Winfield, Colorado facts for kids
|
Winfield Mining Camp
|
|
The remnants of the Winfield Mining Camp
|
|
 Location in Colorado
|
|
| Location | County Road 390 |
|---|---|
| Nearest city | Buena Vista, Colorado |
| Area | 24 acres (9.7 ha) |
| Architect | Multiple |
| MPS | Mining Industry in Colorado |
| NRHP reference No. | 80000883 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
|
| Added to NRHP | March 10, 1980 |
Winfield is a historic site in Chaffee County, Colorado, United States. It was once a busy mining town. Today, it is mostly a ghost town with old buildings and ruins.
At its peak, Winfield was home to many people. It is thought that as many as 1,500 people lived here at one time. This makes it an important part of Colorado's mining history.
Contents
The Story of Winfield: A Mining Town
Winfield started near the Clear Creek forks. Its early days were a bit confusing. A newspaper from 1881, the Chaffee County Times, wrote about this. It said the town had a few different names.
How Winfield Got Its Name
The newspaper article from August 12, 1881, explains the name confusion. It mentions that the "old town of Florence" was called Lucknow. But the post office was named Winfield. So, it was a town with many names!
Who Started the Town?
A group of people helped create the town site. They were P. H. Symon, G. L. Brown, J. S. Sharpe, Dr. J. J. Smith, L. W. Clark, and Thomas Leasure. They set up the town with 120 acres of land. They made lots that were 50 by 100 feet. These lots were free for anyone who wanted to build there. This was a friendly way to encourage people to settle.
Early Days and Growth
People started building in Winfield quite early. A cabin was built there as far back as 1861. Some people also looked for minerals in 1867. But the town really grew much later. Winfield became very busy around 1890. This is when its population reached about 1,500 people.
What Winfield Looked Like at Its Peak
When Winfield was at its busiest, it had many important buildings.
- There were three saloons for people to relax.
- Three stores sold goods and supplies.
- A post office handled mail.
- Two hotels offered places to stay.
- A boarding house provided rooms for workers.
- There was a mill, a smelter, and a concentrator. These buildings processed the mined ore.
- The town also had a church for worship.
- A school taught the children of the miners.
The Schoolhouse Museum
The old school building is now a museum. It shows what a school was like back then. You can see old school furniture and displays. The Clear Creek Historical Society of Chaffee County helps keep this museum open.
The Ball Cabin Museum
Across from the schoolhouse is the Ball cabin. This cabin is also a museum. It helps visitors learn about the mining era. It shows how people lived during those times.
The End of the Mining Boom
The good times in Winfield did not last forever. In 1893, the price of silver dropped a lot. This event is called the Silver Market Crash. It caused mining work in Clear Creek Canyon to stop.
A Brief Return to Mining
Mining did start up again for a short time. This happened in the early 1900s. But it did not last long. The very last ore was taken out of the canyon in 1918. It was carried by a two-horse stagecoach.
Images for kids
-
The remnants of the Winfield Mining Camp
