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This week in Summit County history: Celebrating Colorado’s 40th birthday

Compiled by Breckenridge Heritage Alliance
This Week in History
This photo was probably taken by Chick Deming (1918-2015) of Chick Deming's horse, Dusty, with Chief, Little Buffalo, and Buffalo Mountains in the background. The inscription reads "Dusty looking over the valley."
Courtesy Frisco Historic Park & Museum |

This week in history as reported by the Summit County Journal 100 years ago, the week of Aug. 1-5 , 1916.

Colorado was forty years old on Aug. 1, and in all parts of the state the birthday anniversary was celebrated with elaborate public affairs.

Summit not a one industry county; ranching and mining thrive hand-in-hand



Summit County’s greatest distinction arises from its long years of successful mining development. Its mineral production has enriched the world many millions of dollars. Mining will continue to be the chief industry, the principal source of wealth, but the activities of Summit County people are by no means confined to mining.

In the shadow of shaft and tunnelhouse, at the very edge of mine dumps, ranchmen are prospering. Some even combine their occupations and devote part of their time to prospecting and mining and part to ranching. If one may be excused for the rather fanciful remark, the Summit County miner can, if he chooses, pound a drill with one hand and guide a plow with the other.



Blast wrecks Hastings home

Trinidad—Dynamite placed on the roof of a one-story dwelling of Steve Antanoche a coal miner at Hastings, wrecked the house and did small damage to other houses in the close vicinity. Antanoche and his wife asleep in one room, and their ten-year-old daughter in another, escaped without injury. All were violently shaken up. No motive for the dynamiting has been assigned. This is the second dynamiting outrage of recent occurrence. The house of Superintendent Charles O’Neill at Starkville was wrecked by dynamite placed on the window sill on the night of July 20.

Think well of your home town

Citizens of every town have it within their power to make or mar their own municipal name. It will be good or bad, just as they choose to make it.

We of this town are no exception to the rule, and the citizen who loves his home will always bear it in mind. There are many good points in favor of our community, and when the stranger comes to our midst we should not fail to impress these points upon his mind.

We should take him in hand, exhibit the community as we would a blooded horse and let him understand that he is among fair-minded, energetic and generous hearted people and when he goes into other communities and among other people he will speak as he has been spoken to.

Car count

There are 34,261 motor cars in Colorado.

The Breckenridge Heritage Alliance is a nonprofit organization founded to promote and protect Breckenridge’s unique heritage. The organization offers year-round guided tours and hikes. Go to breckheritage.com or call (970) 453-9767 for more information.


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