Looking north at the buildings lining the west side of Main Street, Breckenridge, during the 1898-1899 winter of the "Big Snow". On the reverse is handwritten: "Breckenridge Colo winter 1899".
UnidentifiedMen and women sit or stand at the entrance of a snow tunnel used to access the Denver Hotel on the west side of Main Street, Breckenridge, Colorado, during the "Big Snow" of 1898-1899. Snowfall totaled over 32 feet that winter; it was so deep it reached the hotel's second-floor balcony.
UnidentifiedCharles A. Finding (left) and another man stand in the doorway of Finding's redstone-front hardware store. A coal burning or parlor stove is visible through the open door. Etched in the glass window above the doorway is "C.A. Finding"; painted across the window frame are the words "Stoves, Tinware, Steam & Gas Fittings, Rope, Iron, Steel and Nails". The reflection of buildings across the street is visible in the large storefront windows. Adjacent the sidewalk and street is a standing water spigot. Quote from handwritten text on the reverse: "Finding Hardware Store - Mrs. Miner's father".
UnidentifiedTrain depot and railroad tracks on Boreas Pass, east of Breckenridge. A man leans against a wood utility pole flanked by two walls of snow that reach the gable of the depot building behind him. In the background are snow-covered mountains. Handwritten on the reverse: "Top of Boreas Pass, Depot, remains of snow tunnel" and stamped "O. Westerman, Photographer, Breckenridge, Colorado". Circa 1899.
Westerman, OttoLog cabins and structures are buried under deep snow, somewhere near Breckenridge, Colorado. Title quoted from handwritten text on the reverse: "Telegraph station at Boreas Pass" and "No. - Never this many cabins at Boreas." Stamped twice: "O. Westerman, Photographer, Breckenridge, - Colorado."
Westerman, OttoLooking west from High Street down Lincoln Avenue in Breckenridge, Colorado, circa 1890-1899. The two-story frame schoolhouse on Harris Street stands prominently in view. Built in 1882, the school featured a bell tower centered on the multi-gabled roof. The large white frame building in the left background is St. Mary's Catholic Church on French Street, before it had a bell tower (installed in 1899). Far right, on the north end of French Street is Father Dyer United Methodist Church, at its original location before the courthouse was built on the same lot in 1908.
Westerman, OttoStudio portrait photograph of Martha (Silverthorn) Finding, wife of Charles A. Finding and resident of Breckenridge, Colorado.
Looking north at the trench through avalanche debris from the Curtin avalanche path just south of Frisco, Colorado, in the Ten Mile Canyon. Circa 1889-1900. Note the man standing next to the railroad tracks in the right foreground. Quoted from text handwritten on the reverse: "effects of snow slide in Ten Mile Canyon showing open cut of slide (could be the Curtin slide - FBR)".
Westerman, OttoRailroad tracks from Breckenridge, Colorado leading to Boreas Pass, near Rocky Point. Handwritten on the reverse "Rocky Point - West side Boreas Pass." View of Tenmile Range in the background. Circa 1880-1900.
UnidentifiedA man and several women stand on the full length balcony that tops the portico of a two story, side gable building in Montezuma, Colorado. Above them a sign has the words: "Bullion King of Montezuma". On the covered wooden boardwalk fronting the building two men lean against the column posts. Flanking both sides are a rough hewn log cabin (left) and a one story, front gable wooden building or house (right). Mountains in the background.
Westerman, OttoNorthwest view overlooking the town of Breckenridge, Colorado, and the hookeye curve of the railroad tracks below Barney Ford Hill. Quoted from handwritten text on the reverse: "Breckenridge in NW, Nigger Hill, center. Hookeye curve foreground". Circa 1882-1890s.
UnidentifiedStudio portrait photograph of an elderly Martha (Silverthorn) Finding wearing a woven hat adorned with roses, ribbon and metal brooch with small chain. Her dark bodice is constructed of an embroidered high-neck collar and vertical flat pleats and lacing down the front placket. The simple pleated shoulders are trimmed with fabric buttons. Circa 1880s-1900s
The frame has a raised design of dragons. Tacked to the back of the frame is a small metal plaque engraved with "Made in Japan." Enclosed in the frame was a portrait photograph of Martha (Silverthorn) Finding, wife of Charles A. Finding and hidden behind this photograph was another portrait of an elderly Martha (Silverthorn) Finding.
UnidentifiedView of a rock retaining wall and the Denver, South Park and Pacific (DSP&P) narrow gauge railroad tracks on the way down from the Alpine Tunnel on Alpine Pass near Pitkin, Colorado. Paywell Mountain stands in the background. Handwritten on the reverse "Palisades at Alpine Pass near Pitkin DSP&P RR." Stamped "O. Westerman, Photographer, Breckenridge, - Colorado."
Westerman, OttoThe second page from the photo album with a handwritten and signed inscription. Designates Pauline W. Merritt as the recipient of the album as a gift from her brother, J. Frank Willis, and later as a gift from Pauline to her son. Quoted from handwritten text: "Pauline W. Merritt from her brother J. Frank Willis." and in different script "Given by Pauline W. Merritt to her son Jesse Frank Merritt named for her brother J. Frank Willis. 1937"
Willis, J. FrankView of the train trestle or railway bridge over the Ten Mile Creek in the Ten Mile Canyon, near Frisco, Colorado. Railroad tracks run along the creek and up the canyon. Fallen trees, rocks and other debris in the foreground, probably the aftermath of a snow slide or avalanche. Title quoted from handwritten caption on card mount: "View in tenmile Canon [sic], the Land of snow Slides."
Westerman, OttoMount Silverheels, Park County, Colorado. Title quoted from handwritten caption on card mount: "Mount Silverheels, near Breckenridge."
Westerman, OttoMonument made from a pile of rocks on the summit of Bald Mountain, east of Breckenridge, Colorado. Snow-covered peaks of the Ten Mile Range in the background. Title quoted from handwritten caption on card mount: "Monument erected by Tourists on the Summit of Bould [sic] Mountain."
Westerman, OttoJessie Mine and Mill in Gold Run, northeast of Breckenridge, Colorado. Title quoted from handwritten caption on card mount: "Exterior view of a gold mine."
Westerman, OttoSnow fences next to railroad tracks, west of Boreas Pass, near Breckenridge, Colorado with a view of the Tenmile Range in the distance. Title quoted from handwritten caption on card mount: "The Mountains as they look coming from Boreas pass, toward Breckenridge."
Westerman, Otto