C. Loudermilks, formerly of Buckeye, Ariz., is the only tourist
accommodation in Marble. But once a person stays in the clean, modern
cabins or partakes of the delicious meals served in the lodge, he is
sure to return again and again. Other popular services of the lodge are
their horse and jeep tours (operated as an insured common carrier) to
the various mountain tops of 12,000 feet or more, and the licensed
guided pack trips into the wilderness areas.
[Illustration: ST. PAUL'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH--Marble, Colo., building
moved from Aspen, Colo., in 1909. Bell and altar donated by Mrs.
Mortimer Proctor of Proctor & Gamble Soap Co. Now used as a
community church. Any denomination welcome to conduct services here.
--_Photo courtesy_ Glen L. Gebhardt, Denver, Colo.]
The Loudermilks and the Frank Rehs, formerly of Washington, D. C., now
of Glenwood Springs, Colo., are undertaking a vast land development (700
acres) two miles below Marble paralleling the Crystal River. This is
primarily a subdivision for home sites, consisting of approximately 75
tracts that have been surveyed and filed with the Gunnison County
recorder. Part of their program calls for an airstrip 5,200 feet long
(3,800 feet now completed) and a small business district consisting of
hangars, gas pumps, restaurant, curio shop, et cetera.
The Basic Chemical Corporation was organized by Carl Morse in the early
1950s. They bought the Old (Marble) Mill Site from Elmer Bair and
installed a rock crusher, intending to make a number of products from
the marble left there by the Vermont Co. These were to include marble
chips for roofs, smaller pieces for macadam and cement work, chicken
grits, dust for strengthening and whitening plaster, and fertilizer for
sweeting sour ground.
This was not as successful as it was hoped it would be, and was leased
to Vance Baker of Grand Junction in 1957. He now runs it during the
summer months and confines most of the work to the making of marble
chips. He expects to enlarge his operations to the point where he can
cut and sell building blocks, using the trimmings for chips.
The Crystal River flows on down the valley another 3½ miles through
Prospect Ranch, once a part of the Osgood Estate of Redstone, purchased
from it by the Darien Brothers--Henry, James, and Gus. Now it is a
popular summer resort, Prospect Ranch Cabins, owned by Jim and Gus
Darien and run by the Gus Dariens of Carbondale.
Any article or series of articles treating of the advantages of the
Crystal River Valley as a vacationing playground would not be complete
without mentioning one of the prettiest camping and fishing spots in the
state, Bogan Flats--located five miles below Marble. The Forestry
Department supplies the tables, seats, fireplaces, and restrooms. There
are many quiet nooks in the river where the ingenious trout lurks and
seldom does any fisherman go away empty-handed.
Next, the river flows through Chair Mountain Ranch, also once a part of
the Osgood Estate. The Earl Z. McCullys bought it from Mrs. Lucille
Osgood McDonald in 1943, had it ready to open as a guest ranch in 1947,
and ran it as such until the fall of 1952 when they sold it to the Ray
Somers of Mountain View, Calif., and Mr. and Mrs. (formerly Mrs. Lola
Kemp) C. H. Patterson of Farmington, N. Mex.
[Illustration: PERFECT MARBLE CORE--this speaks more eloquently for
quality of marble produced up Yule Canyon than any words possibly
could. In "pulling" cores they usually break at much shorter
lengths.
--_Photo by_ Henry L. Johnson, Marble, Colo.]
One evening several of us from this neighborhood were spending a social
evening together discussing the various escapades pulled by dude guests.
One in particular seemed especially amusing: When the McCullys were
still running the ranch, a number of their guests wanted to go for a
long horseback ride up in the mountains. "Should you become lost," he
told them, "just tie the reins, drop them on the horses' necks, and give
them their heads; they'll come home all right." Sure enough they became
lost, so dismounted and did as Mr. McCully had instructed them to do.
The horses returned to the ranch all right--riderless. It took the
McCullys several hours to find the guests.
"Well, we shouldn't laugh at dudes, no matter how green," said Lola,
"when we first bought the place we were the greenest dudes on the ranch.
Didn't even know which side of a horse to mount."
However, they have learned, and Chair Mountain Ranch is now a very
popular, well managed resort.
