See your name in lights. Read your message and those from others.
Just keep it clean and decent as this site is family friendly and everyone can view your comments. Please include a first name, handle or nickname plus a city/state. (and forgive the idiots that spam and think it is okay to list every url they are affiliated with)
If you want a response you have to provide an email address. THANKS - Rocky
Archives of comments through December of 2006 can be found here. Ghost Towns guest book log.
Thursday, November 20, 2008
I just came across your site, and saw your pictures of Keota...I was there a few years ago, and it was fun looking at your pictures -- I took many of the same ones you did! Some were even from the same angle! I love visiting ghost towns myself! Anyway, I just wanted to let you know that I love your site and all your photos! Sandy -- Johnstown, CO (email: sm12970@aol.com)
Monday, November 17, 2008
I just took a trip in October 2008 up Rollins Pass from the west side with my boyfriend and his family. We drove up to the sign that tells about Rollins Pass. We could've driven all the way to the Needle's Eye tunnel but it was getting late and we wanted to head back down. Oh yeah, it was in a Dodge Caravan! :-P It was a rental and we had a family friend from the area who is an experienced off-roader drive it. We got to the top and saw someone in an old pickup truck with a camper shell camping out up there. Brr! It is really beautiful up there at the top of the world. Its exactly like it was describe so long ago! As you're driving along you can see parts of the old snow sheds and buildings that were at the top of the pass. The conditions were great! The ride was a bit bumpy from time to time. Definitely would recommend using a 4 wheel drive vehicle unless the conditions are absolutely perfect.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
I really enjoy reading through your descriptions. what a nice thing you have done to collect all your experiences into writing. Preethi website: www.giftedhandswriting.com
Monday, November 10, 2008
You should go to Creede,colorado and follow the road out through the cliffs because it is really preety back there.And there is a lake called Browns lake about 45 miles out from Creede in the lake city direction.There is a secrect waterfall but not really secrect on the right of it and it is a dirt road but it is kinda hard to get to it but it is worth it you can get some great picture.
Sunday, November 02, 2008
This website is great! Thanks for putting up all these photos! Have you considered adding photos of Waldorf, CO?
Rocky writes Good suggestion - Next update. If you have some send them.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Rocky- Great site, just my kind of exploring, thanks an keep up the great web. Daryl aka rv`ing prospector
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Hi, after living and growing up in the area (Greeley & Ft Morgan), I finallay took a late sunday afetrnoon trip out there. Pretty neat place. I love poking around old ruins, ghost towns, cemetaries, etc., to discover a sense of life a century or more ago. I've been all over the mountains in Wyoming and Colorado, as well as out on the eastern plains, and, I wasn't dissapointed at Keota. Came yahoo'd it, found this site. CoooooooL! Dan, ac0bl, Gilcrest
Monday, October 13, 2008
Rocky - What a great trip you must have had to Alaska. I envy you and your wife. Sounds like a trip of a life time. Kennecott Ghost Town Alaska sounds like a wonderful place. I also enjoyed the humor in your "Minor Bear Encounter" story.
Rocky writes - So did my wife, of course my insurance policies are all up to date......
Sunday, October 05, 2008
Russell Gulchers past & present contact Jerry C. denbro@bellsouth.net
Sunday, October 05, 2008
Hi John K. I lived in the yellow house on the Pewabic (which I painted dark brown) from 1980-about '84. I was cruising google earth to see how the gulch is holding up and remembering when. I googled russell gulch & came up with this site & there you were. There can hardly be another John K. in the gulch. I'm retired & living in n. fl. I checked out the weather you've got coming your way & I'm glad I'm here. But I do miss the mountains. When I lived on the pewabic Bill Griffith owned it but he passed away around '95. Bill was married to my sister. I don't know who owns that property now. Doc was murdered back then & Luke Clyburn disappeared. I hope you'll contact me, John K. Are you still the mayor & fire chief? Jerry C.
Thursday, October 02, 2008
gsallygirl@embarqmail.com Did you know the song written by Tennessee Ernie Ford, "Sixteen Ton" was written about Morley, Colorado? The Rockerfeller family owned the mine & the town. They bulldozed the town down out of embarrassment...& hence the song "I owe my soul to the company store. The front face of the Catholic church is still standing because of fear if they took it down.
