30 years ago – April 10, 1987
One of the major concerns the Environmental Protection Agency has had is the contamination of North Clear Creek from the tailings at the Gregory Incline in Black Hawk. The installation of the 36 inch galvanized pipe last week was to divert the creek water away from the tailings. Yet, this week, free flowing water began to leak into the creek under the pipe. There were also visible leaks at the pipe seams. On Wednesday, as the crew was removing the tailings along the crib wall, water trapped within the tailings was released. Water poured from the wall, turning the water rust in color. The water cascaded down the bank and entered North Clear Creek where the drainage pipe is located. The creek immediately became polluted. One of the works on the site said that the leak was expected. According to him, the backed up water was slowly leaking before the clean-up started.
Some dogs have fleas. And some flea markets have dogs. There was a puppy guarding his purchase, a stuffed animal, in the presence of his owners, Penny and Bill Round of Gilpin County. Several people at the recreational center’s flea market examined many of the items before making a purchase. Bill and Frances Byers of Gilpin County purchased a can opener, then proceeded to look for cans to open. Pat Carr and Diedre Scanion of Gilpin County, at their booth, appeared to be happy about their sales on Sunday. The flea market was sponsored by the Gilpin County Recreation Center on Saturday and Sunday. According to Angelo diBenedetto, director of the board for the center, the sales to benefit the recreation center totaled approximately $300. DiBenedetto said that he received several requests to hold the flea market more frequently. The Board of Directors of the recreation center will take the matter into consideration at a future date, he said. DiBenedetto did like the idea.
The 1987 Season of the Central City Opera Festival opens on Saturday, July 11, and continues through Tuesday, August 11, with 27 Main Stage performances scheduled during this period. A season of romance and adventure in faraway places is featured as productions of Giacomo Puccini’s perennial favorite Madame Butterfly, Gactano Donizetti’s effervescent comedy Don Pasquale, and Rudolf Friml’s rousing operetta The Vagabond King come alive on stage at Central City’s Victorian Opera House this summer. Central City Opera’s subscription campaign for the upcoming season is now underway. Daniel Rule, general manager, reports a record rate of subscription renewals received so far, with the renewal portion of the campaign drawing to a close today. New subscriptions will be processed in order of receipt following this date. There are seven different series available to subscribers, enabling them to see all three productions. In 1986 the Central City Opera company played to 95 percent of capacity with many performances selling out early. The small, acoustically perfect theater boasts a magnificent painted ceiling which has just been restored to its 1878 condition and will be on view for the first time this summer. John Moriarity, artistic director of Central City Opera, has also announced details of casting with many favorite artists returning to Colorado for the 1987 season. All performances are sung in English.
Died: Mary Dallapietra, formerly of Gilpin County, passed away April 5, 1987, in the Cedars Rehabilitation Center in Denver. She was 105 years old. Dallapietra was born in Serso, Italy. She immigrated to the United States at the age of 25 and works on a ranch in Russel Gulch. Rosary was held Wednesday in Horan and McConaty Mortuary in Denver. Mass of Christian Burial will be held today in St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church. Burial will be in Highland Cemetery. Dallapietra is survived by her daughter, Anne Gruda of Denver; three grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.
60 years ago – April 19, 1957
Central City Nuggets
Mrs. Mae Cassidy returned from the east last Friday. She is now at her home on Third High Street.
Mr. and Mrs. George Haagenstad left Saturday for North Dakota where they were called by the illness of Mr. Haagenstad’s sister. The children are staying with their grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. C.L. Barker, during their parent’s absence.
Mrs. Mabel Hunt, who is hospitalized at St. Luke’s Hospital, in Denver, is improving, and expects to be home within the next two weeks, which is most pleasing news to her numerous friends.
George Williams was up from Denver Wednesday visiting with his brother, Oscar, and many friends. He has been the caretaker of the Boy Scout Camp near Ward, Colorado, for more than thirty years, and expects to return there next month.
Mrs. Charles Smith, St., of Warren, Ohio, is visiting her son, Major, and Mrs. Charles Smith and family, and getting acquainted with the new grandson.
Died: Thomas Hancock a brother in law of Wm. Grenfell, died Sunday night at his home in Golden. He was about 75 years of age. He was a former resident of Russell Gulch, but has been a resident of Golden for the past thirty years. He is survived by his wife and three daughters. Funeral services were held Wednesday from the Woods Mortuary, with interment in Mt. Olivet Cemetery.
Black Hawk Gold Dust
Mrs. Alice McKenzie returned home Thursday after spending two weeks with relatives in Longmont.
Mrs. Virginia McLaughlin and father in law George McLaughlin drove up from Denver Saturday to visit with friends.
There will be special music at the 11 o’clock Easter Services at the Black Hawk Church, such as a children’s chorus, a mixed quartet, and several solos, to which the public is cordially invited.
Walter Henderson and Victor Dent were up from the valley Sunday on mining business.
Carol and David Kent are with their grandmother, Mrs. Luella Fritz, during the spring vacation from the Denver schools. Miss Kathryn Eccker, teacher in Littleton schools, is also enjoying a week’s vacation.