The river flows on to Cleveholm, the famous Redstone castle, built in
1903 by J. C. Osgood for his first wife, the "Lady Bountiful" of
Redstone. Every Christmas all the children in the village were urged
to write letters to Santa Claus. They were delivered to Mrs. Osgood
and she personally saw to it that every child received what she or he
asked for; not a cheap, shoddy toy, but the very best money could buy.
One Christmas the school was giving a program and Christmas tree, to
which all the people in Redstone had been invited. Right at the height
of the festivities the wax candles on the tree set fire to the cedar
branches. Some of the men quickly grabbed the tree and threw it
through one of the windows, thus averting what might have been a
terrible catastrophe. The parents were very grateful for the presence
of mind and quick action of the men; the children were very downcast
that their carefully planned and often rehearsed program had been so
rudely interrupted and their beautiful Christmas tree ruined.
The next year when Mr. Osgood had a firehouse built it was located on
a lot adjoining the school house grounds.[2]
Cleveholm was patterned after an old English castle. It originally
contained 26 rooms, each with an immense fireplace. The wall coverings,
upholstering, and covers for the bookcases and reading tables in the
library were hand-tooled elephant hide. Light green silk brocade was
used for wall coverings, drapes, and upholstering in the music room.
Dark maroon plush decorated the walls in the dining room, and all the
wood work and furniture were mahogany. The parlor is an especially large
room, two full stories high on the inside, and lavishly furnished. It
also contained the famous Osgood coat-of-arms.
The tourist court across the river and highway from Cleveholm is Swiss
Village Resort owned by the Olyn Parkers of Denton, Tex. It was
originally the game-keeper's house. They bought it in 1949 and have
added cabins and improvements every year since then.
The Parkers had spent several summers in various parts of Colorado and
had fallen in love with the majestic rugged scenery, the clear fresh
air, and the peace and quiet found along the mountain streams away from
the city. The idea of having a summer haven in Colorado grew on them
until they began corresponding with real estate men in different
sections of the state.
Irvin Jarvis, Glenwood Springs, Colo. wrote them that he believed he had
just the place they were looking for--his summer home above Redstone.
They were interested and arranged to meet him and his wife there on June
8, 1948. It was love at first sight, just the place they were looking
for--a place away from the city, in the beautiful high mountain country,
the sparkling Crystal River flowing just across the road, tall majestic
evergreen trees and lovely aspen gracing the scenery, and many deer,
elk, bear and other animals roaming the mountains. Needless to say they
bought the place.
The house and barn are of Swiss architecture, built in 1901 and were
originally a part of the John C. Osgood estate. The gamekeeper, William
Keir, lived here with his family and looked after the private herds of
deer, elk, and mountain sheep. Much of the high fence and original posts
which enclosed many acres as pasture for these wild animals, are still
standing.
Two of the Keir daughters visited the Parkers and related many
interesting anecdotes concerning the early life of the game park. One
deer they had tamed and named Dolly. She would often jump the high fence
and follow them to school. Then it would be their pleasant duty to skip
school and take Dolly back home.
Quoting from a letter received from Mrs. Parker, Jan. 19, 1959:
"We started building cabins in 1949 and called our place Swiss Village
Resort. Many nice guests came our way that first summer and stayed in
our cabins. Since then many people--and they are such lovely
people--have come our way and happy are the memories of their laughter
ringing out over the place in summers and falls.
"We derive genuine pleasure in seeing our guests happy. Most of them
are people who love a quiet vacation away from cities, close to
nature. Many enjoy riding into the high country to see nature at its
best. So very many enjoy fishing while others like to ride, hike,
rest, or play games. All of them, the same as we, love to hear the
early history of Redstone, which is most interesting.
"Fond are our memories of gatherings in the living room in front of a
roaring fire in the huge fireplace listening to the guests tell of the
big fish that got away, or the hunters tell of their day's experiences
in getting their elk, deer or bear.
"Our fondest wish is to keep Redstone and the surrounding area always
a place where people like to return year after year, and that God will
grant us many more years to live in this lovely spot.
"Yes, we love Redstone and to us the area in and near there is some of
the most beautiful country we have ever seen. As we view the majestic,
awe inspiring handiwork of God we feel very humble and grateful, and
humbly say, 'Thank you God, for the privilege of seeing and living in
this lovely spot.'
"Most sincerely,"
(_Signed_) Virginia Parker
[Illustration: SWISS VILLAGE RESORT--Lodge one mile above Redstone.