Great story but not the way I heard it.
This quote is from the Tennessee Ernie Ford site - " In August, 1946, Cliffie Stone, then an assistant producer and talent scout for Capitol Records, called Merle Travis (a Capitol hitmaker at that time) about recording a 78 rpm album (four discs in a binder) of folk songs. Capitol, seeing the success of a Burl Ives album, wanted their own folk music album. Merle told Cliffie he figured, "Ives has sung every folk song." Stone suggested Travis write some new songs that sounded folky, and to do so quickly; the first four-song session was scheduled for the next day. Travis recalled the traditional Nine Pound Hammer and wrote three songs that night about life in Muhlenberg County, Kentucky's coal mines, where his father worked. One was Dark As A Dungeon, the other, Sixteen Tons."
So the connection to Morley is slim at best. It is true the Rockefeller family did own the mine. It was actually the operated by the Colorado Fuel and Iron Company that was owned by John D. Rockefeller. - Rocky
Thursday, October 02, 2008
Just wanted to let you know that even though Roggen, Co.is on your list as a 'ghost town' those of us who reside here are still alive. We have new families moving in and a few businesses still open, not quite dead yet. Roggen, Co.
Read my definition of a "Ghost Town" on my home page. I realize you are alive and well. - Rocky
Monday, September 29, 2008
I found your website by accident and have had a wonderful time with it. For years my husband, daughter and I explored all the old places of Colorado and the photos brought back some amazing memories. Of course we started going out there in 1981 and so much has changed since then - but a lot has stayed the same too. Thank you for bringing it all back to me. I'd give anything to go back again. Do all the exploring you can now - life is so much shorter than you realize and things happen that you never expect. Have fun and keep the photos coming!
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Rocky, I really enjoy your Ghost Towns site. I am a photographer who visits Colorado frequently..always looking for new interesting mountain places to photograph. My travel photo site is www.CrazyAboutTravel.com Dave - E-mail: CrazyAboutTravel@verizon.net
Friday, September 26, 2008
We have driven past the sign that points west to Bonanza many times but will soon make the trip to see the town. We go to Buena Vista to camp and live in the Sangres east of Ft. Garland in the southern part of CO. This is indeed a beautiful area and the pictures that show the aspen are accurate. Absolutely beautiful! Bruce and Carol :)+
Thursday, September 25, 2008
I've had the beer in Cleator and it gave me serious case of bubble guts. If you're traveling with a partner back to civilization leave the windows open.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
my great grandfather joe york lived in dearfield during this time, so it is very important to our family ,i will always this and will respect the hard time these people went through, may they rest in peace i will do what i can to help. thank you all for your effort in all you do, to keep this alive, we must never forget. god bless you all charles n. york sr. charles.n.york@lmco.com
Sunday, September 21, 2008
For years I brought a group of customers to bird hunt over at the Masters Camp and we always stopped in Roggen to have lunch at the Texaco station. Great burgers and fries. I have retired now-I live in Georgia- and haven't been back, but I still have good memories of our trips and the stop we always made at the Texaco. A neat little town and a special place for those of us who visited. Best regards, Bill Anderson
Monday, September 15, 2008
I visit this site often as it provides historical information about a site. Keep up the good work - Eric NM
Sunday, September 07, 2008
This is a great site that I was introduced to this week by my son, Kyle, from Ft. Collins, CO who was running in the Imogene Pass Run and, after staying in Telluride, they visited Alta Mine Ghost Town. His five-year-old daughter, Sarah, was assigned to investigate her grandparent's school history by her kindergarten teacher. Thus they visited and explored around Alta. My father, Bill Mertz, was Supt. of Alta Mine in 1946-47, my mother was the secretary in the office located over the general store, and our family lived there during that school year. My brother, Ronnie (13 then) and I (11) attended the one room schoolhouse in the mining camp. I was the only girl of school age, but, being a tomboy, fit right in. It truly was a trip down memory lane to see the pictures of the remains of the buildings and the absolutely spectacular scenery. I finished my schooling in Silverton, CO graduating from there in 1953. Lynda Fanning lfanning35@msn.com
