You’ll find Bassick City among Colorado’s most intriguing ghost towns, established in 1880 after Edmund C. Bassick discovered rich silver deposits in the area. The settlement quickly grew to over 500 residents, with the Bassick Mine producing $2.5 million in precious metals during its heyday. Though the town declined by 1906 due to falling silver prices and depleted ore, today’s visitors can explore the remaining mill ruins and building foundations that tell a deeper story of Colorado’s mining heritage.
Key Takeaways
- Bassick City, originally named after Edmund C. Bassick, was a thriving Colorado silver mining town established in the 1880s.
- The town’s population peaked at over 1,000 residents in 1882, supported by the successful Bassick Mine’s precious metal operations.
- Mining operations produced $2.5 million in ore value during the late 19th century before declining due to falling silver prices.
- The town was eventually renamed Querida and suffered rapid decline, with its post office closing in 1906.
- Today, only scattered building foundations and mill ruins remain as evidence of this once-prosperous mining settlement.
The Birth of a Silver Mining Town
When Edmund C. Bassick discovered rich silver deposits in the 1880s, you’d have witnessed the rapid transformation of Colorado’s rugged mountainside into a bustling frontier settlement.
Despite foundational struggles in establishing infrastructure, the mining town, initially named Bassick City, grew to over 500 residents as the ore’s promise drew fortune seekers.
Despite harsh frontier conditions and limited resources, Bassick City’s allure of silver riches transformed it from wilderness to thriving settlement.
The community’s resilience became evident as they established essential services, including a post office in 1880.
The Bassick Mine’s production reached an impressive $2.5 million in value during the late 19th century, with workers hauling heavy ore down treacherous mountain paths. Environmental concerns later emerged as mining operations disposed of tailings into nearby creeks.
You’ll find that the settlement’s swift growth reflected the era’s pioneering spirit, as the mining operation supported a complete company town with facilities necessary for both mineral extraction and daily life.
The town later evolved into the historic ghost town of Querida, marking the end of its mining heyday.
Edmund C. Bassick’s Vision and Discovery
In 1875, you’ll find Edmund C. Bassick arriving in Colorado’s mining country after two decades of prospecting across the American West and an earlier career that included discovering Australian gold in 1851.
Your exploration of Bassick’s story reveals how this former sea captain transformed a volcanic crater near Rosita into one of Colorado’s richest silver mines, producing $5.8 million in precious metals between 1880 and 1894.
You’ll see Bassick’s entrepreneurial vision extend beyond mere mining as he meticulously planned the town of Bassickville (later Querida), complete with carefully laid streets, modern infrastructure, and expert construction overseen by master carpenter I.W. Parker from Maine.
Situated at 8,986 feet elevation, the town offered residents commanding views of the surrounding mountainous terrain.
The mine’s success continued until operations ceased in 1891, following disputes among ownership parties and declining production yields.
Mining Riches Lure Bassick
Through his extensive world travels and mining expertise, Edmund C. Bassick recognized the untapped potential in Colorado’s mineral-rich landscape. In 1877, he discovered what would become one of Custer County’s most significant mining operations, leveraging advanced mining techniques to extract a diverse array of valuable minerals including gold, silver, lead, zinc, copper, and tellurium.
His vision transformed the mountainside into a thriving enterprise, establishing both the Bassick Mine and a bustling company town initially known as Bassick City. The vertical shaft system extended through 12 distinct mining levels, showcasing the operation’s extensive underground development.
The operation’s economic legacy proved substantial, yielding approximately $2.5 million in ore during its peak years. The mine’s sophisticated underground workings, including a notable subterranean chimney, demonstrated Bassick’s innovative approach to hard-rock mining and his commitment to maximizing the site’s mineral wealth. The town flourished throughout the 1880s with a population over 500 residents, drawn to the area’s promising mining opportunities.
Entrepreneur’s Mountain Town Dreams
Edmund C. Bassick’s entrepreneurial spirit transformed Colorado’s mining landscape when he founded the Bassick Mine two miles north of Rosita in 1877.
You’ll find his mountain aspirations reflected in the nearby town of Querida, which he helped develop as a thriving mining community. His vision went far beyond simple prospecting – he established one of Colorado’s most technologically advanced mining operations of the late 19th century.
Born in Maine in 1834, Bassick overcame numerous hardships before achieving his mining success in Colorado.
You can trace Bassick’s influence throughout Custer County, where his company’s innovative mining techniques and infrastructure development anchored several settlements. As his great-great-grandson would later note, the mine represented one of his most significant achievements.
