Architectural Inventory Form for 100 South Harris Street, Breckenridge, Colorado. Historic building name: Fletcher House. Date of construction (estimate): 1880.
Cultural Resource Historians LLCJusten G. "Jess" Oakley and Eli Fletcher carry the mail down snow-covered Main Street, Breckenridge, during the "Big Snow" event of 1898-1899. The men volunteered to ski over Boreas Pass to Como, where the Denver, South Park and Pacific (DSP&P) railway was stopped. Heavy snowstorms prevented trains from delivering mail, fresh food and other supplies. Quoted from handwritten text on the reverse: "US mail via snow shoe winter of the 78 day blockade".
Westerman, OttoBreckenridge, Colorado, circa 1867. Log buildings and cabins line the west side of the rocky, dirt packed Main Street. The two story, side gable log building is the 1862-built Silverthorn Hotel. A covered horse-drawn carriage is stopped out front. More wagons pulled by horses or oxen crowd the street. In the foreground a young boy (possibly Eli Fletcher) sits on a tree stump. In view (far right) is a pump and trough for horses and oxen (removed in 1881).
UnidentifiedElmer C. Peabody dedicated this typed manuscript to his granddaughters in 1952. In it, he shares his memories of the "Big Snow" of 1898-1899 as a fourteen year old boy living in Breckenridge. Of particular interest is Elmer's description of "snow bikes". Also, he tells about mail delivery and transportation by skis, low food supplies and Mrs. Kaiser's cow, and dances held at G.A.R. Hall and Fireman's Hall.
Peabody, Elmer Clifton