07.04.2024 (13:39:34)
Battle Mountain Mines From Southeast
Unknown
To me this view here is informative and nice. Sadly, the original image is quite faded, but I been able to work around most of that and got some details better visible. Dating this image is helped by lack of the Short Line grade into Victor from east; making this photographed from before latter half of 1901 as by November that year, some of what is seen in this image would have had to give way make room for the Short Line and new High Line grade. And being the original High Line trestle is seen near upper right on Battle Mountain, this view has been taken after December 1, 1897, as that is the date the rails and catenary was in place on the route to Victor. This gives a near 4-year span on when this image was photographed by someone unknown.
Against the sky at about 1/3 in from right-hand side is an earlier edition of the later more famous large Portland No.2 Shafthouse, only dumps are seen up there so the large orehouse often seen in images are yet to come, as those seems linked to the still to come Short Line branchline, also a late 1901 happening.
Further downhill the quite familiar shafthouse of the Portland No.1 Burns Shaft is seen, with 5-smokestacks, long orehouse, and various larger structures linked to that mine. Looking at high-resolution scans I see three large round watertanks linked to the Portland mines, and I see the Scranton shafthouse on the hillside above and to the right of the Portland No.1 shafthouse.
I also see the lower tunnel opening of the famous Golden Circle Steel Tunnel that was built to be covered by the Portland dump, an article in a journal named 'Engineering' was published September 17, 1898 talking about that tunnel and showing images that would suggest this image to be from after that time, taking us down to a 3-year span in the dating department.
To the left of the Portland No.1 dumps on the high-resolution scans I can pick out the upper Granite Mine structures, but at my 2400dpi scan I still can't say for sure if I see structures along a long dump on the hillside above the Granite, structures that if I read my maps, like the 1903ish topographic USGS one, is mostly on the Lowell lode claim, there seems to be some structures but to far away to tell for sure.
The Ajax mine is seen against the sky near upper left side of the image, with the north, or upper, shafthouse structures of the Dead Pine mine operations to the right of the Ajax, with what appears to be a string of boxcars parked on the 3-foot Golden Circle railroad just to the right of those structures.
Further downhill and to the left of the easy to spot old shafhouse of the Strong Mine a smaller headframe with hoisthouse to the right of it is seen, I often wonder about it, and this might be the location of the W. C. Dillon lode claim discovery shaft, but I have no good maps to tell me for certain as the only possible marking on the 1903ish topo-map is also close to the Strong lode sideline, but most likely it is just a shaft operation on the W. C. Dillon.
Strong Mine has been mentioned, it is the older tower-like easy to spot shafthouse, with its still standing today ore-house seen in front of and somewhat to the left of the shafthouse.
Going to the right from the Strong one passes the Stratton's Independence dump and what might still be some left-over structures of the original Discovery Shaft of the Independence lode claim, not easy to tell for certain.
Also not easy to tell for sure, but just to the lower left of the easy to spot orehouse of the Independence mine there is a small dump and some structures on that dump that fits with the location of the Discovery Shaft of the Washington lode claim, but the structure fail to fit the only known image of the Washington mine, so I can't compare views and verify through that.
Talking about the Stratton's Independence, that mine has three larger ore-houses spread out along the M.T. grade, and the large Shafthouse of the Independence No.2 is seen in the background left of the large Independence Orehouse and the huge belching smoke smokestack of the Independence.
The old Taylor-Brunton Sampler that was along the M.T. mainline below the Portland Mine is also seen near right-hand side of the image about halfway up from bottom right.
In addition to those mining-based structures, the roadbed of the Florence & Cripple Creek is seen here and there, with some boxcars parked alongside a longer structure just where the Golden Circle trackage has melted into the F. & C. C. tracks, possible a coal shed and storage area for many products, but to be gone later as it is not seen on the 1903ish topo-map.
There is a dump on the hillside below that before mention shed and boxcars string, about 1/3 up from bottom and 2/5 in from right-hand side, this I believe was around the Discovery Shaft, most likely on a secondary shaft south of it, on the Corrigan Chief lode claim, with what feels like some sort of mining structures type small mill below that again, being two structures at two levels being connected and having some smokestacks. This structure also does not seem to appear on the 1903ish topo-map so could have been gone by the time that map was prepared. For now, this would be one of many unknowns, unless it is the Robert McCools Foundry, that is shown on Sheet11 of the Victor 1900 Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps, as that fits the image somewhat well!
I did procure the colored version of this image, if that is what you see, as I think it is nicer. Source is gray-toned, or in common speech black & white. Used an online service and tweaked and worked with image to get what looks best to my eyes for the moment.
My Collection; Photographs.

• My Website: ⊞ Battle Mountain Mines From Southeast
• My Website; Cropped Photolink: ⊞ Battle Mountain Mines From Southeast [Enhanced; Colored]

P-04750
Photograph/Image [#544]
www.cripplecreekrailroads.com/01main/all_known_entities/pics_list-evry1_sort-newtop.php#54402.03.2023 (08:18:07)
The Independence Mine
Unknown
This image here is part of a series of images which I only have this one. The Series seems to be called ''Wonders of America'' and this was Number 32. It was manufactured by Chicago Projecting Co. I think it might be an Andrew James Harlan photo but not confirmed it yet by 02.06.2019 when this note is written.
Scene is in eastern part of Victor, looking up passed some townlike structures and the eastern end of the F. & C. C. railroad yard. The sort of focus is the building of the larger Ore-house of the Independence, with its Experimental mill already in place to the right of the new Ore-house, as seen as whitish structures which roofs meet in a form of V.
In background left, about center top/down there is a whitish Shaft House of quite large size, this is the Independence No. 2 Shaft, not sure when that got out of use, but it is marked on my USGS 1903 topographic map, so I guess it lasted into the earlier 1900's at least.
In front of the dump out from the Independence shaft house, to the left of the orehouse they are building, along the rails coming from the M. T. railyard outside the view at left, about 1/3 in from left-hand side and 1/3 up from bottom of the view, there is what appears to be a loading platform standing, and for a time I was thinking that is a left-over from the Old Independence mine, also known as the Discovery Shaft on the claim known as Independence, but, that is not true!
The shaft structure and ore house of that Discovery Shaft is gone already, it was located closer to the yellowish orehouse under constructing in this image, zooming in on my local high resolution scan I might see some cribbing that might be left-over from cribbing at the Discovery Shaft, but hard to tell for sure.
My Collection; Magic Lanterns. Cropped 600dpi view without the frame.
G-00101
Photograph/Image [#349]
www.cripplecreekrailroads.com/01main/all_known_entities/pics_list-evry1_sort-newtop.php#34916.02.2023 (22:19:56)
Portland Mine + Mill Victor Colo.
William H. Lehr [aka Bill Lehr]
A view at the cramped hillside below the Independence Mine, and the Portland Mines, as the space been used for making quite a large mill, with what appears to be a slime dam in the foreground. Seems like this has obliviated the roadbed of both the Golden Circle and the Short Line/High Line railroad beds, but maybe not fully, hard to tell for sure.
Sadly though, the Portland No. 2 Mine, seen against the sky in upper right top, this mine is out of focus and not much useful to much more than for location purposes as the shape of it can be seen between the blurred view in that area of this postcard view.
The Independence Mine has lost its Shaft House and has an open Head-Frame, so that might help date this image, same as with the large mill in the foreground, by time of this image being photographed this mill has been bought by the Portland Company, even though it originally was part of the Independence Operations, making this view after 1915 and before July 1924 as this card is stamped that month.
My Collection; Postcards.

