Carl Fulton, holding two rock picks, and Charley Snyder, smoking a pipe, stand in front of a rough hewn log structure on Main Street, Swandyke, Colorado. The two-story log building (left) may be A.W. Coffin's Summit Hotel, later owned and managed by Fulton in 1902.
UnidentifiedThe Risdon No. 1 dredge under construction on the lower Swan River, north of Breckenridge, Colorado. Built by The North American Gold Dredging Company in early 1898, the dredge began operating by the middle of May that same year. It was dismantled in the autumn of 1899.
UnidentifiedJusten 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, OttoGough's house and secondary structures (outbuildings) in Breckenridge, Colorado, are almost buried under snow during the winter of the "Big Snow" of 1898-1899. Quoted from handwritten text on reverse: "Gough's house from the hill".
UnidentifiedSnow almost reaches the second story of houses on the west side of North Main Street in Breckenridge during the "Big Snow" winter of 1898-1899. From left to right: Mr. Christy's house, Oren K. and Augusta Gaymon's house, and Mrs. James Tressler's house.
UnidentifiedThe Finding residence on North Main Street, Breckenridge. Charles stands beside the open gate and his wife Martha holds the reins of a horse on the front lawn. Their daughters, Charline Antoinette "Tonnie" (in dark dress) and Agnes (wearing a striped dress under a white pinafore) stand on the street side of the fence. Laying on the ground between them are two dogs, probably the family's pets. An unpainted picket fence encloses the tree-covered property and in the front yard is a large water fountain.
UnidentifiedA young girl stands in the doorway of a rough hewn log structure. Handwritten on the reverse: "This may be the telegraph station on Boreas Pass" and photographer's stamp: "O. Westerman, Photographer, Breckenridge, - Colorado." Circa 1890s.
Westerman, OttoSnow cleared from the railroad tracks and spur that serviced the Kilton Gold Reduction Company ore sampler west of Breckenridge, Colorado, in the winter of the "Big Snow" of 1898-1899. Quoted from print on reverse: "RR yds Breckenridge 1899".
UnidentifiedA woman wearing a hat and fur-collared coat stands at the end of a path cleared in the snow outside of George Watson's house in Breckenridge, Colorado. Looking east with Barney Ford Hill and Bald Mountain (Mount Baldy) in the background. Handwritten caption on the reverse: "Breckenridge Big Snow 1899".
UnidentifiedA house in Breckenridge, Colorado, is covered in snow during the "Big Snow" winter of 1898-1899. Captioned on the reverse: "House in Breckenridge 1899".
Westerman, OttoMain Street, Breckenridge, buried under snow during the "Big Snow" event of 1898-1899. Snow tunnels were used to access businesses because heavy snowfall had reached the second story of most buildings. The upper half of R.C. McKillif's false-fronted Livery business is in view across the street. Two dogs and people stand outside on the snow-covered boardwalk. Quoted from text handwritten on the reverse: "Main Street February 5th 1899. Breckenridge Miner (Miner)".
Westerman, OttoSnowy landscape view of Breckenridge, Colorado, looking east toward the railroad tracks on Barney Ford Hill. Plumes of smoke are visible rising from the rotary snowplow railroad engines. Bald Mountain in the background. Handwritten on the reverse: "Last train out of Breckenridge beginning of the 78 day blockade Feb 5 at noon showing rotary 1899". During the "Big Snow" event of 1898-1899.
Westerman, OttoTwo girls stand in the entrance of a snow tunnel during the winter of the "Big Snow" of 1898-1899. They wear berets and are dressed in wool coats with fur-trimmed capelet. Behind them is the Livery building on the east side of Main Street, Breckenridge. Handwritten on the reverse: "One of my best efforts".
UnidentifiedA shoveled path in the deep snow leads to the back entrance of the Gough's house in Breckenridge, Colorado during the winter of the "Big Snow" event in 1898-1899.
UnidentifiedA man stands on top of the snow where a tunnel has been dug to access the Boreas post office, on the Boreas Pass route to Breckenridge. A shovel leans against the tunnel entrance, above a sign is stuck in the snow with the words: "Post Office". Printed on the lower right corner of the photograph is: "50 ft. Tunnel to P.O." Handwritten on the reverse: "Top of Boreas Pass" and "Miner[?]". Photographer's stamp: "O. Westerman. Photographer, Breckenridge, - Colorado."
Westerman, OttoView looking through the wood-framed railroad snowshed on Boreas Pass, along the Boreas Pass route from Como to Breckenridge, Colorado. Handwritten on the reverse: "Snowshed - Boreas Pass" and stamped "O. Westerman, Photographer, Breckenridge, - Colorado."
Westerman, OttoA photographer's contact sheet. From top, left to right: Alpine Pass near Palisades; view of Tenmile Range from Boreas Pass Route; group of people, unknown; railway snowshed on Boreas Pass; two boys near the D&RG railroad tracks in Frisco, Colorado; mountains, unknown; group of people, unknown; railroad hookeye curve; cabin, unknown; "Tom's Baby"; view of Breckenridge from Barney Ford Hill; mine adit and two men, unknown; cabin and smaller structure, unknown; mountain valley, unknown; view of Breckenridge and Barney Ford Hill, probably from Fredonia Peak (gulch at the base of Red Mountain); mountain valley, unknown; rock cairn; Breckenridge.
UnidentifiedPeople on or above the rotary snow plow stopped in one of the cuts through the deep snow drifts at Boreas Pass, east of Breckenridge, Colorado. Standing on the tracks below, a man holds a shovel high against the exposed side walls to show the snow depth. With him is another man and a boy with two dogs. Circa April 1899.
Westerman, OttoLog cabins and structures are buried under deep snow, somewhere near Breckenridge, Colorado.
Westerman, OttoStudio portrait photograph of Agnes Eleanor Finding, daughter of Charles and Martha (Silverthorn) Finding. She wears a bow high in her hair. Handwritten on the reverse is "Mrs. Agnes Miner (?) Breckenridge". Circa 1880s-1890s.
Unidentified