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| Silverton, 1874 |
Courtesy, Library of Congress
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San Juan Skyway
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Segment 4: A Tale of Two Towns
Mining in Silverton and Ironton
Standards-Based Themes: Check chart
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Summary
By the 1880s the mining-based economy in the San Juan Mountains was gathering strength. In the Red Mountain mining district, the town of Silverton flourished. Founded in 1874, Silverton is the oldest continuous settlement in the San Juan Mountains. In addition to mining activities, the community of Silverton contained smelters, mills, and the railroad. The town was also the home of the county government. In 1893, when the price of silver fell dramatically, Silverton was able to hold much of its population because it had developed a diversified economy. The fact that gold was discovered in and around Silverton also helped sustain the economy. Of the gold boom, the Silverton Weekly Miner of January 1, 1897 wrote: |
- Within the last six years, there has been a revolution. The brawn and sinew of the husky miner has given way to the air drill; that faithful though lazy and indifferent animal the burro, has willingly given over to the Bleichert and Huson tramway system the burdens of freighting. Today if you go to Silverton, you hear no talk save of gold mines. White metal is out of fashion and is not searched for as eagerly as in the days before the unpleasantness of 1893.
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By 1897 one half of the mineral
output was gold—with silver, copper, and lead making up the
rest. Once home to more than 3,000 people, Silverton is now home
to about 1,500 permanent residents.
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| Silverton |
Courtesy, Colorado Historical Society
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| Just across the mountain from Silverton is
the abandoned, or ghost, town of Ironton. Prosperous in the 1880s,
Ironton was once home to more than 300 people. General stores, a
post office, schools, and of course numerous saloons lined the main
street of Ironton. The Red Mountain Mining Journal, December 31,
1887, provides the following description of Ironton: |
- Like a diamond in a beautiful setting lies the little village of Ironton in a picturesque little park surrounded by treasure laden mountains. A number of God’s own people inhabit this beautiful dell, sorrow and strife do not exist there, while peace and plenty reign supreme.
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| However, economic disaster lurked just underground in Ironton. Almost totally dependent on silver mining, Ironton suffered greatly when the price of silver declined. In 1893, people began leaving Ironton. Although some gold was later discovered, by 1910 only 48 people remained. In 1920 the post office closed and the town was finally abandoned. |
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