• My Website; Postcards Overview: ⊞ Portland Mine + Mill Victor Colo.

P-04710
Photograph/Image [#530]
www.cripplecreekrailroads.com/01main/all_known_entities/pics_list-evry1_sort-newtop.php#53016.02.2023 (14:27:40)
Portland Mine + Mill Cripple Creek Dist
William H. Lehr [aka Bill Lehr]
A view at the cramped hillside below the Independence Mine, and the Portland Mines, as the space been used for making quite a large mill, with what appears to be a slime dam in the foreground. Seems like this has obliviated the roadbed of both the Golden Circle and the Short Line/High Line railroad beds, but maybe not fully, hard to tell for sure.
Sadly though, the Portland No. 2 Mine, up in upper right top is way out of focus and not useful at all except for location purposes as the shape of it can be seen between the very blurred view in that area of this postcard view. The Independence Mine has lost its Shaft House and has an open Head-Frame, so that might help date this image, same as with the large mill in the foreground, by time of this image being photographed this mill has been bought by the Portland Company, even though it originally was part of the Independence Operations.
My Collection; Postcards.

• My Website; Postcards Overview: ⊞ Portland Mine + Mill Cripple Creek Dist
• My Website: ⊞ Portland Mine + Mill Cripple Creek Dist [enhanced]

P-03661
Photograph/Image [#318]
www.cripplecreekrailroads.com/01main/all_known_entities/pics_list-evry1_sort-newtop.php#31815.02.2023 (10:18:08)
View Up at Independence and Portland Mines From Near Short Line Victor Yards
Unknown
Not much to say to this card, I find it quite self-explaining. It is a view looking uphill at a couple of Battle Mountain mines; the Stratton's Independence mine at foreground right and the Portland No. 2 Shaft against the sky in background left. View is taken from around the Short Line yard in Victor, Colorado, and on top of the rock-wall seen in lower left is the old railroad yard of the Florence & Cripple Creek, most likely gone by the time this card was photographed, impossible to tell for sure in this view here, all I can see in my 1200dpi scan is rails, the gauge can't be picked up due to the angle.
My Collection; Postcards.

• My Website; Postcards Overview: ⊞ Scenes of the Col. Spgs. and Cripple Creek Dist. Ry., Portland and Independence Mines, Victor, Colo.

P-04682
Photograph/Image [#529]
www.cripplecreekrailroads.com/01main/all_known_entities/pics_list-evry1_sort-newtop.php#52904.07.2022 (19:13:35)
Scenes of the Col. Spgs. and Cripple Creek Dist. Ry., Portland and Independence Mines, Victor, Colo.
Louis Charles McClure
This view by L. C. McClure from 'inside' 'half-loop' of the F. & C.C. entering the southeast slope of Battle Mountain to get to Victor, seems to be from around 1906-1907 as the large Independence Mill has yet to come into existence, but there area several structures that might be the test mill I've seen reported about in that timeframe. Also, it looks like the No. 1 shaft of the Portland mine is now an open Head frame and I've seen reports of all the surface structures of the Portland No. 1 burning in May 1906, dating this view to be after that timeframe.
In the foreground the fill on the roadbed for the 3-foot gauge Florence & Cripple Creek railroad is seen, passing under the trestle bringing the High Line and the Short Line standard gauge track into Victor outside the view at left. The roadbed of the Golden Circle railroad is partly visible about middle top/down of this view, and then the Stratton's Independence Mine is seen taking up about half width on the left part of this view, while the Ajax Mine is seen with its single smokestack poking up against the sky on the left background.
The Portland Nos. 1 & 2 make up the right half background part of this view, the no. 2 shaft being the upper one, with the long dumps out from each side of the mine structures.
My Collection; Postcards.

• My Website; Postcards Overview: ⊞ Scenes of the Col. Spgs. and Cripple Creek Dist. Ry., Portland and Independence Mines, Victor, Colo.

P-03403
Photograph/Image [#485]
www.cripplecreekrailroads.com/01main/all_known_entities/pics_list-evry1_sort-newtop.php#48526.12.2021 (13:18:42)
Independence Mine and Mill, Cripple Creek District.
Unknown
This image shows the immense large Independence Mill, which later was sold to the Portland Company and known then as the Portland Mill. But here it is the Independence Mill with the grades of the High Line/Short Line as the middle grade in front of the mill, in front of that grade is a road and in back - closest to the mill - is the grade of the Golden Circle track, a narrow gauge 3-foot railroad connected to the F. & C.C.
My Collection; View is number 4 in a Postcard Folder called Souvenir Folding Card of the Cripple Creek District.

• no. 4; Souvenir Postcard Folder titled Souvenir Folding Card of the Cripple Creek District; undated - Published in ????.