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Thanks for the Russell Gulch information - very interesting. I may be able to add a little to the story of Russell Gulch. In 1833 in Padstow, Cornwall, England a John Gregor (not Gregory!) married Mary Ann Tippett. They had 13 children in and around Padstow. Their eleventh child was named Richard and he was born in 1852. Richard Gregor died in Russell Gulch in 1888. Whilst there, he and his wife had four children - Sybil Alberta Gregor (1883-1890), Richard Jesse Gregor (1884-1890), Earle John Gregor (1887-1888) and Earle Chester Gregor (1888-1889). All four children, like their father were buried in Russell Gulch. Richard Gregor had an elder brother, John Gregor, whose daughter was Mary Ann Gregor born about 1865 in Stafford, England. She married Henry Keast (also a Cornishman born 1863 from St Erme in central Cornwall) in Russell in 1889. Henry and Mary Ann's only child was a Johnnie Gregor Keast who was born and died in 1891 in Russell Gulch. Mary Ann died in 1891 and like almost everybody else in this sad tale was buried in Russell Gulch. Life was certainly tough in those pioneering days. An aside ... I am related to Henry Keast. My wife is related to his wife Mary Ann. They met in Russell Gulch, Colorado in the late 1880s. My wife and I met in Bristol, England in 1968 and had no prior knowledge of our families before that. How strange is that! Ken Ripper - kenripper@btinternet.com
Friday, August 29, 2008
Things I never dreamed of was finding a site about Jimtown. I grew up there as a young boy 1952 to 1959. We lived in a two story house on Main st. The Woods House. I read the guest book and it brings back many memories. The Goodard House I was in most because Roxan and I were playmates. I am the youngest of four in my family. My father died in the mine there in Sept of 1959. I have many old photos of Jamestown, B/W post cards,a 1957 school class photo, photos of the 1969 flash flood, even a News Paper from 1958. I would very much like to here from old childhood friends. Jerry Woods e-mail jwwestvirginia2000@yahoo.com
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Great Colorado site! Its too bad most of you out there haven't seen the ghost town of Gilman. It is now patrolled by security dudes for the proposed ski area considering being built there by Ginn Corporation out of Florida. There are buildings and ruins dating back to the 1870s. With some more modern homes and building that were abandoned about 1983 due to hazardous materials in ground water. We'll see if this coporation really spends the millions of dollars it will take to clean up the entire area before devolpement takes place. The best ghost town for me EVER! Contact me at dsblair@gmail.com for more info! Thanks!
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Very nice site. As an avid photographer, I like to chronicle ghost towns and old mines sites as well. Your site has become very informative an a source of information for me in finding new towns and sites to visit. You can see some of my photos of ghost towns and mines at waynewhelessphotography.com email me at : knightstick94@msn.com
Monday, August 18, 2008
What a great site, I have been to a couple of these ghost towns. We have been to Co four(4)different times, each is a special memory to us. Your site is the tops, I revisit often
Thursday, August 14, 2008
The picture of the house with the broken windows in Jamestown was the Goodard house. Frank and I went to Jamestown in May of 2008 and took a picture of the house also. It looks exactly the same as the picture here. Barbara Goodard, boulder, Colorado
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Great site. Loved the pics. of Nevadaville. My great grandparents [Grenfell/Richards] lived there in the late 1870s/early 1880s before coming to the goldfields in Victoria, Australia. Roz rkyriako@bigpond.net.au
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
I lived in Alta during WWII I was four or five years old at the time. THe snow fall was unbelievable. We(my stepdad, mother, uncle Eppie and my uncle Orly, his wife son, and daughter lived in a small three room cabin. One winter morning I opened the cabin door and the doorway was filled with snow up over the top of the door sill. Cabin heat made the snow wet and packed so it didn't spill into the cabin. I loved the place. But we soon had to move to the "big city"(Ophir). jwil_032@yahoo.com
- Saturday, August 02, 2008
Great site - visited several of the locations you have posted. Can't wait for your next Alaskan adventures from 2008. - Bill - OK
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Good stuff. I do have to agree with whoever complained about your definition of a ghost town. I think, inherent in the word "ghost," a ghost town is abandoned. But I understand your definition, and it certainly provides a wider range of places :c) I'm interested in exceedingly small towns. I drove through Lamont, Wyoming once. Completely missed it. I had to pay close attention when driving back through to make sure I didn't miss it again. Population: 3. Absolutely amazes me that there are places that small. Tom
- Tuesday, July 08, 2008
My grandmother was raised in Bonanza and was girlhood friends with the author from there - Anne Ellis.