It was originally the Osgood gamekeeper's house.
--_Photo courtesy_ Mrs. Olyn Parker, Redstone, Colo.]
[Illustration: OSGOOD MANOR--"Cleveholm" (across beautiful Crystal
River from Swiss Village Resort) patterned after a castle in
England.
--_Photo courtesy_ John B. Schutte, Glenwood Spgs., Colo.]
_REDSTONE, One Man's Dream_
of an Ideal Village for Miners
(_Elevation Approximately 6,500 feet_)
John C. Osgood came to Colorado in the early 1880s to make a thorough
investigation of all the coal deposits in the state. Those up Coal
Creek, a branch of the Crystal River, seemed especially favorable for
his plan, and he was able to buy them from their original owners for a
few hundred dollars. The dream he had of building a model village for
miners in this valley did not materialize for almost twenty years. He
organized the Colorado Fuel Co. and later acquired the Colorado Coal &
Iron Co. and merged them into one--Colorado Fuel & Iron Co. (CF&I)--and
was its first president. Then he set out to carry through his dream and
built Redstone, a model village of 40 workmen's cottages (each styled
and painted differently), a modern 40-roomed inn, a school house, a club
house, and a library; all electrically lighted and as modern as they
could be made at that time.
Every workman was given the opportunity of joining the club and making
use of the club rooms. Every member had his own locker and was urged to
come there after work and bathe or shower, and change into clean clothes
before appearing on the street. They elected their own officers and made
their own rules; one of which was especially good--treating was not
permissible.
The mines were up Coal Creek about 12 miles. There the miners had their
own little village in which they took great pride, vieing with Redstone
as to neatness and gardening.
All the buildings in this model village were constructed to last,
nothing of the overnight box-car type. Yet all this came to an end in
less than a decade. Rumor has it that Mr. Osgood became too ambitious:
he tried to "buck" John D. Rockefeller and J. P. Morgan. He ran out of
millions; they didn't.
The scenic grandeur of the Crystal River cannot be excelled; sometimes
narrow canyons, precipitous cliffs and steep waterfalls; sometimes broad
valleys heavily wooded with stately ponderosa pine, Engelmann spruce,
Colorado green spruce, blue spruce, Douglas fir, the narrow leaf
cottonwood, and the quaking aspen; carpeted with waist high ferns,
Oregon grapes, and kinnikinnick (sometimes called Indian tobacco)
interspersed with brilliant flowers of every hue, and often rare plants
found only in much warmer climes. The reason? Perhaps they are remnants
of earlier geological ages; perchance the great combination and variety
of rainfall, heat and cold, shade and sunshine, and slope exposure have
their influences.
The natural resources are unsurpassable. It is an often stated fact that
the Crystal River area from Schofield to Redstone bears the heaviest
concentration of known minerals in the United States. Millions of
dollars worth of coal deposits, undeveloped; billions of dollars worth
of pure white marble waiting to be made into buildings, memorials, and
statuaries; gold, silver, copper, lead and zinc deposits that haven't
been scratched. Yes, Mother Nature has been very generous in this
fabulous valley.
In its Aug. 25, 1917 issue the _Marble Booster_ had this to say just
before it permanently closed its doors:
"Some day this valley will come into its own. Nature has certainly
been very bountiful in its distribution of resources up and down the
Crystal River Valley, but man has been lame, mighty lame, in
developing the same. The right man may yet come along. Speed the day
is our fervent wish."
Perhaps this man has come along in the person of Frank E. Kistler who
has purchased the Osgood Estate and is busily engaged restoring the
property and making it into an all-year resort. He has added 36 rooms to
the already 40-room inn, built a glass enclosed swimming pool, and
constructed a children's playground. He is selling home sites, erecting
homes, building a ski course, golf course, tennis courts, and minor
auxiliary recreational facilities.
Four miles below Redstone the Crystal River runs through a district that
contains several hot mineral springs that have medicinal value
comparable to any in the United States.
Soon the canyon widens, sometimes on one side, sometimes on the other,
into fertile meadows especially adapted to raising strawberries,
raspberries, cherries, and apples. A little farther on there are large
ranches bordering it. These raise potatoes, oats, alfalfa, and hay; they
all depend on the never failing Crystal River for irrigation. It also
runs through several stock (sheep and cattle) ranches before it reaches
the Roaring Fork River below Carbondale, then, on to join the Colorado
River below Glenwood Springs, thence to the Pacific Ocean.
