Independence Pass, Redsone, and Marble: July 10
I am behind by three days in blogging simply because I have been without Wifi service during that time. However, it is Monday morning, July 13, and I am at the local coffeehouse in Leadville, City Upon A Hill, and am enjoying a hot cup of apple cider, while listening to 30s and 40s band music, all of which is putting me in the mood to write. Speaking of writing, tomorrow marks the debut of Harper Lee's "Go Set a Watchman," and I can hardly await its appearance. Be sure to order your copy soon!
Now back to Friday, July 10. From Leadville we headed towards the towns of Redstone and Marble. However, first we had to cross Independence Pass, which is usually closed November through May. At its top, the altitude stands at 12,095 ft. As we approached the top, winds blew quite fiercely, and there was a stinging rain. The temperature was about 46 degrees, so we did not linger long. The pass spans the Continental Divide and is in the Sawatch range.
As we left the top of the pass, we then made our way to Redstone, listed on the National Register of Historic Places as an historic district. It was established in the late 19th c. by industrialist John Osgood as part of a coal mining enterprise. His coal empire spurred the construction of the Crystal River Railroad and Redstone's historic dwellings. As an experiment in "enlightened industrial paternalism," Osgood constructed 84 cottages and a 40-room inn, all with indoor plumbing and electricity, for his coal miners and cokers, and modern bathhouse facilities, a club house, with library and theatre, and a school. Most of these Craftsman-era Swiss-style cottages are still used as homes. Unmarried workers, during Osgood's era, lived in what is now Redstone Inn. The mining and coking continued until 1909, and the furniture in the inn is still mainly Stickley and Roycroft. very impressive, as we toured the main floor of the inn and then explored one of the art galleries on Main Street, with some very impressive arts and crafts by area artists and artisans.
From there we traveled to Marble, incorporated in 1899. The marble quarried here was and is of exceptional quality, and was used as the marble for the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. The quarry was acquired in 2004 by the Polycor Company, and this high-quality marble is still exported to Europe and Asia. Seven buildings in Marble are on the National Register of Historic Places, and the town is located in a valley of the upper Crystal River , along the Elk Mountains. White marble was discovered by gold seekers in 1873, and the town was incorporated in 1899. It grew to a population of 1400 between 1912 and 1917, which coincided with the heyday of the largest marble finishing mill in the country, the remains of which we toured. We also visited a marble artisan studio and the Marble Community Church, which had been brought from Aspen by railcar in 1908 and reassembled on site. We walked the streets of the hamlet and had lunch there at one of the best barbecue joints I have ever experienced, where we had pulled pork, slaw, beans and Texas toast, all served in a miner's pan. I loved it!
Re-crossing Independence Pass, we found conditions much more amenable, and we actually strolled to a lookout on the top. Sublime views--after I go through all my photos (402 so far, with many more to go), cull, light, and crop the best ones, you will see what I mean by the adjective "sublime." Great day! Greetings to all, Sylvia
Now back to Friday, July 10. From Leadville we headed towards the towns of Redstone and Marble. However, first we had to cross Independence Pass, which is usually closed November through May. At its top, the altitude stands at 12,095 ft. As we approached the top, winds blew quite fiercely, and there was a stinging rain. The temperature was about 46 degrees, so we did not linger long. The pass spans the Continental Divide and is in the Sawatch range.
As we left the top of the pass, we then made our way to Redstone, listed on the National Register of Historic Places as an historic district. It was established in the late 19th c. by industrialist John Osgood as part of a coal mining enterprise. His coal empire spurred the construction of the Crystal River Railroad and Redstone's historic dwellings. As an experiment in "enlightened industrial paternalism," Osgood constructed 84 cottages and a 40-room inn, all with indoor plumbing and electricity, for his coal miners and cokers, and modern bathhouse facilities, a club house, with library and theatre, and a school. Most of these Craftsman-era Swiss-style cottages are still used as homes. Unmarried workers, during Osgood's era, lived in what is now Redstone Inn. The mining and coking continued until 1909, and the furniture in the inn is still mainly Stickley and Roycroft. very impressive, as we toured the main floor of the inn and then explored one of the art galleries on Main Street, with some very impressive arts and crafts by area artists and artisans.
From there we traveled to Marble, incorporated in 1899. The marble quarried here was and is of exceptional quality, and was used as the marble for the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. The quarry was acquired in 2004 by the Polycor Company, and this high-quality marble is still exported to Europe and Asia. Seven buildings in Marble are on the National Register of Historic Places, and the town is located in a valley of the upper Crystal River , along the Elk Mountains. White marble was discovered by gold seekers in 1873, and the town was incorporated in 1899. It grew to a population of 1400 between 1912 and 1917, which coincided with the heyday of the largest marble finishing mill in the country, the remains of which we toured. We also visited a marble artisan studio and the Marble Community Church, which had been brought from Aspen by railcar in 1908 and reassembled on site. We walked the streets of the hamlet and had lunch there at one of the best barbecue joints I have ever experienced, where we had pulled pork, slaw, beans and Texas toast, all served in a miner's pan. I loved it!
Re-crossing Independence Pass, we found conditions much more amenable, and we actually strolled to a lookout on the top. Sublime views--after I go through all my photos (402 so far, with many more to go), cull, light, and crop the best ones, you will see what I mean by the adjective "sublime." Great day! Greetings to all, Sylvia
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