Search This Blog

Sunday, October 2, 2016

HIGH COUNTRY GOLD!

Post (c) by Doris McCraw/Angela Raines

Saturday October 1, 2016 was the first Saturday I'd had off since the middle of May. So what did I do? Did I sit and write? Did I work on edits for the Women Doctors paper? No, I played hooky and went to the high country. So I won't feel so guilty, I'm going to share the day with you.

Of course the camera was along and the aspens are turning, so here we go.

First stop along the way was the Hornbeck Homestead on the Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument property. Below are photos of that property. I first wrote about Adeline Hornbeck on October 5, 2014 for PRP blog. You can read about her here: http://bit.ly/2dj2EPA

Dugout to the north of
the homestead house


The Hornbeck house, built in 1878

Then I headed on toward Cripple Creek and the Mount Pisgah Cemetery. Anyone who knows me, knows how much I appreciate the information and history I find in these mini museums.But there were a couple of shots of the gold that cried out to be captured on this back trail to town.

The back side of Pikes Peak

Mt. Pisgah

At the cemetery I searched and found the headstone for Pearl DeVere. Right next to her is Fred E. Krueger, for those who remember the Halloween films, the name may be familiar. I sometimes wonder if Pearl, the madam at the Homestead Parlor house who died 'accidently', would be as well known as she is if Mabel Barbee Lee had not written about her funeral in her charming book "Cripple Creek Days". For more about Pearl : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pearl_de_Vere

Fred E. Krueger, not yet 20
 when he died.
Headstone for Pearl DeVere, her resting place is covered with
concrete to keep vandals out.

I also located Mollie O' Brian's headstone. She was the first women on a mining exchange in the country. In the 'Mining Investor' you will find the following quote, "Miss Mollie O'Brien is a successful operator in mines, both in Cripple Creek and Nevada and has been very successful in financing some of the largest properties of Cripple Creek and Goldfield." Mollie never married.

Mollie O'Brien 

I slipped into Cripple Creek for a quick photo of the 'Old Homestead' where Pearl and other ladies of the evening worked. Men had to pass a credit check before even entering, the prices were that high.

Now a museum- The Homestead Parlor House where Pearl DeVere was madam

I will leave you with some images of the natural gold in Colorado's high country.

Trail back to another part of Mt. Pisgah Cemetery

Gold against the cloudy sky


Multi-colored aspens


From Cripple Creek looking West

Thanks for trailing along. There was so much to see and I've so much to share. But we all need to get back to our creativity. Hope you enjoyed the break.

Angela Raines is the pen name for Doris McCraw. Doris also writes haiku posted five days a week at – http://fivesevenfivepage.blogspot.com and has now passed one thousand haiku and photos posted on this blog. Check out her other work or like her Amazon author page:  http://amzn.to/1I0YoeL

http://amzn.to/2bHg1Wq

11 comments:

  1. Doris, I've lived in Oklahoma most all my life except a few years in West Virginia and I have NEVER been to Colorado! Now that is almost sinful to live so close to that beautiful state and not to have ever seen it. Thanks so much for these pictures. At least I can travel vicariously!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. My pleasure Cheryl. I love sharing the beauty of my adopted state. I should have been working, but the call was too strong, and I'm glad I gave into it. The aspens won't last much longer, and any excuse to 'study' history is a good one. *Grin* Doris

      Delete
    2. This comment has been removed by the author.

      Delete
    3. I loved this! Thanks so much for sharing!

      Delete
    4. You are welcome Liz. Some days it pays to play hooky. From your research, I'm assuming Poker Alice never made it to Cripple Creek?

      Doris

      Delete
  2. Doris,

    Your pictures are fabulous. I don't go out and about to the mountains much, mostly because I'm a 2+ hour drive just to reach the foothills at Trinidad. :-) But this time of year is so breathtakingly beautiful in the high country.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kaye, I understand. I've been trying to get down your way for over a year and just haven't found the 3-4 hours for the drive.

      I posted these for I know there are a lot of people who don't have access like I do, so I'm glad folks are enjoying. *Grin* Doris

      Delete
  3. Doris,
    Such pretty photos of the aspens. Looked like it was a lovely day!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kristy, it was. And to have a chance to pick up some photos of history and historic people made it even more special. I enjoyed playing hooky. *Grin*, but I'm back at work on the edits now. Doris

      Delete
  4. I enjoyed all these pictures you posted, Doris. My favorite is the mountain range under a cloud cover. I wish you all the very best.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sarah, I loved that one also. So stark, yet beautiful. Thanks for sharing my day off with me. Doris

      Delete