[Illustration: MT. SOPRIS--a majestic lone sentinel guarding the
lower Crystal River Valley, as seen from the highway below
Carbondale.
--_Photo courtesy_ John B. Schutte, Glenwood Spgs., Colo.]
_THESE PEOPLE Have Faith in the Valley_
Theodore (Sgt.) Jackson of Paonia, Colo., owns a cabin in Schofield and
keeps sixteen horses there during the summer for conducting tourist
trips to many remote points in the mountains.
The Cristenson Brothers graze 1,500 sheep every summer in the mountain
meadows high above Crystal City. They say this is the most ideal spot
for sheep grazing they have ever seen.
Ward C. Canaday, at one time president of Willys-Overland Motors, owns
several mining claims above Crystal and some buildings and lots in the
village. He expects that someday they will warrant his holding them the
past 20 years.
The Collins, Tidwells, and Fowlers are holding on to all their mining
claims and town property in Crystal City. They say if they never realize
all their investment, they will at least always have a wonderful place
to spend their vacations.
The Welcome Joe Neals of Mooresville, Ind., also have faith that their
investments in mining claims and property in Crystal will pay handsomely
as well as give them a favorite vacationing spot.
Judge C. C. McWilliams, of Gunnison, Colo., and his son, Carvel of
Cedarridge, Colo., still pay the taxes and do the assessment work on
their silver and gold claims above Lizzard Lake. And it is well they
should as there have been some very valuable specimens taken from them.
Jack Clemenson of Kansas City, Mo., has a cabin up Lost Trail Creek,
three miles above Marble, in which he spends his summers. He is studying
for the ministry and sometimes helps the young folks conduct services in
St. Paul's Episcopal (Community) Church during the summer.
Thano Johnson, artist and head of the art department in the Willoughby,
Ohio, public schools, bought several lots and a house in Marble in 1945.
He has improved the house by remodeling the inside, installing two huge
fireplaces, and putting in several large plate-glass windows, until now
it is one of the show places of Marble.
The Williams Brothers moved their general store from Crystal City to
Marble in the early 1900s and ran it until 1942. John A. Williams had
the post office in the back of the store for 20 years. He and his
brother, C. Ambrose Williams, still come to Marble early in June every
year and return to their winter home in Phoenix, Ariz., early in
September.
Ted S. Wallace and Will L. Francis, employees of Tucson Newspapers,
Inc., Tucson, Ariz., have investments in real estate here and expect
someday to see Marble a strong tourist attraction.
Elmer Bair of Carbondale is probably the largest land owner in the
valley, approximately 2,700 acres. He has been grazing sheep in this
district for over 25 years and finds it a profitable investment. At
present he runs 2,100 sheep in the Marble area every summer.
The Holy Cross Electric Assn., George Thurston general manager, had
faith enough in the valley to extend a high tension electric line from
Glenwood Springs to Redstone, and working with the Mountain States Tel.
& Tel. Co. to install an all new electric and telephone line to Marble,
thus giving first class service in both utilities to all in the valley.
Dr. and Mrs. Vanderbosch and the George Vanderweits, all of Denver,
Colo., own a house in Marble that is in use most of the year by them or
some of their friends.
Mr. and Mrs. John Reheuser of Denver own several lots in Marble that
they have refused to sell since leaving here in 1942. They expect to
build on them in the near future.
The Wade G. Loudermilks of Buckeye, Ariz., are disposing of all their
holdings there and expect to invest everything in improving the Colorado
property they own with the Frank Rehs, late of Washington, D. C., now of
Glenwood Spgs. This is located at the Airport two miles below Marble and
is ideal for summer vacation cottages.
Mrs. Marie Ramsey, Colorado Springs, Colo., has a summer cabin in
Marble, and manages to make several trips there every summer.
Mr. and Mrs. Rome Isler own a house and a roadside stand, The Marble
Trading Post, in Marble. They come up from Carbondale every spring
before fishing season opens and stay until after hunting season in the
fall.
The Hunters of Glenwood Springs and the Barnards of Fowler, Colo., own a
cabin in Marble that they use as headquarters for their fishing trips in
the summer and hunting in the fall.
