters in Victor, Colorado during the 1940's & 50's by Charles Spray (AKA Jeep Hack)
    • Biking & Hockey in Victor, Colorado -- The Passions of Brian Hayes
    • Sports in Victor, Colorado & Memories of the 1949 Pikes Peak Junior High Basketball Tournament
    • Abbott Family Memories Made in Victor, Colorado: The House & Antiques Shop -- by Debbie Abbott.
    • Abbott Family Memories Made in Victor, Colorado: Digging At the Dump -- by Steve Abbott.
    • Abbott Family Memories Made in Victor, Colorado: Mom & Her Victor Friends -- by 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.
    • Carl Roy's Oral History Videos -- Life in Victor, Colorado
    • The Miner’s Photograph: A Pathway to the Past by Steven Wade Veatch.
    • Recollections of My Life in Victor, Colorado during the Depression, WWII, & After By Charles Norman Spray (AKA Jeep Hack)
    • Memories of Washington Elementary--My First School in Victor, Colorado by Charles Spray (AKA Jeep Hack).
    • Adventures at the Beaver Valley Ranch While Growing up in Victor, Colorado by Charles Spray (AKA Jeep Hack).
    • Memories of the Ina & Henry Cleveland Hack Family by Charles Norman Spray (AKA Jeep Hack).
    • The Lighter Side of a Visit to Hack's Victor Barber Shop by Charles Norman Spray (AKA Jeep Hack).
    • Memories of Margaret & Henry C. "June" Hack, Jr. by Charles Norman Spray (AKA Jeep Hack).
    • Memorabilia from Cripple Creek & Victor High School Bands Directed by Ernest T. Sly from 1939 to 1950.
    • A Day in the Cresson Mine by Charles Spray (AKA Jeep Hack).
    • Firewood For Victor, Colorado by Charles Norman Spray (AKA Jeep Hack).
    • Memories of My Grandfather, John Reed Gardner (1864-1951)--Gardner Mercantile Owner, Bank President, Insurance Company Executive. By John Reed Gardner, II (grandson).
    • Tarie Huber Oral History Videos -- Life in Victor, Colorado
    • 1896 Shooting Affray at Union Theater in Victor, Colorado.
    • Memories of Mrs. Katy Bemore, resident of Independence when the deport was blown up in 1904.
    • 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.
    • INSTALLMENT #1. Seven Generations In Victor, Colorado and The Mining District—The Way It Was as Recalled by Eleanor Musser Baker.
    • INSTALLMENT #2. Seven Generations In Victor, Colorado and The Mining District—The Way It Was as Recalled by Eleanor Musser Baker.
    • INSTALLMENT #3. Seven Generations In Victor, Colorado and The Mining District—The Way It Was as Recalled by Eleanor Musser Baker.
    • Memories of Edward Franklin Page: Watchman at the Stratton Mines and Subsequently a Mine Manager, Farmer, Retail Businessman, & Banker.
    • Tom Schryver's Memories of Growing Up in Victor, Colorado and His Parents--Mayme & Charles "Bumps" Chapman.
    • McCormick Family Connections to Victor, Colorado (1893-2014) by Mary Ann McCormick Hamm.
    • Paying the Piper by Gertrude Moore McGowan.
    • Gold Camp Celebration--Fourth of July in Victor, Early 1900's by Gertrude Moore McGowan.
    • Memories of Lulu Ella Manson & Harry Gordon Moore by Gertrude Moore McGowan
    • Memories of Fannie & Alfred Osborn by Marge Breth
    • Memories of Cripple Creek & Victor, 1945-62, by Mary Alice Orazen
    • The Story of Axel Olson & His Golden Girl, Betzi Johnson, by Shirley Beach.
    • Memories of Mr. and Mrs. Axel Olson by KC Garver
    • Victor Recollections--Mountain Doctor, Small Town Cop, Gus's Sporting Goods, & Little Toy Pocket Knife by Floyd Frank
    • Memories of Lowell Thomas--Victor"s Most Famous Former Resident
    • Memories of the Gold Rush Era in Victor by Edgar McGowan
    • A Day In the Life of a Miner by Chuck Clark
    • Underground Mining Experiences at the Cresson and Ajax by Myron House
    • Hynes Brothers "Clean Ice" for Victor, Colorado--Memories of Mary Ellen Hynes Chetelat.
    • Marguerite Clark--One of Victor's Angels by Chuck Clark
    • Charlie Clark & the Quality Cash Market by Chuck Clark
    • Pop Sly -- Ernest T. Sly, The Band Man by Chuck Clark
    • Mr. Mortenson--The Victor Shoemaker by Chuck Clark
    • Heninger Family Memories of Victor, Portland Junction, & Independence: 1909-1916, by Virginia & Edgar Heninger
    • Reflections on Goldfield by Carol Roberts
    • Growing Up In Victor in the 1930's by Bob Penman
    • Victor's Welcome to Vice-President Roosevelt
  • Visit