• My Website; Album Page View: ⊞ Album Page View #4 (Souvenir Folding Card of the Cripple Creek District)

A-00437
Photograph/Image [#378]
www.cripplecreekrailroads.com/01main/all_known_entities/pics_list-evry1_sort-newtop.php#37821.11.2021 (16:00:30)
Independence and Portland Mines, Battle Mountain, Cripple Creek Mining District
William Edward Hook
This view shows several of the earlier mines on Battle Mountain, looking in a westerly direction.
We see near left-hand side and about 1/3 from top-left the East and partly south side of the Old Independence Mine, with the ore-house in front of the shaft house, and partly hiding the west most part of it.
Further up the hill to right is seen the well-known Independence Mine (No. 1) with its large Shaft House.
If we go left about 1/3 from right-hand side, and about 1/4 down from top we see the large Shaft House of the Independence No. 2 shaft, with the M.T. railroad in front of it and not the greatest dump there yet. This makes this view earlier than a H.S. Poley view (My ID I-01172) which is dated around 1895, early 1896.
Further up the hill is seen several shaft houses that shall disappear as the Portland Mine expand and engulf several of them, and in this view the larger ore-house seen in the before mention Poley view, which I have thought of as part of the Portland mine, that is no-where here to be seen below the shaft house of the Bob-Tail mine which is the structure at left of the Independence No. 2 where a single smokestack is poking up near end of the long sloping roof on the right side.
A little left and downhill a tiny bit and more west is the smaller Shaft House of the Lowell Mine.
Just above the Independence No. 2 is the original Portland Mine, just behind the smokestack of the Independence.
The Black Diamond is located just left of the Portland mine, hard to see even in the 100% view of this photo. Hiding mostly also behind the Independence No. 2.
Above the Portland and to the right, near the top is the Anna Lee mine, with a small ore-house in front and a smokestack seems to be located outside the shaft house itself, or at least at the lowest end of the long roof.
Below the Anna Lee is seen the Scranton shaft, with its shaft house extended to make a different slope on the short roof side.

Copyright restrictions applying to use or reproduction of this image available from the Western History and Genealogy Dept., Denver Public Library, at photosales@denverlibrary.org.

• Denver Public Library: ⊞ Call Number: X-62585

I-01171
Photograph/Image [#84]
www.cripplecreekrailroads.com/01main/all_known_entities/pics_list-evry1_sort-newtop.php#8421.11.2021 (15:59:26)
East Victor Showing Strong, Independence, Portland and Anna Lee Mines
Andrew James Harlan
This view is an early one of mines on Battle Mountain as there are hardly any mines to see, and, there is no sight of the yet to come grading of the M.T. railroad.
There is a large X marking the site of the Old Independence Mine where one see the ore-house just right of the X. The ore-house is in front of the shaft house, and partly hiding the western part of the shaft house.
Further up right is seen the well-known Independence Mine, which is under construction or repairs as there is scaffolding along the walls. I think it is just recently been built.
Below the Old Independence, just under the large X, there is a large structure that looks like some sort of a storage hall, yet to figure out what that is as of 25.01.2017.
Further up the hill behind and right of the large shaft house of the Independence there are seen the early beginnings of several mines seen on my ID: I-01171 (DPL Call Number: X-62585, by Hook), with the early Portland mine (with a trestle poking out of a large black door opening) and the Anna Lee mines further up the hill against the sky, the easiest seen mine structures.
I have a hard time finding the Independence No. 2 in this scene, it should be just below the Portland but it seems not to be there. Possible the structure one early Sanborn Fire Insurance map calls Independence No. 4 is one of those two structures seen about half-way between the large Independence and the Portland. There appears to be a horse just below the left-most one of the two seen her, and which is also a structure that is seen in the before mention DPL view by Hook. The right-most is gone in that Hook photo, only leaving a dump.
The Bob-Tail, Lowell, Granite and similar mines are only seen as small dumps and some small shed like structures on the hillside.
I would guess this to a be a late 1893, early 1894 image, but I can't tell for sure except there is dots of snow on the ground so it is in the winter part of the year. The M.T. tracks reached Portland Mine by December 1894, but as I see no sign of any grading here, I am pretty certain this view is from winter 1893/1894.

Copyright restrictions applying to use or reproduction of this image available from the Western History and Genealogy Dept., Denver Public Library, at photosales@denverlibrary.org.

• Denver Public Library: ⊞ Call Number: CHS.X4497

I-00439
Photograph/Image [#86]
www.cripplecreekrailroads.com/01main/all_known_entities/pics_list-evry1_sort-newtop.php#8627.09.2021 (11:13:33)
Independence Mine, Cripple Creek Mining District.
Unknown
As this photo appeared in a February/March 1896 publication, this dates the photo to no later than early 1896, but more likely to 1895, or possible 1894.
The tracks in the foreground is part of the F. & C.C. mainline tracks, Sadly I cannot say anything about the structure middle top/down along left-hand side, but it might be part of the Independence Mine operations.
The Independence Mine is seen near the top of the image, on the right half of the image, while the old Independence Shaft and structures is seen below it, about middle left/right and 1/3 down from top. I am not sure, but I think the M.T. would later cut almost through these structures of the Old Independence Mine, and also the Main Shaft Structures would be connected to various Ore-Houses, Mills and so on in this area, in addition to needing lot of dump space of course, all helping to totally erase those early mine structures of the old shaft.
In the background is seen a string of Boxcars, about 1/4 down on left part of the image, and these are on a side spur along the M.T. poking out on the hillside more or less while the mainline cuts the hill a little behind those cars, in order to reduce the altitude so it can come down its grade along Battle Mountain, before crossing over to run along Squaw Mountain, all outside the view at left.
I did procure the colored version of this image. Source was grayish, or in common speech black & white. Used an online service and tweaked and worked with image to get what looks best to my eyes at the moment.
My Collection; From page 14 in the 1903 New Year issue of Cripple Creek Times. I did procure the colored version of this image. Source was grayish, or in common speech black & white. Used an online service and tweaked and worked with image to get what looks best to my eyes at the moment.

• Page 14; The Cripple Creek Times; New Years 1903 - Published in 1903.
• Page 31; The Quarterly Sentinel [Vol. 1 - 1896; History of Cripple Creek] - Published in 1896.

