Then and Now Images

[Sod Buster]

Caldwell stands on the Oklahoma, Kansas border, about a mile into Kansas on the Chisholm Trail. The building below is the Citizens Bank.






The third floor of the old bank was lost to fire, and the stone from the third floor was taken down and used in another building just to the south of the bank. In the pic below you can still see the smoke stains along the stone at the roof line.








In this photo the old bank still has all three floors, on the right.





About the center of the photo below is the bank minus the third floor, it houses the Cherokee Strip visitors center now.




The building built from the third floor of the Citizens Bank, pic below, you can see the same fire damage to some of the stones, as was on the Bank. Now the Last Chance Saloon, in Caldwells cowtown days the Exchange Saloon stood on this corner.





In the photo below this old building is on the right just past the rig backed up to the boardwalk, the first short structure on the right. the Citizens Bank is about a block further down on the same side of the street. The building with the turett around the top on the left is the Stock Exchange Bank.

[ddavidv]

Great thread idea. I like to do "railroad archeology" on the bike. Here's one from this summer. Stickpile Tunnel on the Western Maryland, 1967:

2011:

I explore this area at least once a year. Here's a web site chock full of then/now photos of the WM's lines through Maryland, PA and West Virginia: http://www.wmwestsub.com/main.htm

[crxandwagovan]

This is one of the best threads i have seen, you have to love the history we have and all that is to come,

[MrBob]

Originally Posted by TacocaT

DEnver Public Library has an amazing historical photo archive you can view online.
http://digital.denverlibrary.org/cdm/

I am loving this thread. Thank you all for posting and please keep it up. I've spent many hours doing family research in the Genealogical section of the Denver Public Library where I learned that my great-uncle was a sheriff in Elbert Co. in the late 1800's.
I've been trying to recall the location of this building for months. Is it near Deckers?

[sfarson]

Sod Buster, everyone, niiiiice.

A few more strolls through past...

A festive 1901 Labor Day in the thriving, mining community of Eldora...


Well, with the mines less thriving, so is the now sem-ghost town of Eldora. What a contrast...


Boy, when roads were created for autos around 1910-1920, there was a craze to go on group "drives". We can relate with our two wheeled things eh? This is Bear Creek Canyon west of Denver. How would you like to be going the opposite direction?


At the mouth of Bear Creek Canyon then...


Bear Creek Canyon now...


When fires swept through communities back then, seriously, little could be done. Many towns saw flames pass through more than once. The Cripple Creek fire of 1896. Dang...


Hey, let's start building more often with brick. Four years later in 1900...


And 110 years later. I should actually be a few feet forward...


About 60 years ago, the D&SP station house in Como was in a state of decay after the tracks over nearby Boreas Pass were pulled up.


Things are coming around a bit, but things are also still a little slow and sleepy in Como (named by Italian miners who thought the area reminded them of home)...


Nevadaville, about a mile SW above Central City, boasted in 1865 a population of 4,000... one of the most populous towns in the state at the time. The first big gold strike was nearby...


The population today now hovers between 5 and 10...

[TacocaT]

Originally Posted by MrBob

I've been trying to recall the location of this building for months. Is it near Deckers?

That is Green's Mercantile in Buffalo Creek, Co. Not to far from Deckers on hwy 126.

[sfarson]

By the time the third fire swept through the tightly packed, wooden structures of Buffalo Creek, fed up Mr. Green decided to rebuild with stones from the nearby quarry. The townsite was mostly to the left of the image. Just to right outside the frame of the picture one can see the old train trestle built with the same stones.

Well I'll be, found an image of that trestle...

[motoracer51]

Awesome pictures, and thanks for sharing.

Living in Colorado, I think I need to buy the KTM 990 Adventure I've been thinking about, and seeing all this great state has to offer us. I feel ashamed that even after living here for 5 years, I have seen probably less than 10% of what the state has to offer.

[MrBob]

This is my great-uncle, Cap Barron. The Western Genealogical Library has been an invaluable resource in researching his life. I found his unmarked grave in Riverside Cemetery in Denver after a three year search. He's said to be the first resident of Hugo, CO and I'm still looking for the site of his ranch.



“Your request for communications from old-timers received. I believe I am one of them having lived in Colorado and the West for forty-nine years acting as guide, serving as sheriff of Elbert county and station keeper in the early days. I have been a stage driver for Holliday Butterfield and the United States Express company. I am 78 years old and saw Denver when the place contained but six houses."

Yours truly,
J.W. Barron

Denver, CO.
Nov. 30, 1899

[sfarson]

MrBob... Outstanding. Plus, the reward for finding his gravesite.

[MrBob]

One more result of my research and a bump for this thread:

J. W. BARRON (1859)
J. W. Barron was born in Howard County, Missouri, in 1820. He left Hannibal,
Missouri, in March 1859, crossing the plains in those perilous days of Indian
warfare and arrived at Fort Lupton June 10th following.
He participated in nearly all the Indian battles that have occurred within the
borders of Colorado, besides numerous others as far east as the Missouri River.
He recites many thrilling adventures of fierce encounters with, and hairbreadth
escapes from, the Redskins, and other interesting reminiscences of border life.
He owned a one-half interest in the Overland Stage line running to Denver and
operated the same from 1867 to 1869. On retiring from that business he
embarked in the cattle business at Hugo, Colorado, where he remained until 1882
at which time he removed to Denver.
His fearless bravery gained him the esteem of all good men as well as the
wholesome respect of the lawless. He served the people of this western country
with fidelity for 20 years in the capacities of deputy sheriff and sheriff.

THE REAL PIONEERS OF COLORADO
By
Maria Davies McGrath

[sfarson]

Great find. I suspect your great uncle could have written quite the book.

[Steamboatsig]

Before pic is from sfarson's post.
Downtown Steamboat Springs 1945...


Here I am participating in the same "Diamond Hitch" in Steamboat Springs Winter Carnival, year 2000.

[STANIMAL]

Originally Posted by Steamboatsig

Before pic is from sfarson's post.
Downtown Steamboat Springs 1945...


Here I am participating in the same "Diamond Hitch" in Steamboat Springs Winter Carnival, year 2000.

I have walked past those stores many times .

[SkiBumBrian]

Originally Posted by sfarson

Brian, one way to get started is just do a Google search on something like "historical photos eureka california". I just tried this and came up with a number of links...

http://www.google.com/#hl=en&sugexp=....,cf.osb&cad=b

I forgot to "subscribe" to this thread and just looked through it again... I will google some sites around here and hope I cna come up with some contributions.... I have made some room in my tailbag for my DSLR !!! Just for a note, I grew up in Durango, CO. I am sure there are alot of before and afters around there !!