Photo Gallery of Historic Underground Gold Mines Near Victor

Before the advent of large scale surface mining, the landscape of the Mining District between Victor and Cripple Creek was dotted with the relics and ruins of four to five hundred underground gold mines that employed thousands of miners all living within a short trolley ride or walking distance from the mines.  This photo gallery provides a glimpse of what once was, and what still remains of the more prominent historic underground gold mines near Victor, Colorado.
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RESTORING THE HISTORIC HEADFRAME OF STRATTON’S INDEPENDENCE MINE
Photos Contributed by Shirley Beach, December 2017

​     After nearly 125 years of standing tall, the historic headframe of Winfield Scott Stratton's Independence Mine was laid down on the ground in the Fall of 2017 for strengthening and restoration.  The restoration project should ensure the historic headframe will be preserved to commemorate the site of Winfield Scott Stratton's mine that made him the first millionaire in the Cripple Creek & Victor Mining District and spurred the development of numerous other major gold producing mines on Battle Mountain.
     The series of photos below were taken and contributed by Shirley Beach during the week of December 12, 2017.  The photos document the amazing process of re-erecting the restored and strengthened headframe for Independence Mine.  For a closer view--CLICK PHOTOS TO ENLARGE.
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  Stratton's Independence Mine

     Winfield Scott Stratton staked his claim for the Independence Mine on July 4, 1891 in the newly formed Cripple Creek Mining District on the southern slope of Battle Mountain not far from where the City of Victor would soon after be established.

     CLICK HERE for LaJean Greeson's Story About the Discovery, Development, Sale, and Eventual Closure of Stratton's Independence Mine.  Numerous historic photos accompany the story.
        About The Photographer

     Shirley Beach is a life-long resident of Victor.  Shirley's career of public service includes the elected positions of Teller County Clerk & Recorder and Victor City Clerk-Treasurer.  Her knowledge of the Mining District and the people who are part of its heritage is extensive.  She currently volunteers as the Oral History Coordinator for the Victor Heritage Society, and has contributed a story about her parents, Betzi & Axel Olson, to the Oral History Pages of the VHS web site. 
The following series of photos, taken by Shirley Beach during the week of December  21, 2017, show the next phase of the restoration process -- reattachment of the slanted back braces to the Independence Mine Headframe.  Originally these braces (battle posts) also provided a ladder for accessing the top of the headframe.  
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The day started cold and overcast with snow flurries, but eventually the sun broke through the clouds. At this point the brace is still held in place by a sling from the crane.
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Look closely to see the two teams of the construction crew working to permanently secure the back brace to the headframe near both the top and the bottom.
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Closeup of crew working to attach the brace near the top. Click photos to enlarge.

THE PAST MATTERS.  PASS IT ALONG.  The Next Generation Will Only Inherit What We Choose To Save.

Some people say, 
"In a small town there is not much to see, but what you hear makes up for it."  
In historic Victor, Colorado there is plenty to see and hear.  
Come take a look--and a listen!


Click Here to View the Story of Stratton's Independence Mine

Click Here to View the Story of the Gold Coin Mine--Part of the Woods Empire

Click Here to View the Story of the Vindicator Mine

Click Here to View a Photo Gallery:  Historic Victor Residential Gems

Click Here to View a Photo Gallery:  Victor Businesses Operating in Historic Structures
 
Click Here to View a Photo Gallery:  This Old Victor House/Building--Then & Now

Click Here to View a Booklet:  Guidelines for Preserving Our Architectural Heritage
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