Wednesday, July 02, 2008
I spent my summers living in the red house on your Russell Gulch page (#89). Thanks for the site. Brought back some great memories. - Alexis
- Monday, June 30, 2008
I think your site is great, it was sent to me by a friend in email and i will pass it on to others in turn. Donna
- Monday, June 23, 2008
Saw your video this weekend - Impressive
- Monday, June 23, 2008
Just checked your web site Mike - THANKS for inviting me to look it over. Great Job, Little Jon and the Green Giant.
- Saturday, June 14, 2008
I'm doing genealogy on the John U. Schmidt (perhaps spelled Smith) family. He was an engineer on the railroad running out of Como and died in an accident (implied that it was a train accident) 20 Sept 1898. His body was sent back to his home town (Peoria, IL) for burial, and his wife and children moved back there. They even exhumed twins born to them and buried in the Como Cemetery - reburied in Peoria. ANY INFORMATION on a possible train wreck on or about that date - or further information on the "accident" will be greatly appreciated. Thanks. BarbDiemer@att.net
- Wednesday, June 11, 2008
What happened? Your site has been down a couple days - Hope it stays up now as I really enjoy the site. -- Pieter NY
Please Accept my apology - the site was down for several days due to some web hosting problems. Apparently they are now fixed. I appreciate everyone's patience.
- Saturday, June 07, 2008
Fantastic Website! I just added it to my Western Favorites! Duke Wayne www.wildwestforum.com
- Friday, May 30, 2008
Great pics! We just returned from a 10 day vacation in Colorado. We did Garden of the Gods, Manitou Springs, Royal Gorge, Mesa Verde, Durango, Ouray, Telluride and Rocky Mountain N.P. Our favorite thing was our trip to Animas Forks. The county had just plowed the road and snow was about 5-10 deep on the side of the road at Animas so we weren't able to walk around all the buildings but got some great pictures especially from the bypass road above of the entire town and all the snow covered mountains. If you're in the area this is a must see. Sikeston, Mo
- Wednesday, May 28, 2008
I also lived in Russell Gulch for many years in the schoolhouse from 1973 to 1977. My son was conceived on the backporch. It was a very wild time to live there with a small group of outlaws. No water. No electricity made it very hard to withstand the winter winds at that high elevation.
- Sunday, May 18, 2008
hey it's margarita matt here's my email matthewjohnunderwood@hotmail.com and here's anna's annaroserohlik@hotmail.com
- Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Great site - lot of information for planning visits this summer. Keep up the good work we enjoy viewing the site and the update emails you send to us. Spike and Harriet - Tempe AZ
- Tuesday, May 06, 2008
Mike ... took a look at the new Nevadaville pictures great!!! don't know if it's still there but when I lived in the area (early 70's) it was common to find natural springs around but very few where the water was drinkable cos of the mines right in the center of town in Nevadaville was one with delicious water there was no such spring in Central City that I ever knew of although there was (and still is oneI trust)at the top of the big meadow on the south side of Russell Gulch above all the mines... even in dead of winter we broke thru the ice and scooped up many a gallon thanks again for your great photos Les Cordoza Stockton Calif
- Saturday, April 26, 2008
We saw the picture of Hurricane Pass in the Jeep® Magazine and searched the web for it. We found your site. We've Jeeped the SanJuans fairly extensively but don't remember Hurricane Pass. It's beautiful.
- Sunday, April 20, 2008
enjoyed reading this site...! can't wait for the snow to finish melting here in Summit County.. Anyone know good books for the locations and directions to these sites? Mark
- Friday, April 18, 2008
I am a direct decendent of John H. Gregory and have seen these buildings a million times. I love the photos and will go and visit the area. Great site and great history.
