Colorado Ghost Town Books/Maps
Romley Colorado Townsite - Ghost town
The majority of these photos were taken near the Allie Belle Mine on the road above Romley. The first and last photo shows a view from above looking down at the town site. As I walked down the old grade from the Allie Belle towards the Romley site I came across a "NO TRESPASSING" sign. I turned around. I plan to go back so I can see the Mary Murphy mine located higher up the mountain, the buildings associated with the mine and then take a different road into the Romley site. In the mean time these photos will have to do.
Romley and the growth associated with the town was a result of the wealth discovered in the Mary Murphy mine. Had it not been for the mine the town, the boarding house, the smelter, the aerial trams, the turntable, the mill, and the railroad depot would never had been built. It was more of a mining operation versus a town. Romley was one of those towns with an on again - off again history caused by the opening and closing of the mine, the loss of the railroad and economic conditions affecting the price of silver and gold. The post office opened and closed at least three times and the last time was in 1924. Some experts claim the last exploration of the mine was done in the 1980's.
Photos Courtesy Joan and Mike Sinnwell August 2008
Rocky Mountain Profiles Colorado Ghost Towns and Colorado Photos – Niwot Colorado