I-01956
Photograph/Image [#383]
www.cripplecreekrailroads.com/01main/all_known_entities/pics_list-evry1_sort-newtop.php#38315.05.2021 (12:50:09)
The Stratton's Independence Mill.
Unknown
Quality on this printed image is so and so, but it is a not very common angle towards the mill and mine of the Stratton's Independence, making it a welcome addition to my collection.
In the foreground it appears there is a dam of some sort, then we have the houses I have seen reported other places once used to house Stratton himself, with the High Line Trolley line coming via Goldfield on a fill just beyond the fenced in houses. We see part of the trestle that brings the Trolley across the F. & C.C. track near middle top-bottom at the right-hand side of this view. Further up, same side, we see the Golden Circle bridge which crosses the M.T. mainline across Battle Mountain.
Portland No. 2 Shaft is seen at top of the hill, against the sky, and the No. 1 Portland is sort of hiding further down the hill at left, behind smoke and dumps, with the Shaft-house of the Independence Mine in front of those dumps and taking us sort of full circle around this image.
My Collection; From page 369 in a Nov. 1911 issue of a monthly mining journal named The Mining Magazine.

• Page 361; The Mining Magazine, London, England; November 1911 - Published in 1911.

I-01636
Photograph/Image [#375]
www.cripplecreekrailroads.com/01main/all_known_entities/pics_list-evry1_sort-newtop.php#37515.05.2021 (09:06:29)
Independence Mine and Mill
Julia Skolas
I've seen the base negative photo of this view by time of writing this [12.05.2018] used seven times where 5 is as postcard edition with three of them in type colored/painted while the other two been as B&W postcards, like this one here. I've also seen the view used twice as B&W prints in Postcard Folders, and going from experience, there is at least yet another photo type of this postcard with a better paper quality as this card here is not the best one, dark is just dark, and there is sort of dots in the paper reducing sharpness and ability to enhance the view to bring out details. Also, this is the first card I've seen signed by Skolas where she has put the J through the S in her name, quite cool actually! Dating the view is not easy, but as I've seen a postcard stamped August 1, 1912 the negative must be at least 1 day earlier due to the time it takes to develop and make a postcard out of it.
For the View itself, this is on lower Battle Mountain where J. Skolas has photographed the huge in area Independence Surface type of Operation with the massive Mill Structures on the left and sideways center part, with the No. 1 Shaft of the Independence Mine itself seen towards the right-hand edge. In front of those structures there are still houses seen, belonging to Workers and so on I assume.
The railroad lines of the Short Line/High Line and the Golden Circle mainline is seen in the 1/3 bottom part where the Short Line is the lower one, with roads further down should you wonder. Up around the mine itself, about 1/2 up from bottom and about 1/4 in from right-hand side, this is where the Midland Terminal has its tracks and where passenger trains on the Short Line shared tracks in order to reach the M.T. Victor passenger terminal after they started to cooperate using the from then on known as the Union Depot, after 1905, when a connection between the Short Line and the Midland Terminal was made east of Victor, and the M.T. was running on Short Line tracks from a place called Vindicator Junction, but as that is entirely on the High Line route, there must been a connection from someplace at Victor Pass area from the M.T. tracks over unto the Short Line tracks.
My Collection; Postcards.

• Postcard [B&W]; Published by H.H.T. Co.; titled 3054. Independence Mine, Cripple Creek District, Colo. - Published in ????.
• Postcard [Painted]; Unknown Publisher; titled 4158. Independence Mine, Victor, Colorado. [Different crop edition from the others] - Published in ????.
• Postcard [Painted]; Unknown Publisher; titled 4158. Independence Mine, Victor, Colorado. [Different crop edition from the others] - Published in ????.

• My Website; Postcards Overview: ⊞ Independence Mine and Mill
• My Website; Cropped Postcard View: ⊞ Independence Mine and Mill [enhanced]
• My Website; Postcards Overview: ⊞ #4158; Independence Mine, Victor, Colorado.
• My Website; Album Page View: ⊞ Pic.8; Victor and Cripple Creek District Souvenir Folder "Greatest Gold Camp on Earth"
• My Website; Album Page View: ⊞ Pic.9; Unknown Title [No front - about the Cripple Creek District]

P-03625
Photograph/Image [#300]
www.cripplecreekrailroads.com/01main/all_known_entities/pics_list-evry1_sort-newtop.php#30010.07.2018 (08:01:31)
View Ore Dump Trestle Out From Independence Mine, with Goldfield in Background, About 1940's
Unknown
This view of the 'still using the railroad' side of the Independence Mine, the old Stratton Independence Mine, is a nice one for the most part but sadly, it is a copy of another source image, so it lacks in the details part and it has issues with not being sharp/clear on the sides.
Located on the more lower part of Battle Mountain, Independence mine used to have an Ore-House in this area and as we can see, there are also visible left-overs of the Huge Mill complex that also used to be located at this site, seen with all those concrete blocks and such seen poking up of the ground.
I have a 1965 slide image showing the Headframe and a trestle poking out that match this view quite well even if they are from different angles; from the chute seen about middle top/down and about 1/3 in from right-hand side to the old Tunnel Portal seen almost 1/3 up from bottom and about center sideways.
In background left top the town of Goldfield can be seen, visible with both the City Hall and the Church who lined Goldfield's Victor Avenue. I also see the huge former Short Line fill in southern Goldfield area, where the cut where trains and Trolleys used to come out from is located about 1/5 down from top and about 1/7 to 1/8 in from right-hand side.
My Collection; Photographs.

• My Website; Photolink: ⊞ View Ore Dump Trestle Out From Independence Mine, with Goldfield in Background, About 1940's
• My Website; Cropped Photolink: ⊞ View Ore Dump Trestle Out From Independence Mine, with Goldfield in Background, ca1940' [Enhanced]

P-03729
Photograph/Image [#329]
www.cripplecreekrailroads.com/01main/all_known_entities/pics_list-evry1_sort-newtop.php#32908.07.2018 (08:48:33)
View at the Independence Huge Open Head Frame with a Car Parked Below, About 1940's
Unknown
I think this is from around 1940, but I do not know. There is a car parked below this view at the exposed Huge Head-Frame/Gallows-Frame of the old Stratton Independence Mine on Battle Mountain, outskirts of Victor, Colorado, and that seems to have a License-plate of 43-660 but I can't tell what else it might have written above the numbers, so I can't date the image from that either…
The whole structure is quite massive, and all in wood it appears! Hard to imagine all this at one time enclosed in a massive Shaft-house type of structure, as I assume this is as it was built inside the structure back in the days. The left most parts, with the various bins I do think is more recent then the headframe itself, but I dare not say anything as this is beyond my knowledge.
My Collection; Photographs.

