A boy stands in the snowy landscape outside the schoolhouse on Harris Street in Breckenridge, Colorado, circa 1898. Built in 1882, the two-story wood frame schoolhouse featured a bell and bell tower centered on the simple gable roof, and a shed addition on the south side. Brick chimneys rise from both gable ends and sash windows are pedimented throughout. Next door is a side gable frame house. In the foreground is a wooden sidewalk running along the east side of Harris Street. The schoolhouse was torn down and replaced with a brick structure in 1909.
UnidentifiedA young boy sits on the snow above a man leaning against a snowbank along the railroad tracks that serviced the Kilton Gold Reduction Company ore sampler, west of Breckenridge, Colorado, during the "Big Snow" of 1898-1899.
UnidentifiedA person navigates a path in the deep snowdrifts in front of the Gaymon's and Tressler's houses on the west side of Main Street, Breckenridge, Colorado, during the "Big Snow" of 1898-1899.
UnidentifiedA snow sculpture representing Ull, the Norse god of winter and skiing, in front of The Ski Photography Shoppe, Topolnicki's business on Main Street in Breckenridge, Colorado. Most likely sculpted for the winter celebration of Ullr Dag (Ullr Fest).
Topolnicki Sr., John A.A woman and young girl are standing in the snowy landscape to the east of Edwin Carter's log cabin and museum on Ridge Street, Breckenridge. Looking west with a view of Peak 8 of the Tenmile Range in the background. Circa 1898-1899.
UnidentifiedA woman stands with a girl and boy outside a snow tunnel crossing Main Street, Breckenridge, Colorado, in the winter of the "Big Snow" of 1898-1899. The stone front of Charles A. Finding's hardware store is in view behind them.
UnidentifiedA woman stands under a snow-covered evergreen outside her home in Breckenridge on December 25, 1899. Tracks in the snow lead to the open front door. The one and half story frame house featured a multi-gable roof.
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 woman wearing a hat and fur-collared coat stands at the end of a deep trench 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: "View from y'd at G.B. Watsons April 20th '99".
UnidentifiedA 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, OttoAerial 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.
UnidentifiedNumbering about 80 mounted and unmounted albumen prints, most are by Breckenridge photographer Otto Westerman. Included among the collection are photographs related to the Finding family, such as portraits of both Agnes (Finding) Miner and her mother, Martha (Silverthorn) Finding, the Finding family posed in front of their Breckenridge home, and Charles A. Finding's hardware store on Main Street, Breckenridge. Of interest are the albumen prints dating from the late 1890s that were showcased in a small 12 panel album. Removed for preservation purposes, these prints are of local residents and snowy landscapes taken during the “Big Snow” of 1898-1899. Several photographs are of men, women, and children either posed near or peering through the openings of snow tunnels that were used to access Main Street, Breckenridge businesses.
Miner, Agnes E. (Finding)Breckenridge, Colorado, looking west, with a view of the snowy peaks of the Tenmile Range in the background. A dirt road winds through the trees in the foreground. Circa 1882-1909.
UnidentifiedView of the town of Breckenridge at dawn. Looking southeast with snow-covered Bald Mountain in the background.
Topolnicki Sr., John A.Title quoted from handwritten text on the item: "Breckenridge Ski Area and Breckenridge at Dawn". Colorado, circa 1967.
Topolnicki Sr., John A.Snowy landscape view of the town of Breckenridge, Colorado, and the Tenmile Range at dawn.
Topolnicki Sr., John A.Title quoted from handwritten text on the item: "Daybreak at Breckenridge Ski Area and Breckenridge". Colorado, circa 1967.
Topolnicki Sr., John A.Edwin Carter's log cabin and museum in Breckenridge during the winter of 1899. The one story front gable log cabin with shed addition was built in 1875. The fenced property also included a secondary structure (log outbuilding) on the south side. Snow-covered town buildings and the Tenmile Range in the background.
UnidentifiedEdwin Carter's log cabin house and museum on Ridge Street in Breckenridge during the winter. The one story front gable log cabin with shed addition was built in 1875. A wooden split rail fence encloses the snow-covered property. Town buildings and a view of snowy Tenmile Range in the background. Title quoted from handwritten text on the reverse: "The old Carter museum showing Peak 8 Breckenridge". Circa 1900s.
Westerman, OttoYoung Ella Foote, dressed in an overcoat, bonnet and scarf, uses a pole for balance and wooden skis to cross Main Street, Breckenridge, Colorado. During the "Big Snow" event of 1898-1899 heavy snowfall reached the second story of most buildings. In view is the false-front of R.C. McKillip Livery and the bell tower of Fireman's Hall. Left foreground shows part of the Denver Hotel's covered portico.
Unidentified