Justen 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, OttoThe Great Flume going around the hill opposite Mount Guyot (in background), northeast of Breckenridge, Colorado in autumn of 1895. In the snow, a man stands next to the waist-high wooden flume while a dog sits on top. Title quoted from handwritten caption on card mount: "View on Farncom [sic] hill."
Westerman, OttoTitle quoted from handwritten text on the item: "Spring scene of Ten Mile Range from Mount Baldy Road". East of Breckenridge, Colorado. Circa 1966.
Topolnicki Sr., John A.Postcard, "Colorado Photography" by John Topolnicki. Caption on the reverse includes the four (4) b's Breckenridge logo: "Breckenridge At Dawn; I-70/US 6 and Colorado 9; Ski Country; Colorado" and "Breckenridge Ski Area Peaks 8 and 9 in background with a full moon over their summits. Touched by the light of the rising sun. The old mining town turned resort." One of six detachable postcards folded into a packet.
Two 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".
UnidentifiedJon and Betty Jo Ballard pose with Larry Raff (dressed in sheepskin and a Viking-style helmet with horns) to be photographed by John A. Topolnicki Sr. in celebration of Breckenridge's Ullr Dag Festival. A dog moved to sit up just as the photograph was taken. Behind them is the Bergenhof Bar and Restaurant at the base of Peak 8 of the Breckenridge ski area in Colorado.
Topolnicki Sr., John A.A group of people pose on long wooden skis. They hold long wooden poles for balance. The women wear hats and ankle length ruffled skirts and long wool overcoats. One small child is seated on a sled. The snowy mountain peaks of the Tenmile Range are in the background. Title quoted from printed caption on card mount: "Snow-Shoe party in the Rocky Mountains, Breckenridge, Colo, April 10th, 1884. Snow 4 feet deep."
Churchill, W.D.Aerial oblique photograph taken in 1964 shows the town of Breckenridge, Colorado and the Breckenridge Ski Area on Peak 8. Photographic print mounted on board. Quoted from text handwritten on the back of the board: "For Andy Love - To remember his summer of labor on the mountain - 1964! Sincerely, S[illegible] Catlin, Pres. Breckenridge Lands Inc." Also on the board backing is a round Breckenridge Lands Inc. sticker with the mountain sunburst B logo.
UnidentifiedTwo boys pull a sled in the snowy landscape to the east of Edwin Carter's log cabin and museum on Ridge Street, Breckenridge. Town buildings and a view of the snow-capped Tenmile Range in the background.
UnidentifiedPostcard, "Colorado Photography" by John Topolnicki. Caption on the reverse includes the four (4) b's Breckenridge logo: "Breckenridge Ski Area; I-70/US 6 and Colorado 9; Ski Country; Colorado" and "Mach I moguls on Peak 8. Degree of Difficulty - Advanced." One of six detachable postcards folded into a packet.
Topolnicki Sr., John A.A 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.
UnidentifiedLooking west across to Bear Mountain above Sts. John, Colorado. A man snowshoes up the west side of Sullivan Peak (or Geneva Peak). In the Snake River drainage are mine buildings and structures covered in snow. Or, this could be the Pennsylvania mill in Peru Creek, near Montezuma, Colorado.
Sayre, Robert H.Postcard, a "Colorado SPECTA-VUE" by John Topolnicki. Caption on the reverse: "Arapahoe Basin Ski Area; U S 6 - Western Slope of Loveland Pass Colorado - Ski Country U. S. A." and "Alpine skiing on (12,500') Mt. Norway from November to June. Serviced by (3) double chair lifts and (5) Poma lifts."
Topolnicki Sr., John A.View of a snowy landscape from Boreas Pass road on with the Tenmile Range in the background. East of Breckenridge, Colorado. Printed caption across the bottom of the image: "Breckenridge -- Ski Country, U.S.A." On the reverse: "A 'Colorado Specta-Vue' by John Topolnicki".
Topolnicki Sr., John A."Ski Photography Shoppe" on Main Street in Breckenridge, Colorado. Owner John A. Topolnicki, Sr. photographed Colorado backcountry scenes, abandoned mine sites and views of early Breckenridge, Arapahoe Basin, Keystone and Steamboat Springs ski resorts. He turned his photographs into postcards and posters for sale to tourists.
Topolnicki Sr., John A.A young girl looks through a snow tunnel on Main Street, Breckenridge, during the winter of the "Big Snow" of 1898-1899. In the background two women stand in front of the Livery building. Quoted from handwritten text on the reverse: "Big snow 1899".
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 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".
UnidentifiedMain Street, Breckenridge, Colorado on May 10, 1899 with four feet of snow. Title quoted from handwritten caption on card mount: "Main St. Breckenridge four ft of Snow, May 10th 1889."
Westerman, OttoTitle quoted from handwritten text on the item: "Breckenridge Ski Area". Shows skiers on Chairlift 1 and Peak 8 base area facilities. The building on the left is the Bergenhof Bar and Restaurant; on the right is Chairlift 1 lift terminal. Parking lots in background.
Topolnicki Sr., John A.