Sheriff Floyd Campbell, Dr. Fowler, and Coroner Charles Robins were called to the A&G Service Station last Wednesday when a young man was found collapsed in the rest room. After being revived he said he had hitchhiked a long distance and was hungry. Mrs. Grace Eccker gave him some food and he was soon on his way.
Get well wishes are extended to Mrs. Gordon Hollis, Jr., who is in St. Luke’s Hospital recovering from a thyroid operation.
Congratulations to Gwen and Gordon Thomas who will celebrate their 22nd wedding anniversary on Easter Sunday.
Letter to the Editor: Dear Mr. Laird, I wonder if some of the old timers of Gilpin County remember the Mariotti family, or if there are schoolmates of Celia and Marino. We were all pupils in Miss Schefler’s room. Mr. Mariotti worked at the Bobtail Mine at the time of the Sleepy Hollow disaster. The family moved to Franklin, Kansas in the early 1900s. Mrs. Mariotti keeps house for the youngest son, Henry, who is in business there; she will be 91 years young this month and asks about old friends and neighbors. Their home on East 1st High Street was torn down many years ago, but she still has, and cherishes the deed to the old home. Just another example of the loyalty felt by old-timers for the Little Kingdom of Gilpin. Signed, Gertrude Gray.
90 years ago – April 15, 1927
A remarkable series of mild winters in the United States has occurred since the severe winter of 1917-18, according to the Weather Bureau of the United States Department of Agriculture. The winter of 1926-27, just closed, has been in general, and over most of the country, one of the mildest of the long series. Other outstandingly mild winters were those of 1920-21 and 1923-24.
How to Make Picnic Sandwiches by Nellie Maxwell: Clean and remove the intestinal veins from fresh or canned shrimp. Chop fine and take one cupful, packed solidly. Marinate with two tablespoonful’s of French dressing and let sit two hours. Now add one half cupful each of shredded lettuce, watercress, and one fourth cupful chopped green onions. Add the sifted yolks of three hard cooked eggs, along with the finely chopped whites; moisten with mayonnaise and use as a filling on buttered bread.
Born: In Denver, April 11th, 1927, to the wife of Amos B. Clark, a son. Twice to be recorded as “grandpa” in less than a week, is a record that anyone should be proud of. Mrs. Clark will be better remembered by Central residents as Leah Florence Laird.
Died: The Rev. John F. White, organizer and one time president of the First State Bank of Arvada, now the First National Bank, and a pioneer Methodist Episcopal minister of Colorado, died at his home in Arvada on Saturday. His illness covered a period of a little time more than a year, though he had been in poor health from cancer for some time. He retired from the active ministry several years ago, but retained his membership in the Colorado conference. Born at Cornwall, England, December 19th, 1849, the Rev. White received his education there and came to America in 1873, shortly after his marriage. He had been a resident of Colorado since 1876. His wife died about seven years ago. His ministry took him to Silver Plume, Georgetown, Idaho Springs, Black Hawk, Longmont, and finally to Arvada in 1891, where he had since resided.
120 years ago – April 16, 1897
Mr. Joseph Standley, of Denver, the original owner of the famous California Mine, on Quartz Hill, and a large stockholder in the First National Bank of this city, spent a couple of days in this city during the week.
Mr. Eben Smith, one of the bonanza kings of Leadville and Cripple Creek was a visitor to Central on Tuesday, and registered at the Teller House.
Peter C. Johnson, of Boulder, a former businessman of Black Hawk, was shaking hands with old friends during the week.
Peter Daley left on Thursday for Denver where he will enter a hospital for treatment of an injury received years ago while mining.
Frank Mayhew of Nevadaville has sold most of his stock of horses during the past week, among the purchasers being Peter Sonne, Dick Drew, and Wm. Launder.
A force of ten men are employed on night and day shifts at the Ivanhoe Mine on Quartz Hill, driving the east and west levels at a depth of 1,000 feet, which are showing up bodies of mineral larger than ever before since work was started.
A gold retort weighing 18 ounces from 2.75 cords of mill ore, from the First Centennial Mine, in Chase Gulch, was left at the bank the first of the week for shipment to the Denver mint. The product of the mine for March was $5,000, with a small force of men breaking ore. The ore coming out is from a point above the adit driven on the vein, and is running on an average of 7 ounces gold to the cord, with tailings also carrying good values.
A new steel cable, 1,800 feet long was placed on the hoister at the Kansas Mine in Nevadaville during the week.
The work of taking out the water from the Sunnyside Mine in Illinois-Central District, was commenced on Tuesday, and it is expected that the bottom of the mine will be reached by the end of the month. The shaft is 240 feet in depth, and a lift of another 100 feet will be commenced as soon as possible.
Born: In Central City, April 11th, 1897, to the wife of Tony Wetzel, a son.
Born: In Central City, April 13th, 1897, to the wife of P.J. Colan, a daughter.
Born: In Central City, April 12th, 1897, to the wife of John Trathen, a daughter.
Married: In Central City, at the residence of the bride’s parents, April 8th, 1897, Rev. H.B. Cook officiating, Thomas J. Champion to Miss Laura Champion.
Died: In Central City, April 11th, 1897, Mrs. Sara Shulman, aged 34 years.
Died: In Nevadaville, April 15th, 1897, Charles Maddern, aged 42 years.
