21.11.2021 (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#38325.02.2017 (11:48:30)
Sanborn December 1894 Fire Insurance Map; Old Independence Mine
Sanborn-Perris Map Co., Ltd [12.1894]
This 1894 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map for the Old Independence Shaft shows shaft house and the ore-house as it was drawn, together with the Direction Arrow pointing to North as per map, and the scale bar. In addition, I have calculating a scale as per pixels towards meters, and I cropped out and straighten the ore-house part and inlaid it into some open space as to be able to use it for modelling purposes – seen near lower left side.
Crop from the Cripple Creek, Colo., December 1894, Sanborn Fire Insurance Map, Sheet No. 9.
Copyright 1895 by the Sanborn-Perris Map Company, Limited
Sanborn Fire Insurance Map [#87]
www.cripplecreekrailroads.com/01main/all_known_entities/pics_list-evry1_sort-newtop.php#8725.02.2017 (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#8025.02.2017 (11:37:02)
The Start of the Famous Independence Mine - Cripple Creek District
Unknown
I was a long time unsure what mine this view was showing, but when I started to collect views showing the Old Independence Shaft I was able to see that this is really part of the later seen shaft house of the Old Independence, the eastern part of the double structure shaft house as per Sanborn 1896. Making it the same as the view seen as facing the photographer in the view of My Collection ID of I-00245 (Media ID 69).
This means we are looking at the east and north walls of this old mine.
My Collection; View is from an Early undated Postcard Folder Type of Souvenir.

• no. 5; Postcard Folder showing scenes from the Cripple Creek District; undated - Published in ????.

• My Website: ⊞ Album Page View

A-00324
Photograph/Image [#78]
www.cripplecreekrailroads.com/01main/all_known_entities/pics_list-evry1_sort-newtop.php#7825.02.2017 (11:36:49)
The First Passenger Train at Victor Colo May 27 94.
Andrew James Harlan [27.05.1894]
View is of the first Passenger train on the Florence & Cripple Creek line, stopping in Victor, May 27, 1894. It shows the leased D. & R.G. Engine No. 52 - named "Music Pass" - with Engineer Barney Conway, Fireman Jim Kelker, Conductor G. E. Bradbury and construction crew of the Orman and Crook company. Rolling stock consists of mail car #120, coaches #317 and #325. All this info is found on the Facebook page that gave source to this image.

Courtesy of the Chuck Harris family photo collection. Seen on a post by the Florence Historic & Cultural District Facebook page of February 17, 2015.

• Facebook Page: ⊞ The First Passenger Train at Victor Colo May 27 94.

I-01211
Photograph/Image [#76]
www.cripplecreekrailroads.com/01main/all_known_entities/pics_list-evry1_sort-newtop.php#7625.02.2017 (11:21:49)
Old Independence Mine, on Battle Mountain..
Horace Swartley Poley
This is yet another early mine view, quite cute in my eyes, and a little bit special as while this was photo was made special for a late 1895, early 1896 book, by the time the Sanborn Fire Insurance map dated December 1896 was published, this mine is all gone, and a mill structure for the larger Independence mine shaft house has taken most of the ground seen here.
The larger Independence No. 1 shaft house would be up hill to the right in this view, while the grade of the F. & C.C. would be downhill to the left in this view. I keep wondering what all these people posing for this photo was thinking and how they looked upon their future.
It looks like a nice built ore-house with 4 doors for loading ore into horse wagons, and a total of three levels inside, and the shaft house was built in two steps as I seen an early view of just the narrow front part seen here, before the cupola up on the roof.
My Collection; From page 41 in the 1895/1896 book Cripple Creek and Colorado Springs Illustrated by Warren and Stride.

• Page 41; Cripple Creek and Colorado Springs Illustrated; published in 1896 by Warren & Stride. - Published in 1896.

I-00245
Photograph/Image [#69]
www.cripplecreekrailroads.com/01main/all_known_entities/pics_list-evry1_sort-newtop.php#69

---