News
Sports
ENLARGE
To commemorate the Town of Breckenridge’s 150th anniversary, the Breckenridge Heritage Alliance and the Breck150 Committee have released a 47-minute documentary, “The Golden Stories of Breckenridge, Peaks on the Past.” On Saturday, a reception will take place at 7 p.m. with the film premiering at 8 p.m. at the Breckenridge Theatre. Historian Mary Ellen Gilliland will also present her new Breck-150 inspired book, “Breckenridge!” The event is free with a $5 suggested donation. Seating will be on a first-come, first-served basis.
“Peaks on the Past” is the seventh title in “The Golden Stories of Breckenridge” series. This documentary features commentary by a prominent group of Summit County historians including, Bill Fountain, Mary Ellen Gilliland, Rick Hague, Sandie Mather, Maureen Nicholls, Robin Theobald and Rebecca Waugh. With Maryann Rowley as the storyteller, “Peaks on the Past” takes the viewer back to the first gold strike in 1859 and then follows the colorful, challenging and fascinating highlights that marked the ensuing 150 years of history for the town of Breckenridge.
When the 59ers discovered gold in the Blue, hopes ran high and young men came west in search of fortunes. “Miners picked up these guide books that told them you could bring your gunny sacks and pick gold up off the ground,” said historian Maureen Nicholls. When they got here, they discovered it was not that easy, and many disillusioned miners went home. However, a number of hearty, enterprising miners stayed and founded the town of Breckenridge.
Eventually some miners did realize major gold strikes. At the center of the wealth was one amazing hill. A historian, Mary Ellen Gilliland describes it, “dazzling Farncomb Hill. The storied storehouse of riches, treasures embedded in the rock.”
According to fifth generation resident Robin Theobald, whose great grandfather, Robert Foote, struck a significant pocket of gold on Farncomb Hill, “The huge strikes up there were unprecedented. These are strikes where they would literally take out tens of thousands of dollars in minutes.”
Colorado’s largest single gold mass strike occurred on July 23, 1887 when Tom Groves and Harry Lytton discovered a mass of gold that weighed approximately 13 pounds. That Farncomb Hill discovery came to be known as “Tom’s Baby.”
“Peaks on the Past” provides some intriguing insights into some of the most memorable stories that shaped the history of Breckenridge, including the train over the High Line and the great snowstorm of 1898-99. The documentary also features rare footage of dredge boat mining and new information about how the town came to be named Breckenridge.
Produced and edited by Wendy Wolfe, Peaks on the Past is the first documentary in the series to be shot in high definition. In addition to Saturday’s premiere, the film will also be screened at the Breckenridge Festival of Film at 4 p.m. on June 11 at the Breckenridge Theatre. The documentary will be available on DVD for purchase in the Welcome Center on Main Street in late June.
For more info on Peaks on the Past, call Larissa Enns at (970) 453-9767 or visit breckheritage.com. For more info on the Breck150, visit breck150.com.
“Peaks on the Past” is the seventh title in “The Golden Stories of Breckenridge” series. This documentary features commentary by a prominent group of Summit County historians including, Bill Fountain, Mary Ellen Gilliland, Rick Hague, Sandie Mather, Maureen Nicholls, Robin Theobald and Rebecca Waugh. With Maryann Rowley as the storyteller, “Peaks on the Past” takes the viewer back to the first gold strike in 1859 and then follows the colorful, challenging and fascinating highlights that marked the ensuing 150 years of history for the town of Breckenridge.
When the 59ers discovered gold in the Blue, hopes ran high and young men came west in search of fortunes. “Miners picked up these guide books that told them you could bring your gunny sacks and pick gold up off the ground,” said historian Maureen Nicholls. When they got here, they discovered it was not that easy, and many disillusioned miners went home. However, a number of hearty, enterprising miners stayed and founded the town of Breckenridge.
Eventually some miners did realize major gold strikes. At the center of the wealth was one amazing hill. A historian, Mary Ellen Gilliland describes it, “dazzling Farncomb Hill. The storied storehouse of riches, treasures embedded in the rock.”
According to fifth generation resident Robin Theobald, whose great grandfather, Robert Foote, struck a significant pocket of gold on Farncomb Hill, “The huge strikes up there were unprecedented. These are strikes where they would literally take out tens of thousands of dollars in minutes.”
Colorado’s largest single gold mass strike occurred on July 23, 1887 when Tom Groves and Harry Lytton discovered a mass of gold that weighed approximately 13 pounds. That Farncomb Hill discovery came to be known as “Tom’s Baby.”
“Peaks on the Past” provides some intriguing insights into some of the most memorable stories that shaped the history of Breckenridge, including the train over the High Line and the great snowstorm of 1898-99. The documentary also features rare footage of dredge boat mining and new information about how the town came to be named Breckenridge.
Produced and edited by Wendy Wolfe, Peaks on the Past is the first documentary in the series to be shot in high definition. In addition to Saturday’s premiere, the film will also be screened at the Breckenridge Festival of Film at 4 p.m. on June 11 at the Breckenridge Theatre. The documentary will be available on DVD for purchase in the Welcome Center on Main Street in late June.
For more info on Peaks on the Past, call Larissa Enns at (970) 453-9767 or visit breckheritage.com. For more info on the Breck150, visit breck150.com.
