Redstone, Colorado
Up early this morning to head to our next Colorado destination, Redstone. Probably never heard of this small mountain town, but I’m sure you’ve heard of its neighbor, Aspen. Just about 60 miles east of Redstone is the all magnificent town of Aspen, where the beautiful people go. But that’s not where we’re headed. We want to see the historic town of Redstone with a population of roughly 200, and the sites from a grander time. A quick 3 hours and we’re there!
Back in the early 1900’s, this very wealthy gentleman named “John Cleveland Osgood” (with three names you’re either a serial killer or very wealthy), founded this small town to further his enterprise. Known as a “Robber Baron”, John built the town to process coal into coke for his steel mill in Pueblo.
Coke ovens
He did it right. He built an inn so the bachelor workers had a place to live, cottages for the married folk, community buildings to support the families living there, and a Club House for those who enjoy an occasional drink. But before the workers could enjoy the pleasures of the town (no, there was no brothel), they had to bathe. Seems coal processing is a dirty business and John didn’t want that dirt in his town.
The Inn. This was the bachelors housing back in 1900.
Is that a chicken or a hawk?
That was 1902. Somewhere around 1909, after mining over 1 million tons of coal, the mine closed and most everyone left. Not until 1924 did john and his third wife, Lucille, return to Redstone to try and resurrect it into a resort. Alas, John was not to see his efforts come true as he passed away before it could be completed. Lucille did what she could to make things work but the Depression took its toll. By 1941 the town had dwindled down to a population of around 14 people.
Today, Redstone is a little town that enjoys lots of natural amenities such as cross-country skiing, ice climbing, horseback riding, hiking, climbing the “Boulders” and fishing. There are a couple of hot springs, one is located at Avalanche Ranch and charges a fee, the other is free to the public, located at the Penny Hot Springs (just have to be comfortable with a bit of nudity). Collette wanted to hit up Penny Hot Springs but we just don’t have the time.
Downtown Redstone
Buy junk – sell antiques!
After walking around the town and seeing the sites, including all the shops (three of them), we decided to push on to the metropolis of Marble, Colorado. We had no idea what was there but only being about 12 miles away, we thought we’d check it out.
Glad we did. Interesting story about this even smaller town. Seems while everyone was looking for gold and silver back in the 1800’s, they completely missed the obvious fortune sitting right in front of them, marble. Marble, Colorado has some of the finest “marble” in the world! So good that the marble from this small town has been used in the Equitable Building in Manhattan, the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C., the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Washington D.C. and of course, the Capital Building in Denver. The Colorado Yule Marble Company, founded by Frank Meek, began operations back in 1905 and has been closed and reopened many times over the years. Near as we could tell it is still open but operating on a much smaller scale.
Some of the marble carvings available in Marble
And the surprises just keep on comin! On our way back to Fairplay, we stopped in Glenwood Springs to visit the old cemetery. Why? Well, for one reason to see “Doc” Holliday’s grave! Born August 14, 1851, John Henry Holliday grew up in Georgia and later attended dental school in Pennsylvania. After graduating, “Doc” supplemented his income as a dentist by gambling. Soon, he became more of a gambler than dentist which also necessitated the need to become good with a six-shooter, which he did.
Doc hooked up with a sheriff named, “Wyatt Earp” in the early 1880’s and helped rid Tombstone, Arizona of some unfavorable characters at the OK Corral. That was on October 26, 1881, 3:00pm and is known as the famous, “gunfight at the OK corral”. The whole thing lasted around 30 seconds and when it was over, the “Cowboys” gang saw three of the six dead, Billy Clanton and both Tom & Frank McLaury. Ike Clanton, Billy Claiborne and Wes Fuller hauled ass out of there and made their escape. Doc Holliday, Virgil and Morgan Earp were wounded during the skirmish. There’s more to this story but you’re going to have to read about it.
By 1887 Doc had been overcome by tuberculosis. He moved to Glenwood Springs in a last ditch effort for treatment but it was too late. On November 8, 1887, Doc succumbed to his illness and was buried in what was then known as “Pioneer Cemetery”. A little confusing but this cemetery is also known as Linwood Cemetery and Glenwood Cemetery. No wonder the records were lost so no one is absolutely sure which plot holds Doc, but he is here.
Glenwood Springs from the trail to the cemetery
Doc Holliday memorial with items left by visitors
But wait, there’s more! Doc isn’t alone up here on this dusty, rocky hilltop cemetery. No, sir! Along with the good doctor is buried another cowboy legend, Kid Curry! No, he isn’t the guy that made Indian cuisine fashionable back in the 1800’s, he was an outlaw. Kid Curry was part of “The Wild Bunch” responsible for numerous train robberies and other unmentionable acts. Who was the “Wild Bunch” you ask? How about Butch Cassidy, the Sundance Kid and a couple of other guys along with Kid Curry. Pretty famous company, even if they were all criminals.
Another view of Glenwood Springs
Unique tree with ribbons
Harvey A. Logan, Kid Curry, was born in 1867 in Iowa. He spent most of his formative years living with his aunt and his three brothers, Lonny, Johnny and Hank. (Hank? Not Donny or Tommy) Harvey worked as a cowboy breaking horses until he met up with “Flat Nose” George Curry, a bank robber. Later, Harv and his brothers changed their last names and bam, “Kid Curry” was born. That was sometime after 1883.
Kid rode with a couple of outlaws and different gangs before striking out on his own. Trying his hand at gang leadership, Kid and the Gang robbed a few banks, stole some horses, did other bad guy things like kill a sheriff or two, then went back to ranching in Colorado.
But the money just wasn’t the same. Soon the Kid was back at robbing banks and even a post office before joining up with the “Wild Bunch”. A lot goes on during this time but suffice it to say, Kid and the Bunch did a lot of robberies. Coming to the end here. June 7, 1904, Kid and two others had robbed the Denver and Rio Grande train and stole a couple of horses to make their getaway. The owner of the horses, Roll Gardner and his neighbor went after the Kid and his gang. They caught up with them in Parachute, Colorado and a gunfight ensued where Kid was mortally wounded. Rather than be taken into custody, Kid decided to smoke his pistol. So endith the Kid.
Well, that’s it. So much history in one day, time to make way for home and have a cocktail. Tomorrow we’ll start looking for our next day trip to some historic place in beautiful Colorado. Adios amigos!