Bonanza!
Posted: June 12, 2023 Filed under: history, Inspirational, Nature, Photography | Tags: Bonanza, Colorado History, Exchequer, Kaye Lynne Booth, Mining towns, Nature, Writing to be Read 10 Comments
History
Bonanza, Colorado is an old silver mining town, settled in 1880, which I have visited for many years. Originally, purported to have over 100 buildings, including 36 saloons and 7 dancehalls. It also boasted a post office, a drugstore, a hardware store, a town hall, a schoolhouse, a furniture store and two hotels. As the silver mines were played out the population dropped, but the town got a second wind when the Rawley mine was discovered in the 1920’s and they carried the ore out to the mill in Shirley by cabletram. The town was virtually abandoned after ore production fell off in the 1930s.
Bonanza Today
Now, just a small number of year round residents, (17 in 2020 according to wikipedia), some of the old mining buildings are still standing beyond the township. Although the town is kind of cool, these mining structures, which can be found beyond the town up a four-wheel-drive road, are what has always interested me more than the town itself.
The old ore stamping mill, seen in the photos above, is now crumbling down in disrepair, but in years past I explored the interior with my children. Most of the staircases were intact when I first explored the remains of Bonanza, and at one time, I climbed all the way to the top of the mill, but today only two short stairways are even passable. The equipment that was to large and too heavy to be carried off by scavengers and vandalls, such as the large stamps used to crush the rock so they could seperate the ore, and the engine which ran the pulley system that brought the ore up from the mine remained thirty years ago, but today even these items have been hauled out by those determined enough to collect the scrap metal fee from them.
Exchequerville
Above Bonanza there exists an old cabin, which is the only remians of the townsite of Exchequer, or Exchechequerville. On the hill above is an old cemetary, which caught my interest, so I’ve visited there two or three times. I’ve always wondered what the story was about this little mining town. Whenever I’ve visited, I’ve felt like there was a story there, and it has made me curious. I found very little information about this strange place with one building and a cemetary to attest that it ever existed at all.
All I did find was a tidbit to make an interesting aside, probably of more interest to female authors. According to a site called Haunted at Timberline, Exchequer fame is attributed to three female authors wrote books using Bonanza and Exchequer as their setting. Anne Ellis wrote a sereis of letters chronicaling the pioneer life of she and her family, much of which took place around Exchequer, and the collection is housed in the University of colorado Boulder Libraries. Her book, titiled “The Life of an Ordinary Woman”, is a part of a triad of famous books written by female authors during the gold and silver rushes in the mid-to-late 1800s, including Father Struck it Rich, by Evalyn Walsh McLean and Tomboy Bride, by Harriette Fish Backus. Ellis, her mother and her two brothers are all buried in the cemetary above the old townsite.
Site Seeing
At an elevation of 9, 470 feet, Bonanza is a favortite spot to visit for fall colors, as well. With several four-wheel-drive trails which venture into the hills above, including the Ottis Mears Toll Road, there is plenty of trees and open space for picnicking, hiking, riding, camping, or however else you choose to enjoy the great Colorado outdoors.
References
“Bonanza, CO Ghosttown – By Villa Grove”. Uncover Colorado. Retrieved from https://www.uncovercolorado.com/ghost-towns/bonanza/
“Bonanza, Colorado”. Western Mining History. Retrieved from https://westernmininghistory.com/towns/colorado/bonanza/
“Rawley Mine, Bonanza, Colorado”. onX maps. Retrieved from https://www.onxmaps.com/offroad/trails/us/colorado/rawley-mine-bonanza
Bradford Harrison. “About Exchequer Cemetary”. Haunted at Timberline. Retrieved from http://hauntedattimberline.com/about/exchequercemetery.htm
“Anne Ellis Papers Collection”. University of Colorado Boulder Libraries. Retrieved from https://archives.colorado.edu/repositories/2/resources/96
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Hi Kaye, what an interesting place. It’s a pity it hasn’t been retained for its historical interest.
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Colorado has many ruins of old mining operations. The mining companies were required to cover the open mine shafts in many areas because of the danger, but for the most part, when the ore ran out, the towns dried up and the houses and equipment was all left behind. 😦
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HI Kaye, I have read about the ghost towns in the USA.
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There are many in Colorado, and I love all the history behind them. It sparks so many ideas for stories. Delilah ended up in Leadville, which was one of the bigger ones back in the day. I’m working on stories that involve Excehequer and Bonaza now. You may see a lot of Cripple Creek in my future writings, too. 🙂
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👍😁
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Very cool. Love the story and the history.
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Me too, Jennie. I really dig this kind of stuff. ☺️
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🙂
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You write about Exchequerville, I have known it as just Excherquer. The little cemetary above the little log cabin is the resting place of my Grandmother’s first born – Baby Margaret Mae Cole. She died of pneumonia, common then, in my third cousin’s arms. Author of 3 books about the Bonanza area, Helen Ashley Anderson Kempner was with my Grandmother, Margaret Cole and my Grandfather, John Walker Cole. We try to take care of the white fence surrounding Baby Margaret’s grave every few years. I promised my Grandma that I would continue to take care of the little gravesite and now my grandchildren will continue after I can no longer do that.
Margaret and John Cole owned the first house on the right side of the road as you enter Bonanza. I have been in that house, upstairs in the loft where my Mother and 4 of her sisters were born. They were delivered by Dr. Kortright. Always thought that was interesting given the long-running tv series. The home has been restored by an outfitter.
Helen Ashley Anderson Kempner wrote “Bonanza!: A Pictorial History of Colorado’s Kerber Creek Country”. Unfortunately, the copy of it was lost in my Mother’s possessions after her passing. Is it possible that you have a copy of the book? If so, would you be interested in selling it to me?
I wish you all of the very best as you write about this beautiful and richly historic area of our State. If I can help you in some way, please let me know.
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Hello Carol. Thank you so much for reaching out. I have been visiting the Bonanza area since the early 80s because it is so beautiful. When I first started going there, there were signs posted about the mercury in the water. My family explored the stamping mill when you could climb to the top and exit above it.
I love to visit Exchequer and its cemetery. It is peaceful and quiet there, and I’ve often pondered the stories of those who rest there. I’m a firm believer that everyone has a story, even a child who found the grave early has a story. I am quite familiar with little Margaret’s grave, and it is obvious that someone tends it fairly often. I would love to talk with you in person. Perhaps when you next come to tend the grave we could meet in person? If you would be interesting in chatting about your family history, you can email me at klbwordcrafter@gmail.com. I would love to hear from you.
Unfortunately, I do not have the book you mentioned. 😢
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