Victor Heritage Society
Working Together to Preserve 
Historic Victor, Colorado
City of Gold MInes
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  • 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.
​ 
PictureOn July 4, 1891, Winfield Scott Stratton staked the claim for his aptly named Independence Mine.
STRATTON’S INDEPENDENCE MINE
By La Jean Greeson

​     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 be established. 
       On the same day, Stratton also staked a claim for his nearby Washington Mine.  For 17 years before discovering the Independence, Stratton had worked as a carpenter in Colorado Springs during the winters—in order to accumulate enough money to spend his summers prospecting for gold.

PictureHistoric headframe and ancillary structures remaining at Stratton's Independence Mine, Circa 1965. Although taken over 75 years after Stratton began developing the Independence Mine, this photo may accurately depict what the site looked like before more massive mining and milling infrastructure was constructed there. See photos below.
     After spending two years raising development money, Stratton had become disheartened so he optioned the Independence to L.M. Pearlman in 1893.  
     While doing one last walk through before relinquishing control, Stratton came upon a rich vein of ore in an abandoned section of the mine and concealed it as best he could.
     Stratton sweated out the thirty day option period hoping Pearlman would not bother to search the abandoned cross cut.  
     Lucky for Stratton, Pearlman remained unaware and decided to relinquish his option to buy the Independence.

            Although there were other gold strikes in the Cripple Creek Mining District prior to Stratton’s, his is considered the strike that put Victor and the Mining District on the map.  In 1894 Winfield Scott Stratton became the first millionaire to come out of the District. 
            Stratton was very secretive about his mining operations, never allowing visitors and discouraging his men from speaking of their jobs outside of work.  He also limited production to $2,000 to $4,000 a day, considering the gold in ground as his insured bank.
            In 1899 Stratton sold his Independence Mine, with the help of Verner Z. Reed, for $11 million in stock options to The Venture Corporation, a London based company for which he continued to sit on the Board of Directors. The new company was incorporated in England in 1899 as the “Stratton's Independence, Limited”.  A description of the operations at that time is shown below.
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     While Stratton continued to be active in other parts of the Mining District, his health was failing.  Stratton passed away September 14, 1902.

​     The Mill at the Independence Mine, known as the Peck Mill, was opened in April of 1908.  The newly formed “Stratton's Independence, Limited” upped production and depleted the mine's rich ore deposits.  Dropping ore values at lower depths, as well as water and labor problems, drove down the Independence Mine's value. 
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Writing on this Sanborn postcard photo of the Independence Mine shows a date of 1892. However, it is unlikely that such an extensive infrastructure was constructed on the site at that time. Circa 1910 might be a better estimate.
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This undated photo of the Independence Mine and Mill site by Skolas reflects a similar degree of development--Circa 1910. Photos contributed by La Jean Greeson. Click to enlarge.
     In June of 1915 “Stratton’s Independence, Limited” sold the Independence Mine to the neighboring Portland Gold Mining Company for $375,000. 
     The Peck Mill at the Independence was closed in 1928 due to decreases in available tonnage and value of ore.  During the 20 years it operated, production from the Mill was $23,000,000. 
     United Gold Mines purchased the Independence in 1934 and Leasers were allowed to operate there until 1938 when the mine was closed forever.  The Independence Mine had at least 17 miles of underground workings and reached a depth of 1440 feet.  The Independence was the third ranked mine in gold production in the District.  
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Massive infrastructure eventually developed at the Independence Mine and Mill site. Photo by Hileman.
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Hand-tinted postcard photo of the Independence Mine and Mill site. Photos contributed by La Jean Greeson. Click to enlarge.
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     The historic headframe for Stratton’s Independence Mine, located on the Northeast edge of the Victor at an altitude of 9780 feet, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1993 (one of four Victor sites listed).  
     Ruins of the adjacent abandoned ore processing mill have been converted into an outdoor arena for community events. 
​     The sites of Independence Mine and Mill can be viewed alongside a system of hiking trails sponsored by the Southern Teller County Focus Group and the Cripple Creek & Victor Mining Company; as well as an official year-round Volksmarch Hiking Trail.

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Historic Independence Mine Headframe. Photo by Jack Sanderson.
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Ruins of the Independence Mill (foreground) and Mine (background). Photo by Greg Loskorn.
Postscipt on Restoration of the Independence Mine Headframe:  In recent years it became increasingly apparent that preserving the structural sustainability of the historic headframe towering over the site of Stratton's Independence Mine required a major restoration project.  The final stages of that project were completed in 2017-18 when segments the massive headframe were taken down with huge cranes, strengthen and reassembled.  CLICK HERE FOR AN ARCHIVE OF AMAZING PHOTOS, CONTRIBUTED BY SHIRLEY BEACH, THAT DOCUMENT THAT PROCESS. 
Compiled and submitted by La Jean Greeson, February 2017.  Sources:  
  • The Official Manual of Cripple Creek District, Colorado, U.S.A., 1900; ​
  • Victor, A Quick History, Colorado’s City of Mines by Leland Feitz, 1969; 
  • A Guide to the Mines of the Cripple Creek District by Bill Munn, 1984;
  • National Register of Historic Places, Stratton’s Independence Mine and Mill, 1993.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
     La Jean Greeson
's family ties to Victor and the Mining District originate before 1900 when her great-great grandparents came to the area.  Her grandparents, Buster and Emma Peters, became first-time homeowners in 1940 at 107 Portland Avenue in Victor where their children, Gladys (La Jean's mother) and Pepper, were raised into their teenage years.  Bus worked underground in the Vindicator Mine and helped construct the Carlton Mill for the Golden Cycle Corporation.  But frequently he was obliged to seek employment opportunities outside the District--Hawaii (for a tunnel job), and Grants, New Mexico (a uranium mining boom town where he started a welding business). In 1956 the Peters family moved permanently to New Mexico, but returned for visits to their Victor home into the 1970s.  La Jean grew up hearing their stories and developed a passion for Victor history that has blossomed into a Facebook page featuring historic photos.  
     La Jean now lives in Bremerton, Washington and visits Victor as often as possible.  As an active Victor Heritage Society member, La Jean has generously volunteered to serve as our Family Research Coordinator, and to spearhead coordinating the research and photos for this Gallery of Historic Underground Mines near Victor.


Contact VHS or La Jean Greeson to share early photos of historic underground gold mines near Victor, or to share a story about someone (perhaps a relative) who worked in the underground mines.
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 a Photo Galley Documenting Restoration of the Independence Mine Headframe

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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