The mine’s location near an extinct volcanic crater proved exceptionally profitable, yielding millions in gold and silver. His strategic approach to mining and community building created a lasting impact, though labor disputes and declining production eventually led to the mine’s closure around 1891.
Peak Mining Years and Production
During its peak years from 1877 to 1890, Bassick Mine‘s sophisticated milling operations and extensive shaft system helped extract over $2.5 million in gold ore, making it one of Colorado’s most productive mines.
You’ll find evidence of the mine’s technological advancement in its 1,500-foot-deep network of tunnels and specialized equipment designed to process the unique mineralized agglomerate ore bodies.
The mine’s infrastructure included an advanced onsite mill and elaborate fluming systems for tailings management, showcasing the operation’s industrial sophistication during the late 19th century.
The Maine mine discovery by E.C. Bassick in June yielded impressive ore samples averaging 78 ounces of silver per ton.
The mine’s success was short-lived as mining activity declined by 1892, when production value dropped dramatically to just a few thousand dollars annually.
Silver Rush Production Stats
The rich silver deposits of Bassick City sparked a significant mining boom from 1877 to 1885, yielding several hundred thousand ounces of silver and approximately 80,000 ounces of gold.
You’ll find that silver production reached impressive levels, with ore grades assaying between 88.1 and 107.9 troy ounces per ton. The mining operation’s efficiency relied on stamp milling and amalgamation processes, which successfully recovered 87% of silver from the extracted ore.
Daily ore processing capacity reached 32 to 36 tons, allowing for roughly 900 tons of throughput monthly. While the forty-stamp wet mill served both Bassick and neighboring mines, it couldn’t keep pace with the available ore.
Despite these limitations, the combined precious metals output contributed substantially to Custer County’s total production value of $5.8 million between 1880 and 1894.
Mining Equipment and Methods
Mining operations at Bassick City relied on both primitive and mechanized equipment during its peak production years from 1877 to 1885.
You’ll find that miners initially used basic tools like pickaxes and hand-operated windlasses to extract ore from shafts reaching 1,500 feet deep. As mining techniques evolved, steam-powered machinery revolutionized ore processing, with massive 19-foot flywheels driving 100-horsepower boilers.
The mining district employed diverse extraction methods, including vertical shaft sinking, horizontal tunneling, and open-cut mining with benches.
In the mills, stamp batteries weighing hundreds of pounds crushed the ore before it moved to amalgamation pans. Workers processed hundreds of tons monthly, recovering high-grade ore that yielded up to 108 ounces of silver per ton while contributing to the district’s impressive 80,000-ounce gold production.
Daily Life in Bassickville
Life in Bassickville revolved around the demanding rhythms of silver and gold extraction at the Bassick Mine, where workers endured grueling underground conditions typical of 19th-century boomtown operations.
Miners toiled deep beneath Bassickville’s surface, their lives shaped by the relentless pursuit of precious metals in treacherous conditions.
You’d find a tight-knit mining culture where families adapted to the harsh mountain environment at 8,986 feet elevation, demonstrating remarkable community resilience despite challenging circumstances.
As a resident, you’d live in modest housing near the mine, walk to work, and rely on company-controlled services.
The town’s social fabric centered around local saloons and supply stores, where you’d gather with fellow miners after long shifts.
During peak years around 1882, you’d share the bustling town with over 1,000 residents, though this prosperity proved fleeting.
When ore yields declined, you’d witness the gradual exodus of neighbors and businesses, highlighting the precarious nature of mining town life.
Architecture and Infrastructure
Architectural remnants of Bassick City reveal a carefully planned settlement divided between industrial and residential zones along the main county road.
The mining architecture centered around the Bassick Mine complex, featuring extensive mill ruins and a collapsed shaft on the north side. You’ll find industrial remnants like the old boiler and unique subterranean chimneys that served vital ventilation purposes.
The town’s residential area housed over 1,000 people at its peak, with several original home ruins still visible today.
As a company town, its infrastructure included a post office that operated intermittently between 1880 and 1920. The buildings primarily used local timber and stone, while heavy industrial construction incorporated iron and brick for fundamental mining operations.
You can still access the site via the original 2WD roads that wind through Mount Tyndall’s southern slope.
The Great Decline
As silver prices plummeted in the late 1880s, Bassick City’s fate began its inevitable downward spiral.
The economic decline accelerated as ore quality diminished and nearby railroads bypassed the area, driving up transportation costs. You’d have witnessed the town’s lifeblood drain away as the once-profitable Bassick Mine struggled to maintain viable operations.
