Colorado Road Trip – Buckskin Joe
It’s been several weeks since our last update, sorry things just got in the way. Now that we have some retirement time back, we decided to do a little exploring around the big city of Alma, Colorado. Alma is about 10 miles from our home so not a long trip but one that is full of history. Founded in 1873 and named after the grocery store owner’s daughter, Alma primarily started as a support town for the mining and smelting operations located in the Mosquito Range Mining District. In its’ heyday approximately 10,000 people called this home, today about 250 are permanent residents. Modern day facts about Alma include their claim to the highest incorporated town in the US, and providing the opportunity for those seeking a legal high, marijuana. Alma has more marijuana shops than a small town deserves but hey, it is on the way to Brackenridge and with no guard rail on Hoosier Pass, guess they’re just doing their part in weeding out (no pun intended) the weak.
We took CR. 8 or Buckskin Road just inside Alma and made our way to the old cemetery that respectfully contains the remains of settlers, soldiers and locals alike. Many of the graves are simply marked with a wood cross, some have metal signs with the name and vital information of the deceased. The more recent additions have headstones recording the life information and sometimes are a little humorous. Quite surprising is the fact that this cemetery spreads across a very large area of woods, I’m guessing at least 4-5 acres. Many of the graves are soldiers from the Civil War era like Col. Daniel M. Clark, enlisted in the 1st Colorado Calvary in 1861 and lived in Fairplay / Alma after the war.
The significance of the cemetery was its proximity to the town of Buckskin Joe. Located just outside the town center, this became the final resting place for many fortune seekers and their children. Established in 1859 during the Colorado Gold Rush, the town was named after Joe Higgenbottom who wore “buckskin” clothing. In 1862, Buckskin Joe was a thriving community. Close to 2,000 residents lived in this mountain mining town consisting of grocery and dry goods stores, an assay office, a courthouse, a mill, three hotels and a few saloons. At this time Buckskin Joe was also the county seat for Park County. This was also a very hard time for residents. Many of the tombstones in the cemetery reflect death from sickness and injuries during this time. One reflects a miner named Thomas Fahey who died in February while attempting to reach his claim but wasn’t found until June and the spring thaw!
The “Hungry 5” Mine
In late 1861, there was an outbreak of smallpox which claimed the lives of many living in Buckskin Joe. We assumed that the grave markers for many of the children from this time were a result of that outbreak. This outbreak is also attributed to the legend of “Silverheels”, a “fancy lady” who worked the saloons of Buckskin Joe and later became the sole caretaker for the town that had fallen into plague. Legend has it that this lady, who sang and danced while wearing silver slippers, was quite an attraction in the town. Most of the towns “good women” would have nothing to do with Silverheels but that didn’t stop the towns “good men” who flocked to see her perform. Unfortunately, with the outbreak of smallpox, most of the towns’ people deserted and went to Denver to wait out the plague. All but Silverheels, that is. She remained and cared for those who were stricken with the disease, even caring for the husbands whose wives had left. But this came with consequences. It’s said that Silverheels finally contracted the disease after helping the town rid itself of this plague. The townspeople were so thankful for the work this “angel” had done, they collected a $5,000.00 as a token of their appreciation for the woman who had helped cure the town. But when they went to give the money to Silverheels, she was nowhere to be found. Her cabin was open, clothes and personal items were still there but Silverheels was gone, never to be seen again. In her honor, the peak overlooking Buckskin Joe was named Mt. Silverheels.
Paris Mill
By 1866 the mill had closed and most of the population moved on to other mining communities. But Buckskin Joe was to live on. In 1958, the town of Buckskin Joe was re-opened to the public in Canon City, Colorado. This “recreated” town was an accumulation of buildings from several ghost towns that were disassembled and reassembled to create the new Buckskin Joe. The town was now a tourist attraction and movie set that for the next 50+ years would showcase frontier life. In 2010 the town was sold to Billionaire William Koch for his personal collection.
Today there is little indication of the town, just a marker placed by the US Forestry Service noting where the town was located. Nothing physical remains, no foundations, no buildings, just a field close to the cemetery. Still it was an interesting adventure, learned a little more history about our area and got out for a beautiful spring day in the Colorado mountains.