- Rocky says: - You can go here to learn more about John H. Gregory - http://freepages.history.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cescott/jhgregory.html
- Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Hey, Rocky-Mike, what a great site. Keep up the good work and please leave some nuggets in Alaska for future generations! Bob and Suzanne Wiederrich, Boulder.
- Monday, April 14, 2008
I need more ghost town information
- Monday, April 07, 2008
Getting ready for the summer months so I visited your site.. Nice site, lot's of places to visit. Enjoyed my visit. Frank Tempe AZ
- Tuesday, April 01, 2008
Very cool site Mike. I need to take you fishing with me sometime. I think you would really like some of the areas I visit. Have a great day !! Jason Wells
- Tuesday, March 25, 2008
My family took a ride out to nevadaville. The kids enjoyed the history and got a little spooked at the same time. I love Colorado and I am proud to call it my home. I enjoyed the pictures you posted. Being there you can just imagine how life was both the beauty of the mountains and the horrific stories of the mine workers.
- Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Just spent some time visiting your site. You should be proud of what you are doing. To provide everyone with a view into the past and provide photos and stories makes for an interesting site. Keep up the good work - A donation has been mail to your PO box. - Harriet - AZ
- Saturday, March 15, 2008
Enjoyed viewing the pictures you have of Gilman. These kind of pictures always bring memories to me. I am sure if I went into the town I could hear the sounds of the town the whistle that blew at noon, so you better high tail it home becauses that was your timer your mom gave you.. "you be home when the whistle blows" Or worse yet something horrible happen in the mine. So you would stand still in your tracks and pray it wasn't your daddy or cry when it was your friends daddy. you said you didn't take any pictures other then what you could take from the road. I plan on trying to go in the town maybe in May, I don't want pictures of the rubble I want pictures of the scenery, I want to go turn my rock over and see if my necklace is still there. :) Thanks for the memories
- Tuesday, March 11, 2008
I am planning a return to Colorado this summer and was plotting some high country tours on my GPS when I stumbled upon your website. Just a couple of critiques 1st: You have a great website, 2: I do not see Tin Cup listed? I grew up in Salida which I think at most times qualifies as a ghost town. I used to run tincup and hancock pass in my old willy's on a regular basis, I sure do miss the climb up to Alpine tunnel and camping at mirror lake. I have not had the opportunity to explore your entire website, but do you accept pics from outside sources? If so, I would gladly share any photos I have and will have. (ekdog11@sbcglobal.net).
- Saturday, March 08, 2008
This looks like the place where the sheep herders drove them through on the way to Cinnamon Pass. It sure brings back memories. We might make it there again this summer. Great website.... Dave & Pat Collins usersuper1@msn.com
- Friday, February 29, 2008
Highwayman - Canada. Yes, Rocky, I was one of those fooled by the numerous Independences that there are in Colorado. I was looking for historical information and pictures of the dynamiting of the Independence train station by WFM extremists in 1904, and thought that the Independence on the other side of the pass near Aspen was the one that was mentioned. Looking at an old photo of the station and area did not seem to jive with the geography of Aspen's locale. Altman was supposedly located on a hill near Independence, and within sight of the town, which is ridiculous if you think that Pitkin County is the proper location. It's eighty air-miles away, over a mountain pass! The labor wars of the 1890's - 1904 are a special interest of mine, and were a key point in your country's history. I'm researching one of the lead characters in those wars; the one responsible for the bombing of the Independence station went on to assassinate ex-Governor Frank Steunenberg of Caldwell Idaho, on December 30, 1905, also working for the Western Federation of Miners. The lead prosecutor at his trial was Clarence Darrow, of the 1930's "Monkey Trials" fame. Your site has helped straighten me out on a few matters!
- Sunday, February 24, 2008
I lived in Lower Four Mile Cyn. est: 1983-2001. I think we would vote in Salina at an old school house on the right hand side of the road that had a pot belly stove. Charming little place.
- Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Just browsing and looking at site about Doc Holiday etc as going to son`s wedding in Fort Collins in August 2008.This was interesting and we may try and find time to see some of these. It`s a great pity that with such a fantastic resource, these aren`t generally being `lived in` . They bring back the idea of the old west. My grandmother was born in the early 1900`s in Indiana and her birth cert was written by the local sheriff. For a Welsh girl , this site evokes memories of what life must have been like for my early family members. Thanks for bringing an interesting site to the world. Mel
- Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Nice Photos of Roggen, I grew up there and went to the Christian school by the old church till sixth grade when it was closed due to a lack of funds. I believe that Roggen had the last Stuckeys pecan shop (now Texaco) in Colorado. It also had the famous "Painter Ranch" on it and I think it was Painters who built the old church. Jake
- Sunday, February 17, 2008
Mark - I need your email address - Rocky
- Sunday, February 17, 2008
Whoops! I didn't want directions to Wild Horse! I would like to go see Wild Irishman. Directions? Thanks again!! Mark McKinsey
- Sunday, February 17, 2008
Hi! Mark McKinsey here, fellow explorer. I would like to offer my admiration for your photos. I would like to make a trip out to Wild Horse, it looks great. Can you give some directions? Thanks!
- Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Thank you for this web site. My mom, Alice Ress, was raised in Russell Gulch. She was the youngest of four. I think her home is pictured on this web site, although I'm not sure. My mom passed away almost 8 years ago. She would have been so tickled to see Russell Gulch make it on the WEB. Anyone who remembers my mom or her family, I would love to hear from you. She was always a Colorado girl at heart. aemel@bellsouth.net
- Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Thanks for this site, I grew up in Russell Gulch from 1992-1997. I lived in the house next to the top of the red one in one of your pictures. You should go back and take more. Thanks again
- Sunday, February 10, 2008
Nicholas Creede (William Harvey) had a sister who lived in Manitou Springs, CO by the name of Clara Harvey Pfifer. You can see her house at 941 Osage. "Uncle Creede" visited there often. Manitou isn't a ghost town, though! The Harvey family wasn't exactly poor -- Clara left a large trust fund to her grandson, and the family owned a lot of property around Monroe, Iowa.
- Friday, February 08, 2008
My family has 2 cabins on main street in Bonanza. Can't beleave some of the cabins are still standing and the creek dosen't look orange anymore. My sister and I used to throw rocks and walk around in that creek. I haven't been back to Bonanza in over 7 years. When I was a kid we went to Bonanza every summer. Thanks for sharing your pictures I enjoyed your website. Susan from Broken Arrow, Okla.
- Monday, February 04, 2008
I was interested to see photos of Russell Gulch as I had seen the name in the 1880 US Census. My great great Uncle Benjamin had emigrated from England in the 1860's and decided to try his luck at Gold Mining. He was listed at Russell Gulch in the 1880 Census with Chauncey Smith. Anyway the man did well and eventually struck gold, sold out to a mining company and eventually died in Chicago in the late 1890's quite a wealthy man. Rachel
- Friday, February 01, 2008
Hey Dave give me a call Paul 602-300-8265
- Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Very interesting site Rocky!!! Pullin Iron,
- Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Very interesting information, I'll add this site as a shortcut to my desk top for future ref.
- Saturday, January 26, 2008
Thanks for all of your kind words about Gold Hill. We've lived here a long time and enjoy reading the comments from all of your fans. Besides the incredible clean air, the magnificent hiking and the beauty of this place, our community is what keeps us here. We really know each other and we value our relationships with our neighbors. Cocooning in the modern 21st century doesn't exist here. It's party central when the Inn opens in summer, but then again, you already know that. Enjoy your visit!
- Saturday, January 12, 2008
January 12,2008 Enjoyed the Pictures of Keota,Colo. I was born and raised at Keota and own the Farmers and Merchants Bldg (red brick bldg)in your pictures. My family homesteaded North East of town in 1910. My uncle Was a US Commissioner there during the homestead days. He processed homestead patents for those who settled in the area. He was also a printer and newspaper man and published the Keota newspapers. James Michner visited my uncle many times while researching for his book "Centennial". In the book, Keota is portrayed as Line Camp 1. dvs1936@att.net
- Tuesday, January 01, 2008
I love your website and Nevadaville. I live only a few miles from this great historical town, and come here often. Would love to live here! Great work - keep it up!!
Guest Book for Colorado Ghost Towns @ Rocky Mountain Profiles