Gunnison County Past

Posted Thursday, May 21, 2026 12:00 am

Compiled by Olivia Wilson

145 years ago

“Several new stone buildings are to be erected on our principle Main street lots. The new bridge over the Gunnison river on the west is a very substantial structure.” Hartman Castle, the Gunnison Arts Center and Edgerton House were among some of the buildings built at this time.
“Last Wednesday the water was let into the ditches, many of which were not ready to receive it.”
“Men are at work re-surveying the road for the D. & R.G. between Gunnison and Crested Butte.” The Denver and Rio Grande railway expanded rapidly through the Rockies in 1881, famous for their narrow gauge lines that assisted with mining camp access.
“A batch of 200 Mormon railroaders are now enroute from Utah to push the grade between the tunnel and Pitkin, and present indications we shall have lively times here this summer.”
“The price of license per year for a male dog has changed from $2 to $3; and the price for a female dog is $6. The other ordinances referring to dogs will go into effect next Monday, all dogs found on the street without license will be put into the pound for 24 hours, and if not called for at the expiration of that time will be killed.”

125 years ago

“The Rio Grande has had about 150 cars of anthracite coal standing in the yards here which is now being shipped out to various points.” Most coal at this time was sent to Pueblo to fuel the Colorado Fuel and Iron smelters.
“Mary R. Graff has purchased the old St. James hotel and lot located on lower Main street from C.T. sills for $1000 and is fixing up a first-class lodging house.”
“Vulcan has much to hope from its development, as all the work on the property, wherever done, has met with the best results, and it is the intention of this company to do thorough work upon it this season.” By 1906, the Vulcan mines had pretty much run out of gold, so they began instead extracting the sulfur, which caused an extraordinary number of fires and explosions, and the mines officially closed down in 1920.

“C.T. Rawalt, editor of the Gunnison Empire, seems to be the only newspaper man in Colorado who was willing to go on record as favoring the return of light wines and beers to the state. Rawalt has always been opposed to the present prohibition law, so it is not at all strange that he would be signing the petition along with 99 others to have the proposition resubmitted to the voters next fall.” Despite his best efforts, prohibition wasn’t officially ended until 1933.
“The First National Bank of Gunnison has been organized with L. Cheney as president, M. Coppinger, cashier, and C.E. McConnell, assistant cashier.”
“Joe Eilebrecht lost a fine cow by lightning last Sunday during a storm. This makes six or more head of stock Mr. Eilebrecht has lost from the same cause in the past three years.”