• My Website; Photolink: ⊞ View at the Independence Huge Open Head Frame with a Car Parked Below, About 1940's
• My Website; Cropped Photolink: ⊞ View at the Independence Huge Open Head Frame with a Car Parked Below, ca1940' [Straight & Enhanced]

P-03734
Photograph/Image [#328]
www.cripplecreekrailroads.com/01main/all_known_entities/pics_list-evry1_sort-newtop.php#32828.06.2018 (09:08:24)
Portland Mine - Mill Victor Colo [Independence Mine, Mill]
William H. Lehr [aka Bill Lehr]
Yet another photograph I suspect is a copy of another source, the sides are rather blurred out and there are lots of dust and shit on the photo itself from a badly cleaned original at time of the copy making.
The scene is a view towards Battle Mountain, and the Independence Mill and Mine, here named as the Portland Mill indicating this view is from after the Portland Company bought the Independence Mill sometimes before September 1915 – I have not the year that buy happen as it still is in the pile of research materials to go through.
What I like with this view is that the Independence Shaft House is still here, fully enclosed while the Portland Shafts houses have been opened up to expose the Head-Frame more, also, I find it cool to see the Short Line/High Line Trestle (Bridge No. C, later B) across the old F. & C.C. is still there despite the fact that the tailings pond/dam in the foreground indicates that possible the railroad grade of the old narrow-gauge might be gone by now as it is clearly much higher up then the old grade was.
In the background the Portland Shafts can be seen with the No. 1 Shaft mostly hiding behind a dump, seen about middle top/down and about 2/5 in from left-hand side; while the old Scranton Shaft-house can be found about half the distance to the right towards the No. 2 Shaft who is looming at top of the hill against the sky about 1/4 in from right-hand side.
The Scranton is seen with a whole lot of other structures located at about same level as the No. 1 Portland Shaft, and is easy picked out due to the shape of the Roof-line of the Shaft House, having a long slope on the right and a shorter on the left which changes angle further down the roof-slope.
My Collection; Photographs.

• My Website; Photolink: ⊞ Portland Mine - Mill Victor Colo
• My Website; Photolink: ⊞ Portland Mine - Mill Victor Colo [Enhanced/Cropped]

P-03686
Photograph/Image [#321]
www.cripplecreekrailroads.com/01main/all_known_entities/pics_list-evry1_sort-newtop.php#32107.06.2018 (09:56:31)
View Up First Street in Victor, Towards the Strong Mine and Battle Mountain
Unknown
I felt this was another 'Had To Have' image, so bid accordingly, only to be quite sad when I got it as once again when it comes to photographs from this seller, they appear to be digital printed copies from another source, not real photos from back in time. This is a bad quality view up what I believe is First Street in Victor, towards mines on Battle Mountain, below the Strong Mine and below Victor Avenue which I believe is seem about 2/5 up from bottom about 1/3 in from right-hand side. The view is given the feel so many residences lived with every day, even if sadly the view itself is rather dark and not that sharp in its appearance, lot of fingermarks on the negative this came from.
* The top of Strong Mine is seen about halfway top/bottom and about 1/3 in from right-hand side. The whitish tower sticks out in the scene, easy to spot.
* Portland No. 2 Mine is seen against the sky behind and left of the Strong, also easy to spot, I think the No. 1 Portland is seen at 4 smokestacks poking up among the dumps seen below and left of the Portland No. 2 – seen about 3/7 in from right-hand side.
* Dillon Mine, of the Granite Company, is seen about halfway up from bottom and nearly 2/5 in from left-hand side. Seen as a dark blob with white text on the side, against dumps and cribbing, above some houses.
* Independence Mine is seen about middle top/down and about 1/17 in from right-hand side, easy to spot due to the many smokestacks almost making a single line.
Other mines are also visible, but they are so hard to ID properly due to the low quality of the card, so I leave them out, but I see the smokestack of Ajax Mine near left-hand side against the sky, and further to the right the mine poking partly up from dumps might be the Granite or the Dead Pine, I can't tell from this view, so I leave it out.
My Collection; Photographs. Enhanced version of my 300dpi scan.

• My Website: ⊞ View Up First Street in Victor, Towards the Strong Mine and Battle Mountain

P-03636
Photograph/Image [#314]
www.cripplecreekrailroads.com/01main/all_known_entities/pics_list-evry1_sort-newtop.php#31408.05.2018 (17:39:37)
A View at a Boy-Scout/Man on a Horse on Hillside Near Eastern End of Spicer Avenue, with Houses, High School, Mines in the Background
Unknown
I think this image is at the eastern end of Spicer Avenue, and that the mine seen with its Head-Frame behind the head of the rider in the foreground is the Fortuna Mine, but I might be off as this been hard to decode fully where it was photographed, might be even further south in Victor.
In background top right, about 1/10 down from top and about 1/6 in from right-hand side there is seen a trestle type poking into the image, with an Ore-House further to the left, and this is belonging to the Independence Mine, and about same down from top but 1/3 in from right-hand side is the brick structure of the Victor High School seen blocking most of the view to the Shaft House of the Independence Mine.
Even harder to see is the Strong Mine seen mention on the backside of this card where someone has really not known their town view very well as this is clearly not on neither Victor Avenue nor 7th Street… The Strong Mine upper part of the Shaft House with a small cupola or awning poking out of the roof can be seen behind the wood posts seen near upper left. About 1/6 in from left-hand side and about 1/7 down from the top that part can be plucked out due to the awning/cupola and the window+door+window part making sort of a face on the side facing the photographer – this makes it distinct and easy to pick out.
Along the top left-half there is seen the massive dumps of the Portland Mines and part of the Crib-wall below the No. 2 Shaft is seen, so yes, the mines really set their feel on town.
My Collection; Postcards.