Vance Baker of Glenwood Springs has investment in a marble crushing
operation at the Old Mill Site in Marble. He expects to develop it into
a paying industry in the near future.
The Leo Pascals of Fort Collins, Colo. and La Paz, Bolivia, South
America, have a cabin in Marble that they expect to make more use of in
the future than they have during the past two years while stationed in
South America.
Mr. and Mrs. Paul Ganley of Buckeye, Ariz., maintain a summer home in
Marble, although it is rather far to come for a short vacation. Their
children insist they keep it so they can come for skiing in the winter.
Mr. and Mrs. Bob Lee of Denver and their four children, Edward, Nancy,
Pat, and Judy, have a cabin in Marble where they spend much time
horseback riding, hiking, picnicing and fishing every summer.
Mr. and Mrs. George T. (Anna) Harris own numerous lots and two cabins in
Marble and several mining claims in the Crystal City area, that they
feel confident will warrant their investment, and faith in the valley.
Mr. and Mrs. Ted S. (Marion) Wallace of Tucson, Ariz., have purchased
several lots and a house in Marble. They expect to modernize it and
spend part of their summers there away from the heat in Tucson.
Oscar McCullum, a government employee of Washington, D. C., has a summer
cabin in Marble. While his work takes him to all parts of the world, he
and his family manage to spend some time each year there. He says
there's no place like Marble for complete relaxation.
Gunnison County spends a considerable sum of money in this district
every year keeping the seven miles of county road below Marble to the
Pitkin County line in repair, and the 12 miles of new road above Marble
to Schofield Pass in a passable condition. John Darien has been in
charge of the road work the past 10 years and does a very commendable
job.
The Ray Sommers of Mountain View, Calif., and the C. H. Pattersons of
Farmington, New Mex., have heavy investments in Chair Mountain Ranch
Resort, six miles below Marble, and are sure they will be well repaid
for their faith in the valley.
Mr. and Mrs. Olyn Parker, Denton, Texas, are another couple who have
shown their faith in the valley by investing in Swiss Village Resort one
mile above Redstone and are happy to see its increased popularity every
summer.
Reese Lewellyn of Glenwood Springs has charge of the Mid Continent Coal
& Coke Co. that is working the mines up Coal Creek and making coke in
Redstone. They are using a fleet of large trucks to haul their products
to the railroad at Carbondale. It is rumored that eventually the
railroad will be extended to Redstone to accommodate this growing
industry.
Frank E. Kistler has invested heavily in remodeling the castle and the
inn in Redstone. He has purchased this part of the Osgood Estate and it
will be second to none in the United States when he completes the
redesigning and additions he has planned.
Ben Turner of Albuquerque, New Mex., is another artist who has chosen
this valley as a setting for many of his pictures. He purchased a
residence in Redstone several years ago, has remodeled it and added a
large studio. He, his wife, and daughter now spend most of their time
there.
The O. R. Whites of Tucson, Ariz., have sold their property there and
have purchased a store and built a home in Redstone where they are now
doing a nice mercantile business.
_GLEANINGS From Old Valley Newspapers_
Some interesting, or at least amusing items taken from the _Crystal
River Current_, Crystal City, Colo.:
Oct. 9, 1886
Bar silver $0.97 per oz.
Lead $4.50 per 100 lbs.
Our miners are wondering if James N. Bennett, our next County
Commissioner, will do anything toward extending a wagon road up Crystal
River next fall.
Bill Benton came over the divide from Crested Butte on Monday with 75
jacks loaded with hay for the J. C. Osgood Coal Co. Hay and grain are
very scarce along the valley as the demand is greater than the supply.
Nov. 20, 1886
Sleighing is good over the divide and our roads could be kept open all
winter if there were a few more sleighs on the road. At present there
are six "fours" running between here and Crested Butte.
Nov. 27, 1886
WEDDING BELLS
The Phillips-Penny Marriage
About two weeks ago the friends of Mr. J. W. Phillips and Miss Olive
Penny received cards to be present at their wedding to take place
Thanksgiving Eve, at the residence of the bride's parents, Mr. and Mrs.
H. D. Penny of Hot Springs, and the event had become the principal topic
of conversation. It was thought us old bachelors never would get "over
the fence," but Mr. Phillips was the first to make the start.