The population exodus hit hard and fast. From a bustling community of over 500 residents in the 1880s, you’d have seen the town empty to nearly zero by 1906.
The post office’s closure that year marked the end of formal town operations. While World War I sparked a brief revival from 1917 to 1920, the resurgence proved short-lived.
After 1920, Bassick City succumbed to permanent abandonment, joining countless other mining towns in their ghostly slumber.
Modern Day Remnants
Today’s visitors to Bassick City encounter a landscape where nature steadily reclaims the remnants of Colorado’s mining heritage.
During your ruin exploration, you’ll discover several original structures, including the Bassick mill ruins and scattered building foundations along the north side of the county road. The site’s historical preservation efforts highlight key features like a prominent chimney and the remains of a collapsed mine shaft with an old boiler.
You can trace the company town’s layout through visible foundations, while a solitary house stands in the distance.
A 2019 historical marker near the chimney commemorates the site’s significance, noting the extraction of $2.5 million in ore. The valley’s varied soil colors still bear witness to the intense mining activity of the 1870s.
Geographic Location and Access
Located in southern Colorado’s Custer County, Bassick City sits at an elevation of 8,986 feet on the eastern edge of Wet Mountain Valley.
You’ll find this ghost town approximately 10 miles from Silver Cliff, positioned at coordinates 38°07′34″N, 105°20′04″W, just south of Mount Tyndall.
To reach the site, you’ll drive east on Highway 96 from Silver Cliff for 5.5 miles, then turn south on County Road 341 for 1.2 miles.
While elevation challenges make winter access difficult, both County Road 341 and Tyndall Street remain passable by two-wheel-drive vehicles during good weather.
Road conditions are primarily gravel and dirt, with no paved surfaces leading directly to the town site.
You’ll need to park along the roadside near the ruins, as there aren’t any developed parking areas.
Historical Impact on Colorado Mining
When Edmund C. Bassick discovered rich silver deposits in the 1870s, he launched an operation that would considerably shape Colorado’s mining landscape.
You’ll find his influence extended far beyond the $2.5 million in ore production, as Bassick’s success helped advance mining technology and establish new approaches to subterranean extraction in the Rocky Mountains.
The town’s development showcased evolving labor dynamics, with over 500 residents supporting various mining operations that extracted gold, silver, lead, zinc, copper, and tellurium.
Bassick City’s infrastructure and mill operations served as a model for other company towns, demonstrating how mining enterprises could efficiently organize both industrial operations and community life.
The wealth generated from the Bassick Mine fueled further mineral exploration throughout Custer County, cementing the region’s role in Colorado’s mining boom.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Happened to Edmund C. Bassick After the Town’s Decline?
You’ll find Bassick’s legacy endured until his death in 1898, shortly after his mine’s peak production years. Though the town declined, Edmund didn’t disappear but remained connected to Colorado’s mining operations.
Were There Any Notable Crimes or Lawlessness During Querida’s Peak Years?
Keep your eyes peeled, but you won’t find records of major crime waves in Querida’s heyday. While typical frontier risks existed, company-town controls and minimal law enforcement suggest relatively peaceful conditions.
What Methods of Entertainment and Recreation Existed for the Mining Community?
You’d find entertainment through saloons’ social gatherings, card games, music, and storytelling, while outdoor leisure activities included hunting, horseback riding, and sports. Family gatherings and religious services provided additional recreation.
Did Any Other Valuable Minerals Besides Silver and Gold Exist Here?
You might wonder about copper deposits or lead mining, but historical records show no other valuable minerals were commercially extracted here – just gold and silver dominated the Bassick Mine’s production.
What Native American Tribes Originally Inhabited the Area Before Mining Began?
You’ll find the Ute Tribe was the primary indigenous group in this mountainous area, with the Mouache band most prominent, while Arapaho influence extended from the northeast during seasonal movements.
References
- https://seconews.org/article/182
- http://www.coloradopast.com/index.php?category=ghosttowns&subcategory=southcentral&selection=Querida
- https://westernmininghistory.com/towns/colorado/querida/
- https://kids.kiddle.co/Querida
- https://www.ghosttowns.com/states/co/bassick.html
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Querida
- https://sites.uni.edu/andersow/historicmines.html
- https://www.mininghistoryassociation.org/Journal/MHJ-v15-2008-Copeland.pdf
- https://mountainstateshistorical.com/bassick-mine/
- https://www.uncovercolorado.com/ghost-towns/querida/