• My Website; Postcards Overview: ⊞ A View at a Boy-Scout/Man on a Horse on Hillside Near Eastern End of Spicer Avenue, Victor
• My Website; Cropped Postcard View: ⊞ Fortuna Mine

P-03609
Photograph/Image [#297]
www.cripplecreekrailroads.com/01main/all_known_entities/pics_list-evry1_sort-newtop.php#29713.04.2018 (16:19:42)
Independence Mine, Cripple Creek District, Colo. [#C. 2007]
Unknown
This view of the large Independence Mine has been a popular one as I've seen it appearing on lots of postcards where there are tiny differences in where the sides been cropped, and that goes for both the B&W card and the ones like these, that has been colored/painted. Also shown up in printed materials and postcard folders.
The scene shows some Midland Terminal tracks in lower left, passing by and serving the Ore-House with the dark shades up the side of the structure due to the steam train used back then. A map I've seen also indicates that Ore-house to have had 3-rails, as in dual gauge, as to be served by the Golden Circle Railroad also.
Further into the image, in from right-hand side and about middle top/down there is another Ore-House and the before mention map (page 301 in the 40-Miles to Fortune book by Allen Lewis) also say that this was served by dual gauge track. That map also says that the structure between those before mention ore-houses is a Mill – the one with the twin peaked roofs meeting each other, before going into a third peaked roof 90-degree turned from those two.
In the background, up against the sky, is the Portland Mine No. 1 seen in from the right-hand side, while about center sideways is the Ajax Mine visible against the sky.
My Collection; Postcards.

• My Website; Postcards Overview: ⊞ Independence Mine, Cripple Creek District, Colo.
• My Website; Postcards Overview: ⊞ The Independence Mine, Victor, Colo. | Independence Mine F & CCRR
• My Website; Album Page View: ⊞ #10; Independence Mine, Cripple Creek District.
• My Website; Album Page View: ⊞ #5; Independence Mine, Cripple Creek District.
• My Website; Postcards Overview: ⊞ #C.2007; Independence Mine, Cripple Creek District, Colo.

P-03405
Photograph/Image [#288]
www.cripplecreekrailroads.com/01main/all_known_entities/pics_list-evry1_sort-newtop.php#28804.04.2018 (12:23:16)
Independence Mine | Prospect Shaft
Unknown
Quality wise is this not a good image card with scenes from the Cripple Creek District, but, it still is one among the many hundred scenes used for postcards with links to the District! The two views; the Independence Mine on the left side and an unknown Prospect Shaft on the right-hand side is really showing the span of the reason for the whole District. It could go from right to left – from hoping to hit the jackpot, to actually find it – or it could go the other way, from rich to poor.
Neither views are that good due to the nature of this printed card, but still I wanted to share it, and possible, one day I learn more about the view on the right-hand side… Till that might happen, I only share as a link the left view, the Independence Mine, as a cropped 600 dpi view on my weblink below.
My Collection; Postcards.

• Postcard; Published by unknown; titled Independence Mine | Prospect Shaft - Published in ????.

• My Website: ⊞ Postcards Overview; Independence Mine | Prospect Shaft
• My Website: ⊞ Postcard; Cropped View; Independence Mine (600dpi)

P-03126
Photograph/Image [#277]
www.cripplecreekrailroads.com/01main/all_known_entities/pics_list-evry1_sort-newtop.php#27703.04.2018 (09:54:16)
#11-11; Victor, Colorado - "The City of Mines" (Early 1900's)
Tomer Jacob Hileman [1911]
This view of Victor is looking north from Straub Mountain area. Photographed in 1911 by the Hileman as the view is credited to. Being this is from a printed card in a small more modern postcard folder it is not the greatest quality, but one gets an idea of the town and the many mines in and around it. In addition, in this view they are marked out, even if there is at least one error in that marking.
* In upper left quadrangle is the Portland No. 1 & No. 2 marked out, but the location of the No. 2 shaft of the Portland is NOT where this image gives it! Portland No. 2 shaft is in this view above the No. 1 shaft, seen a little left of the center of this view sideways. No. 2 Shaft of Portland is seen against the sky with No. 1 just below it, with the huge dumps where No.1 is written. The Granite, original shaft, is located where this card has written the No.2 text.
* Just behind and left of the huge smokestack of the Gold Coin shaft, marked in this view as Granite, is the main shaft of the Dead Pine. The dump is much easier seen then the mine itself.
My Collection; Postcards/Postcard Album.

• Postcard; Unknown Publisher; titled Victor, Colorado - "The City of Mines" (Early 1900's) - Published in ????.

• My Website: ⊞ Postcards Overview; Victor, Colorado - "The City of Mines" (Early 1900's)

P-00307
Photograph/Image [#162]
www.cripplecreekrailroads.com/01main/all_known_entities/pics_list-evry1_sort-newtop.php#16203.04.2018 (09:40:47)
#11-9; Victor, Colorado - "The City Of Mines"
H. & H. Studio [Hileman & Hill] [1909]
This view of Victor is looking north from Straub Mountain area. Photographed in 1909 by the H. & H. Studio in Cripple Creek, it was taken by either Hileman or Hill, impossible to tell for sure as the view is credited to them both. Being this is from a printed card in a small more modern postcard folder it is not the greatest quality, but one gets an idea of the town and the many mines in and around it.
* Gold Coin, here marked as Granite Mine on the south facing ore-house, is seen about middle top/down and about 1/5 in from left-hand side.
* Just behind the huge smokestack of the Gold Coin is the main shaft of the Dead Pine, named Oliver Shaft for some reason. The dump is much easier seen then the mine itself.
* Straight up from the Gold Coin smokestack, in the distance; against the sky; sticking up from the hill, is the shaft-house of the American Eagle.
* The Ajax Mine is about 1/4 down from top left, about 1/6 on from left-hand side.
* Further to the right of the Ajax would been upper shaft of the Dead Pine, the Granite (original shaft/mine) – seen about 1/3 in from left-hand side – and the Burns (main) shaft of the Portland mines, with the Portland No. 2 seen just off to the right for the center of the upper quarter in this view.
* Towards the right-hand side is seen the Strong Mine, about half top/down and 2/3 in from the left-hand side.
* The Independence Mine is just right of the Strong mine, seen with its huge dumps and structures.
* The Vindicator Mine, shaft 1, is seen above the Independence mine, about 1/3 down from top.
My Collection; Postcards/Postcard Album.

• Postcard; Unknown Publisher; titled Victor, Colorado - "The City Of Mines" - Published in ????.

