Wealth of Mining History

This area was one of the most productive and rewarding in San Juan County's mining history. The earliest mineral discoveries in the region were made in Arrastra Gulch in the early 1870s. The Little Giant was the first producing location and had the first mechanical equipment as early as 1873. The Aspen claim group on Hazelton Mountain was developed soon after and remained one of the most consistently producing mines in the San Juan Mountains. Its early workings high on the north side of the mountain were entered through several high-altitude portals, including the Susquehanna Tunnel, and as underground workings increased, new portals were opened lower on the mountain, culminating with the Amy Tunnel. The Aspen Mine group was owned for many years by the owners of the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad and supplied the railroad with guaranteed ore shipments. Continued mineral exploration in and above Arrastra Gulch led to the discovery and development of the Silver Lake Mines, controlled by Edward and Lena Stoiber. They realized great profits from the enterprise and built the large mansion Waldheim along the Animas River, completed in 1897, with its own power plant and railroad siding off the Silverton Northern Railroad. After years of milling at the mine on Silver Lake, the Stoibers built the Silver Lake Mill on the river north of the mansion before the turn of the century. The mill, which also had railroad sidings, burned in 1906, was completely rebuilt by the Guggenheim family after they purchased the Silver Lake from the Stoibers, and was demolished again by burning in the late 1940s.

Colorado · United States