Idaho Springs, Colorado

[Riverkilt]

So, my great grandfather Archibald Macdonald was a gold miner. He was in Bodie California in the 1880 census and by 1890 he was in Montana. In between he was in Idaho Springs, Colorado and I have a pic of him taken in a studio there - sadly undated. Family lore is that he helped take mining equipment from Colorado to Montana by train and set it up and run it in Montana.

So, while visiting Denver this weekend went up to Idaho Springs to explore Archie's old stomping grounds.



I love buffalo and had to stop at the Buffalo Restaurant and Bar which was a feed store back in Archie's time. Had a great build-it-yourself buffalo burger with cheese, bacon, and guacamole. Yes, guacamole goes well with buffalo. Yummy.

Inside the place they had a stuffed buffalo...allowed me to safely appreciate the true size of these magnificent beasts.



Before lunch we stopped for a soak at Indian Hot Springs. I'm guessing Archie himself may have soaked there back in the 1880s since he always managed to live near hot springs. Can only speculate that wasn't an accident.



And a pleat shot of the Antarctica tartan hand sewn by Kathy Lare.



Lots of positive comments about the kilt as we explored the town. There's an Irish gift shop in town. The lady there said she had a regular customer who wore kilts. Believe she said he was a MacLeod.

Here's the pic of my great grandfather taken in Idaho Springs in the 1880s.



Here's a pic of Archie taken at a friend's cabin at Richmond Flats, Montana near the Revenue Mine Archie worked at. He's the guy on the right. Guy on the left is Alex Grebner, guy in the middle is Alex MacDougall.

[sydnie7]

Very cool, Ron. My g-grandfather was also a gold miner, had a claim and a small stamp mill in California (West Point, near Mokelumne Hill). He went to Alaska prospecting several times around the turn of 1900s, took my then 16-y/o grandfather with him on the last trip. Gotta wonder if Archie ever bumped into Frank Luther Manley as they both "moiled for gold". . .

[islandkilt]

them's my roots!

thanks for all that, brother..

kilt on!

[Riverkilt]

Soak on!!! Great waters at the springs.....yummy. Must have felt heavenly to soak out the aches and pains of a day in the mine.

[mookien]

Ron: You outdid yourself on these photos - very impressive as well as interesting. Archibald has that same determined look in his eye as his great grandson.

Good looking kilt and outfit.

John

[Bugbear]

I remember Idaho Springs, and the hot springs, Ron, that's a neat place. Cool thread.