• My Website: ⊞ Postcards Overview; Victor, Colorado - "The City Of Mines"

P-00305
Photograph/Image [#160]
www.cripplecreekrailroads.com/01main/all_known_entities/pics_list-evry1_sort-newtop.php#16019.08.2017 (22:57:44)
TERMINUS of the Carlton Drainage Tunnel under Portland No. 2 Shaft. Other famous producers on Battle Mountain, Cripple Creek Mining District.
Unknown
This is an overview of some of the famous mines, making Victor, Colorado, ''The City of Mines''.
Battle Mountain where some of the mines are nicely marked out. The strong Mine is seen just below middle top/down and just left of the Word ''AJAX'' on the left side of this view. The Independence is see sort of in the foreground with massive dump piles extending towards the photographer, while the Portland mines dumps fill the upper part of Battle Mountain on the top right part of the view.
Town of Victor is partly seen in lower left, while the Ajax Mine is nicely marked out but still hiding behind some pretty massive big dumps on the upper left part of this view.
My Collection; From page 21 in the 1941 Annual Report of the Golden Cycle Corporation; from a 300dpi scan.

• Page 21; The Golden Cycle Corporation: Annual Report to Stockholders - December 31, 1941 - Published in 1942.
• Page 22; The Golden Cycle Corporation: Annual Report to Stockholders - December 31, 1939 - Published in 1939.

• My Website: ⊞ 1939 Annual Report as Web Album
• My Website: ⊞ 1941 Annual Report as Article Text
• My Website: ⊞ 1941 Annual Report as Web Album

I-01612
Photograph/Image [#240]
www.cripplecreekrailroads.com/01main/all_known_entities/pics_list-evry1_sort-newtop.php#24028.05.2017 (20:44:10)
Scene at the Victor F. & C.C. Depot Area with a Passenger Train and Lot of People
Unknown
Card has a bad curve to it making it a little bit hard to scan as it will not lay flat, also it has a somewhat faded look, but I have enhanced it a little and use that copy here. No info given about the occasion for this people gathering. Some handwriting on the backside but that is done years later as it gave wrong info about what is in this scene in terms of mines seen. Near impossible to scan readable as I need to twist the card against the light to be able to read it by eye on card itself, and some is so faded I can't make it out against the dark card backing.
* Scene is at the F. & C.C. Depot Grounds in Victor, roof of the Depot is seen on left-hand side, and that gives this to be the newer depot, the one from after the 1899 City fire. To the right-hand side of the depot/image part is seen a prospect type of operation, as there is seen one head frame and one structure hiding behind the Denver & Rio Grande Passenger Cars making up the passenger train part of this view, as far as I can tell they are part of the Mary Cashen Mine operation, before they made the huge dump behind a large crib-wall seen in many Victor views. At first I thought this was an early view due to the headframes seen, but have realized it is possible into 1900 or maybe a year or two later into the century.
* The Mine seen with its Head Frame towards the photographer, on the dump near middle top, is one that puzzles me as I can't fully make out if it is on the W.C. Dillon or on the Strong claims. It seems to be a small operation, with a hoist house behind it, seen in many views of this area, and I have started to think it is a smaller shaft of the Dillon mine, but might very well be a totally different mine at all.
* Near upper right-hand corner is the trestle out from the Coalbins House of the Independence No. 1 Shaft structures seen, with the main structures of the mine behind the trestle and dump seen.
My Collection; Stereoviews.

• My Website: ⊞ Cropped Sampler View; Victor Sampler South View
• My Website: ⊞ Cropped Mine View; Early Workings of the Mary Cashen Mine with Prospect Head Frames

S-00243
Photograph/Image [#191]
www.cripplecreekrailroads.com/01main/all_known_entities/pics_list-evry1_sort-newtop.php#19126.05.2017 (18:02:53)
Stratton's Independence, Limited.
Unknown
This long distance shot of the Independence No. 1 shaft structures, is from a time before they built their massive mill in the area in the foreground, but after an experimental mill/ore-house was built at the end of the long-covered trestle seen in this view from what I've been able to gather.
The tracks in the foreground is part of the Golden Circle trackage, but some further up the hill is the dual gauge tracks of the Golden Circle and the Midland Terminal tracks as they both served the ore-houses of this mine, both close by the main structures and at the large mill/ore-house almost at center of this view.
My Collection; From page 53 in a 1901 book named Program of Trans-Mississippi Commercial Congress.

• Page 53; Program of Trans-Mississippi Commercial Congress - Cripple Creek, Colorado, July 16, 17, 18, 19, 1901 - Published in 1901.

I-01355
Photograph/Image [#172]
www.cripplecreekrailroads.com/01main/all_known_entities/pics_list-evry1_sort-newtop.php#17225.02.2017 (12:46:35)
Gold Coin Mine, Victor, Colorado
Unknown
View is said to be about 1896, and to be of the Gold Coin mine headframe in Victor, Colorado. In the background center one can see the large Shaft House and supporting structures of the Independence Mine, and in foreground left-hand part of the image, is the roof tops of the Victor Public Sampler, or the Public Sampling Works or just Victor Sampler, as I also seen it be named as. Check the link to the PPLD site for a zoomable and quite good view at this photo!

• Pikes Peak Library District: ⊞ Image number: 001-265

I-01189
Photograph/Image [#159]
www.cripplecreekrailroads.com/01main/all_known_entities/pics_list-evry1_sort-newtop.php#15925.02.2017 (11:52:56)
Portland Mill, Victor, Colorado 1916
Unknown
This image here is a sad chapter in my collection. I was so happy when I bought it through eBay in April 2010, listing said it was a "gorgeous glass photograph", titled " Portland Mill, Victor, Colorado.", and made in 1916 for Kansas City Public Schools Department Visual Instruction. Listing went on to state " This piece is in excellent condition and has NO cracks, breaks or damage I can detect. This is awesome and perfect for any photo collection."
And then the seller put it into a normal envelope, and shipped to Norway without any bubble wrapping or anything, and result is seen here, a broken piece of history, not that useful. Can be used to say this is the view as it was by 1916, but no details really, a real, real sad story!
My Collection; Magic Lanterns. Cropped 600dpi view without the frame as it came broken in the mail...
G-00012
Photograph/Image [#138]
www.cripplecreekrailroads.com/01main/all_known_entities/pics_list-evry1_sort-newtop.php#13825.02.2017 (11:48:49)
The Great Independence Mine Sold in England for $11,000,000.
Unknown
This long distance shot of the large complex known as the Independence Mine is taking looking west with Squaw Mountain background right. In the foreground bottom is the trackage of the Golden Circle with a large string of boxcars set out on a spur. About 1/3 from bottom and from right towards left is the location of the Midland Terminal trackage that was later connected with the Short Line trackage that might be running at the bottom of this view, outside the view I would then presume.
There is many structures and ore-houses at this mine, the one furthest to the left, attached with a long-covered trestle, was also an experimental mill I think.
My Collection; View is from page 5 in the July 1902 edition of the Official Guide to Cripple Creek District.

