THE ONCE BOOMING GOLD MINING TOWN HAS GONE GHOST. SO, WHAT HAPPENED?
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We found Victor, CO, by way of a simple internet search. We wanted to visit a ghost town, close to home, allowing myself the time necessary to get back in time for work. Although Victor is more populated than some other ghost towns in Colorado, reviews indicated that it was well worth the visit.
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Nicknamed at one time, “The City of Gold Mines," Victor has a rich history, relating to booming gold production, destructive fires, and war. The town is now a quiet one, with a recorded population of just 432 in 2014, according to The United States Census Bureau.
It Was Gold Fever...
In 1890, Gold was discovered by Bob Womack in Victor, Colorado. Lots of it. Word spread quickly, and prospectors seeking riches came by the thousands. Just a decade later Victor became the fifth largest city in Colorado with a population of around 20,000 at its peak.
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At this time, the city of Victor was equipped with all the amenities of a big city, with plenty of shops, restaurants, saloons, and various service businesses..
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Flames of Bad Luck
In 1899, a fire ravaged this booming gold town. The fire started in the Merchants’ Cafe downtown, centrally located in the business district of the city.
Because of the pine timber construction during this time and the naturally dry Colorado weather, the fire and heat caused unimaginable damages to the city, notably burning buildings like they were paper.
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In an effort to control the path of the blaze, buildings were blown up with dynamite. Despite these efforts, the fire crossed streets and destroyed all of the businesses in it's near vicinity.
In a short five hours, a decade of work had been burned to the ground.
The fire burned for fourteen blocks and claimed 800 buildings in it's wake, before the city gained control. This fire caused nearly $2,500,000 in damages.
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Back in business
The citizens immediately got to work, rebuilding the city, and in just three days time- businesses resumed operations. Buildings were rebuilt in brick and are still standing today.
The fire, however, seemed to kick off a series of unfortunate events for Victor...
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The Labor Wars
In 1903, The Colorado Labor Wars began.
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Laborers making less than $2 per hour were fed up, and they demanded change. 4,000 miners went on strike, therefore- putting halt to mining operations.
Mines Attempted To Open With Deadly Results
During the strike, multiple mines tried to reopen by hiring non-union workers, which resulted in destruction and violence perpetuated by the on-strike union workers.
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Example of this was seen when fifteen men were killed after a shaft guide was tampered with at the Independence Mine, as well as when two other men were killed at the Vindicator Mine after a bomb exploded in the mine.
Because of these events and other related events, Victor's governor declared martial law and sent in 1,000 national guard troops to regain control. Control was regained and troops were withdrawn.
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Once the troops left, however, violence broke out, again, and another 13 non-union miners were killed in a bombing at the Independence train depot while waiting for a train.
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The W.F.M. Union Hall was pelted with bullet holes the day after the depot bombing, when a gun fight broke out. This fight resulted in two more deaths. The bullet holes are still there to this day (See the Image Above).
Due to these events, martial law was reimposed, and the governor sent the union workers away.
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Union Workers Were No Longer Welcomed
The mines were reopened, but only workers with an id proving that they were not part of the union were allowed to work.
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The Town's Gradual Decline
Eventually, the price of gold was worth what it was costing to mine it.
During World War I, a steep decline in workers slowed the mines and they could not recover. Most residents left to find work, leaving behind what remained of the city's blood, sweat, and tears.
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The History Remains
Visitors to Victor are met with a historic look at gold mining and has plenty of artifactual evidence that tells the city's history of fire and war. As an abandoned history hunting team- this place was a must-visit.
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Photos From The Visit:
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