The community was established in 1880 and was originally called Marshalltown, named after nearby Marshall Pass. In 1882 the community was renamed Sargents after Joseph Sargent, a local cattleman and the settlement's first postmaster.
The Tomichi Creek Trading Post is located in Sargents, Colorado, right off the Continental Divide at an elevation of 8,478 feet.
The Slopper Burger
Grilled sourdough smothered in green chili sauce, topped with cheddar jack cheese
The town owed its existence to the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad which reached Marshalltown in 1881. The railroad line crossed the Continental Divide over Marshall Pass and descended 17 miles to Marshalltown before following Tomichi Creek west to Gunnison. This line of the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad ultimately connected Denver, Colorado with Salt Lake City, Utah and points farther west. The station in Sargents was home to helper engines that were used to assist heavily laden trains over the pass. The Sargents station had a roundhouse, a turntable, and a water tank. It was an important depot for the export of mine ore and lumber produced in the area, and it was also used by passengers traveling to and from the mining camps and towns in the upper Tomichi Creek valley.
The population of Sargents greatly diminished when the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad discontinued passenger service in 1940 and completely abandoned the line in 1955. Partially offsetting the loss of the railroad was the construction of the transcontinental U.S. Highway 50. In 1939 the new highway was routed over the Continental Divide at nearby Monarch Pass and southwestward down Agate and Tomichi Creeks and through Sargents. The community still maintains some roadside services for highway travelers.
In August 1890, disaster struck. On the 26th, about 9 pm, G. A. Metzker was reading a newspaper in front of the shaft house of the Magna Charta tunnel. Suddenly, an explosion ripped through the community, with only Wm. Pape, a miner, as a witness. The boiler had exploded. A local engineer could offer no explanation - the boiler had recently been inspected and was operating well below capacity.
Looking north to Hancock Pass from Tomichi Pass
View of the Palisades again. The Palisades is a retaining wall built of hand-cut stones without the use of mortar. The retaining wall is 432 feet in length and 33 feet in height, with spectacular views.
At an elevation of 9,242 feet, twenty eight miles northeast of Gunnison on the Quartz Creek, lies Pitkin, Colorado. Pitkin is located on the old D & S P Railroad line in Gunnison County. The scenic Quartz Creek is formed by the junction of the North, South, and Middle Fox Creeks and winds its way through this peaceful town.
Pitkin was founded by Frank Curtiss, George P. Chiles and Wayne Scott in early 1879. Pitkin, originally named Quartzville, was Colorado's first mining camp west of the Continental Divide. By March 1, 1879, Curtiss, Chiles and Scott, along with Zeb Watson and W. W. Wolfe began laying the foundation for the first building ever to be erected in this camp.
The town, which is situated on an alpine meadow one mile long and one quarter mile wide, was incorporated on August 11, 1879, when it was renamed Pitkin after Governor Frederick W. Pitkin.
Former Rail Depot now used as a private residence
City Hall - 1900
Ohio City
In 1881, Ohio City was surveyed and platted. The following year, the Denver, South Park and Pacific Railroad was built through the town. After the collapse of the silver market in 1893 the community dwindled in population. Today Ohio City is a semi ghost town, situated northeast of Gunnison next to Piktin. A few original buildings and some current residents remain.
Ohio City Town Hall - Built 1906
Though it name implies otherwise, the Ohio City Town Hall originally housed the Baer Boss Mercantile and subsequently a restaurant before the Town of Ohio City bought the property for use as a town hall in 1914. The late Victorian vernacular building features a false wood front, vertical board-and-batten siding, and a unique corner entrance.
Along the Quartz Creek Valley, between the towns of Parlin and Ohio City is a large rock formation that resembles a Native American profile.
The outcome of this railroad construction race to Gunnison typified the style and determination of General Palmer, where tremendous capital expenditure in labor and machinery resulted in an outdistanced competitor. In August, 1881, Gunnison was reached by way of the Marshall Pass route, an engineering accomplishment facilitated by the fact that Palmer had purchased the existing toll road over the pass from Otto Mears at a price of $13,000, making the grading for a railroad inexpensive and less time consuming. We are driving on what was once the Otto Mears toll road.
Part of the large Bonanza Mining District
It started raining so we ducked inside to stay mostly dry depending on where you stood
This tree gave it's life and helped build this mill
When the log is not quite long enough you just make one of these
Exchequer Townsite
Superior Mine
Mount Manitou - Elevation 12,093
Colorado Belle Mine
Alder Creek
Old Monarch Pass - Elevation 11,375 ft
Old Monarch Pass was actually the second Monarch Pass. It opened in 1921, and was engineered for "automobiles". The original pass was a toll-road which opened in 1880. It was traveled by wagon or stagecoach, and crosses what is now the Monarch Ski Area. Today it is referred to as "Old Old Monarch Pass". Present-day Monarch Pass (elevation 11,312') was opened in 1939. Each new pass was re-routed to reduce sharp curves, increase safety, and shorten the distance. The first two Monarch Passes were closed in winter, which isolated Gunnison. By the late 1930's, there was a need to have a pass which was open year-round. Present-day Monarch Pass was opened under considerable controversy, however. In order to reduce the numerous hairpin curves of Old Monarch Pass and build the road in the sunniest locations, two local historic cemeteries were destroyed. Also, the state highway engineer at the time, Charles Vail, named the pass "Vail Pass" after himself. Local residents were outraged, and tore down all the new "Vail Pass" signs. The governor finally stepped in and reinstated the name "Monarch Pass".
Garfield Mine @ County Road 228
Wild turkeys entertained us during lunch
Historic townsite of Shavano - Founded 1879
Pride of the West Mine
Pride of the West Tunnel
This has to be the best mine portal ever. Fantastic granite stonework with a capstone inscribed "Pride of the West 1880". A two story hotel was beside the tunnel when it was in operation.
When the arch (entrance) was built, an Irishman by the name of Regan was the chief stone mason. The impressive entrance was used as the backdrop by photographers taking pictures for prospective investors from back east or wherever. The mine itself was not much of a producer and anyone who did invest lost their money.
Billings Lake
Based on the door this looks like it might have been an explosives shed
Original mine entrance
With the collapsing of the original opening this is now the entrance
When I saw this trundle bed frame it made me think this cabin might not be that old. Growing up my sister and I had a trundle bed in our room. So I googled it and learned that the trundle bed has been around since the 16th century, and the bed remained in common use until the early 19th century. Trundle bed, a low bed, that were attached to the feet or side so that it could be pushed under the master bed when it was not in use. The bed was intended for servants, who used to sleep in their employer’s room so as to be near at hand.
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