• Page 5; Official Guide to Cripple Creek District, July 1902 (Vol. 1, No. 2) - Published in 1902.

• My Website: ⊞ Album Page View

I-00033
Photograph/Image [#89]
www.cripplecreekrailroads.com/01main/all_known_entities/pics_list-evry1_sort-newtop.php#8925.02.2017 (11:41:23)
BATTLE MOUNTAIN. The Independence Mine & Old Independence Mine | Stratton's Famous Independence Mine at Victor.
Horace Swartley Poley [1895]
This view looking in direction of east is showing the large surface structures of the Independence Mine (No. 1 shaft) on the left-hand side and the smaller original shaft house and ore-bin of the Old Independence Mine on the right-hand side, ore-house is only partly seen, being cut off in the view from the 1896 book, while the DPL view has some more of it.
In just a year or so this scene would have changed very and the old shaft house will be gone forever and in that location a small mill – at first – shall be erected, and later a large ore-house and mill will fill that space and also further east and north.
My Collection; From page 40 in the 1895/1896 book Cripple Creek and Colorado Springs Illustrated by Warren and Stride.
Copyright restrictions applying to use or reproduction of this image available from the Western History and Genealogy Dept., Denver Public Library, at photosales@denverlibrary.org.

• Page 40; Cripple Creek and Colorado Springs Illustrated; published in 1896 by Warren & Stride. - Published in 1896.

• Denver Public Library: ⊞ Call Number: P-248

I-00244
Photograph/Image [#82]
www.cripplecreekrailroads.com/01main/all_known_entities/pics_list-evry1_sort-newtop.php#8225.02.2017 (11:37:31)
The Independence Mine
Horace Swartley Poley [1895]
This view is a little bit complicated to decode as there are many mines seen, but I do my best, and to help me out a little I have taken the view from DPL and started to mark out mines and blurred the rest as I am not able to show the view as it cost money to do it correct way as per info on their site. I just think what I've done here should be allowed as I am really helping them out so to speak.
Lowest marked on the hill is the Old Independence Mine, below the easy recognized Independence No. 1 Shaft House about middle of image.
Near the right-hand side there is six mine, not all that easy to see but use the DPL view and go for 100% or 200%view and it gets easier. I have marked out the Bob-Tail (aka Bobtail No. 2) Mine where it is hiding behind the newly built/under construction ore-house of the Portland No 1 mine (aka Burns Shaft). This shaft was set as near as possible to the center of the most productive portion of the Portland Gold Mining Co.'s ground. The Burns Shaft was commenced on the first of April 1895 as per the Feb. 3, 1896 Annual Report.
Just below the Portland mine is the large shaft house, and dump in front of it, of the Independence No. 2 mine. I've not been able to locate for certain the location of the Independence No. 4 shaft house. The mainline of the M.T. passes between the shaft house and the dump of the Independence No. 2 mine, and if memory serve me right, the ore-house is on the dump side of the tracks.
Above the Independence No. 2 and to the right of the Burns Shaft, the location of the original Portland shaft is also marked out, but I have a hard time seeing details there, as in that same area should be the shaft house and ore-house of the Black Diamond mine. In a few years, all this is changed drastic as there will be railroad grades, structures and dumps in that area fully erasing all traces of the start of the great Portland mine.
Further up the hill, near top and right-hand side of the image is the Anna Lee mine which suffered a dramatic cave-in in early January 1896 killing 8 men and possible ruined the shaft house as I think the whole shaft collapsed – but as of 26.01.2017 I've not been able to confirm that thought.
Below the Anna Lee is the Scranton Shaft/Mine, a large shaft house that stands for many years and can be seen in many images showing the Portland Mine operations.
Squaw Mountain is the hill at left-hand side and the mines seen/marked here is all on Battle Mountain.
Copy of DPL image Z-6852 - marked the known mines, blurred the rest.
Copyright restrictions applying to use or reproduction of this image available from the Western History and Genealogy Dept., Denver Public Library, at photosales@denverlibrary.org.

• Denver Public Library: ⊞ Call Number: Z-6852

I-01172
Photograph/Image [#80]
www.cripplecreekrailroads.com/01main/all_known_entities/pics_list-evry1_sort-newtop.php#8023.02.2017 (14:15:12)
#27 - Group Mines in Victor, Colo
Unknown
Here is a view of the western side of the old Gold Coin Mine, the one that burned in 1899. The ore-house is marked as "The Gold Coin M. & L. Co.", and while the southernmost part of the ore-house is missing in the view, I still have a pretty nice look at the old wood built mine. This particular view came with a hefty price-tag but such is life.
There is also a hoist house and head frame in front of the Gold Coin crib-wall but I am not able to identify which mine at this point in time [21.02.2017]. Seen sort of as an extension to the shaft house of the Gold Coin in a line towards the photographer.
To the left of the Gold Coin mine is seen the smaller shaft house and structures of the Strong mine, appearing below the dump of the Independence mine which is seen at about middle top/down at the left-hand side.
Below the Independence, still on the left-hand side, there is another small mine operation of unknown mine to me, with a whitish house seen closer to the Independence, sticking out on the right side of the unknown small mine operation.
Near left-hand side, about 1/3 up from bottom, is the Victor Public Sampler structure seen, has a cupola on its roof, and smoke is coming out of a went near end of the roof at right.
In addition to all this, there are homes, houses, even a tent home built high up on some log walls seen in this view.
My Collection; Stereoviews
S-00085
Photograph/Image [#134]
www.cripplecreekrailroads.com/01main/all_known_entities/pics_list-evry1_sort-newtop.php#134

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