A 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, OttoNumbering 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)During the "Big Snow" event of 1898-1899, Ezra Stewart, in dark cape overcoat and hat, and his wife, Ada, walk a dog with William Briggle on the snowy road in front of Briggle's snow-loaded house on Harris Street in Breckenridge, Colorado.
UnidentifiedEzra Stewart, wearing a cape overcoat and hat, stands in almost waist deep snow outside Hawkins' cabin on the corner of Lincoln Avenue and Ridge Street, Breckenridge, Colorado. In view (center right) is the Fireman's Hall building, with a bell tower and adjacent hose drying tower. Snowy Tenmile Range in the background. During the "Big Snow" of 1898-1899.
UnidentifiedGough'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".
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.
UnidentifiedSnowy 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, OttoLooking north on snow-covered Main Street, Breckenridge, during the winter of the "Big Snow" of 1898-1899. False front and wood frame buildings line both sides of the street. In the left foreground, Ezra Stewart, wearing a dark cape overcoat and hat, stands on top of a tall snowbank in front of the Arlington Hotel.
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, OttoMelting snowbank exposes a tunnel on the west side of Main Street, Breckenridge, in April 1899. A man interacts with a dog in the foreground. Behind them stands two false-front buildings and the side gabled Silverthorn Hotel. "April 14th, '99" is handwritten on the reverse.
UnidentifiedTwo men shovel snow from the entrance to the Boreas post office and telegraph station, on top of Boreas Pass on the route to Breckenridge, Colorado. Handwritten on the reverse: "scene of the snow blockade showing the Boreas Pass Post Office and telegraph station 11500 feet above sea level 1899" and in the lower corner: "G.W".
UnidentifiedMen watch the rotary snowplow clear snow from the railroad tracks on Boreas Pass, east of Breckenridge, Colorado. Handwritten on the reverse: "Clearing Boreas Pass Big Snow 1899".
UnidentifiedTall snow banks flank the sides of a shoveled path leading to a house in Breckenridge, Colorado, during the "Big Snow" winter of 1898-1899. Minnie Roby, dressed in a hat, scarf and long coat, stands on the cleared path. A man and woman (probably Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert) are at the front door.
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.
UnidentifiedHardcover photograph album. Single photographs inserted into a paper enclosure sleeve; each sleeve has an open viewing window that frames the image. Title quoted from handwritten text on the inside cover: "Snow Scenes around Breckenridge, Colo. Winter 1899". The front and back cover have a purple floral print on a green background. "Photos" is embossed in silver print on the front cover. The spine has a wide band with a silver embossed pattern on a cream background.
View 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, 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 convoy of train engines on snowy Boreas Pass head for Breckenridge, Colorado. Handwritten on the reverse: "Probably the relief train comi[ng] on top Boreas Pass heading for Breckenridge 1899".
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